Full Content:
Residency and Financials
1.1 Parties and Occupants
This Lease Contract is between you, the undersigned resident(s): [tenants (financially responsible)]
and us, the owner/agent: [company name]
You've agreed to rent the property located at [unit address ]
for use as a private residence only. The terms "you" and "your" refer to all residents listed above. The terms "we," "us," and "our" refer to the owner/agent listed.
The apartment will be occupied exclusively by the resident(s) listed above. The Owner/Agent must approve unauthorized occupants living in the premises for longer than 7 consecutive days.
1.2 Lease Duration
The terms of this tenancy shall commence on [lease start date] and end on [lease end date] , and thereafter, shall be month-to-month on the same terms and conditions as stated herein, save any changes made pursuant to law, until terminated.
1.3 Rents and Charges
You shall pay [monthly rent] per month for rent. The first month's rent and/or prorated rent amount of [prorated rent] shall be due prior to move-in.
Every month thereafter, you must pay your rent on or before the 1st day of each month with [grace period days] of grace period. The following late fees will apply for payments made after the grace period:
Late fee rule: [late fee rule]
Daily late fee: [daily late fee]
A charge of $25 will apply for every returned check or rejected electronic payment plus the amount of any fees charged to the Owner/Agent by any financial institution as a result of the check not being honored, plus any applicable late fee charges. If you don't pay rent on time, you'll be delinquent and all remedies under this Lease Contract will be authorized.
We may change the terms of this lease in accordance with applicable law, including rent increases and other modifications to the terms of the contract.
1.4 Security Deposit
The total security deposit at the time of execution of this Lease Contract for all residents in the apartment is [security deposit], due on or before the date this Lease Contract is signed. We will hold the security deposit for the term of the tenancy and, upon termination of the tenancy, reserve the right to use the security deposit, or portions thereof, to cover any charges related to your, performance of this Lease Contract, including, but not limited to, cleaning, repair of damages, unpaid rent, late fees, and returned check fees.
1.5 Utilities
We'll pay for the following utilities: [utilities included]. You'll pay for all other utilities, related deposits, and any charges, fees, or services on such utilities. We do not guarantee or warrant that there will be no interruption of utility service. You shall contact the utility service provider in the event of an interruption of service. If your electricity is ever interrupted, you must use only battery-operated lighting.
1.6 Insurance
We do not maintain insurance to cover your personal belongings or personal injury. You assume all liability for personal injury, property damage or loss, and insurable risk. We urge you to get your own insurance for losses to your personal property or injuries due to theft, fire, water damage, pipe leaks and the like.
Additionally, you are required to purchase personal liability insurance. Failure to maintain personal liability insurance is an incurable breach of this Lease Contract and may result in the termination of tenancy and eviction and/or any other remedies as provided by this Lease Contract or state law.
1.7 Keys and Locks
You will be provided the following keys:
Front door
All deadlocks, keys, window latches, doorknobs and any additional device required by local government ordinance, will be in working order when you move in.
You shall be liable for the entire cost all of key and lock replacements. You shall not change the locks or add a deadbolt lock without our written consent.
All keys must be returned to us when you vacate the unit. You will be charged for the cost of new locks and keys that are not returned.
2.1 Community Policies or Rules
You and all guests and occupants must comply with any written community rules and policies, including instructions for care of our property. Any rules are considered part of this Lease Contract. We may make reasonable changes to written rules, effective immediately, if distributed and applicable to all units in the community.
2.2 Resident Safety and Property Loss
You and all occupants and guests must exercise due care for your own and others' safety and security, especially in the use of smoke detectors, keyed deadbolt locks, keyless deadbolts, window latches, and other security or safety devices. You agree to make every effort to abide by the rules and guidelines in this Lease Contact.
Casualty Loss
We're not liable to any resident, guest, or occupant for personal injury or damage or loss of personal property from any cause, including but not limited to: fire, smoke, rain, flood, water and pipe leaks, hail, ice, snow, lightning, wind, explosions, earthquake, interruption of utilities, theft, or vandalism unless otherwise required by law.
Smoke Detectors
The Unit is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in accordance with state or local government regulations. You must immediately report smoke-detector malfunctions to us. Neither you nor others may disable smoke detectors. You will be liable to others and us for any loss, damage, or fines from fire, smoke, or water if that condition arises from disabling or damaging the smoke detector or from your failure to replace a dead battery or report malfunctions to us.
Safety and Crime Free
You or any guest or resident under your control, should not engage in any criminal activity in your unit or community.
In case of emergency, fire, accident, smoke or suspected criminal activity, dial 911 or call emergency personnel. You should then contact our representative. Unless otherwise provided by law, we're not liable to you or any guests or occupants for injury, damage, or loss to person or property caused by criminal conduct of other persons, including theft, burglary, assault, vandalism, or other crimes.
2.3 Parking
You will park on the property at your own risk. We may regulate the time, manner, and place of parking cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, boats, trailers, and recreational vehicles by anyone. We may have unauthorized or illegally parked vehicles towed under an appropriate statute. Vehicles are prohibited from parking on the premises if they are inoperable, have no current license, take up more than one parking space, are parked in a marked handicap space without proper handicap insignia, block other vehicles from existing, are parked in a space not dedicated to parking, including, but not limited to, grass, sidewalks, patio, and fire lanes.
2.4 Pets
Pets (including mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and insects) are allowed only if we have so authorized in writing. You must remove an illegal animal within 24 hours of notice from us, or you will be considered in default of this Lease Contract. We will authorize a service animal for a disabled person. We may require a written statement from a qualified professional, verifying the need for the service animal.
If you or any guest or occupant violates animal restrictions (with or without your knowledge), you'll be subject to charges, damages, eviction, and other remedies provided in this Lease Contract. If an animal has been in the apartment at any time during your term of occupancy (with or without our consent), we'll charge you for de-fleaing, deodorizing, and shampooing.
Responsibilies
3.1 Condition of Premises and Alterations
You accept the apartment, fixtures, and furniture as is, except for conditions materially affecting the health or safety of ordinary persons. We disclaim all implied warranties. You shall maintain the premises in good, clean and tenantable condition throughout the tenancy. You agree not to alter, damage, or remove our property, including alarm systems, smoke detectors, furniture, telephone and cable TV wiring, screens, locks, and security devices. You may not paint or make any permanent alteration without our written consent.
3.2 Requests, Repairs, Malfunctions
You shall report any damage or problem immediately upon discovery or you may be held responsible for the cost. Our complying with or responding to any oral request regarding security or nonsecurity matters doesn't waive the strict requirement for written notices under this Lease Contract. You must promptly notify us in writing of: water leaks; electrical problems; malfunctioning lights; broken or missing locks or latches; and other conditions that pose a hazard to the property, or your health, or safety. We will respond in accordance with state law and the Lease Contract to repair or remedy the situation, as necessary. We may turn off equipment and interrupt utilities as needed to avoid property damage or to perform work.
3.3 Right of Entry and Inspections
We have the right to enter the premises at all reasonable hours, with proper notice, for the purpose of inspection, responding to your request, making repairs and/or preventative maintenance, pest control, showing to prospective residents, buyers, loan officers or insurance agents, and for any emergency situations that may arise.
3.4 Move-Out
You will give us a written notice with your intent to vacate 30 (thirty) days prior to the date of expiration of the Lease Contract. In such notice, you will include your forwarding address.
Surrender, abandonment, and eviction ends your right of possession for all purposes and gives us the immediate right to: clean up, make repairs in, and relet the apartment; determine any security deposit deductions; and remove property left in the apartment. Surrender, abandonment, and eviction affect your rights to property left in the apartment. Surrender, abandonment, and eviction do not affect our mitigation obligations.
Cleaning
You must thoroughly clean the unit, including doors, windows, furniture, bathrooms, kitchen appliances, patios, balconies, garages, carports, and storage rooms. If you don't clean adequately, you'll be liable for reasonable cleaning charges.
Charges
You'll be liable for the following charges, if applicable: unpaid rent; unpaid utilities; unreimbursed service charges; repairs or other damages, excluding ordinary wear and tear; replacement cost of our property that was in or attached to the apartment and is missing; unreturned keys; missing or burned-out light bulbs; removing or rekeying unauthorized security devices or alarm systems; agreed reletting charges; packing, removing, or storing property removed or stored; removing illegally parked vehicles; animal-related charges; government fees or fines against us for violation (by you, your occupant, or guest) of local ordinances relating to smoke detectors, false alarms, recycling, or other matters; late-payment and returned-check charges, plus attorney's fees, court costs, and filing fees actually paid; and other sums due under this Lease Contract.
Deposit Refund
We'll mail to you at your last known address your security-deposit refund (less lawful deductions) and an itemized accounting of any deductions no later than 30 (thirty) days after the Lease Contract termination and delivery of possession to us.
General Clauses
4.1 Release from Contract
Unless you're entitled to terminate this Lease Contract, you won't be released from this Lease Contract for any reason, including, but not limited to, voluntary or involuntary school withdrawal or transfer, voluntary or involuntary job transfer, marriage, separation, divorce, reconciliation, loss of co-residents, loss of employment, bad health, or death.
Military Personnel Clause
You may terminate the Lease Contract if you enlist or are drafted or commissioned and on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. You must give us written notice of termination, 30 (thirty) days prior to the termination date. You must provide us proof that you qualify for this limited exception.
Replacements and Subletting
Replacing a resident, subletting, or assignment is allowed exclusively with our written consent.
If we approve a replacement resident, at our option, the replacement resident must sign this Lease Contract with or without an increase in the total security deposit; or the remaining and replacement residents must sign an entirely new Lease Contract.
4.2 Default by Resident
You'll be in default if you or any guest or occupant violates any terms of this Lease Contract including but not limited to the following violations: failure to pay rent or other amounts that you owe when due; you or any guest or occupant violates the apartment rules, or fire, safety, health, or criminal laws, or engages in dangerous behavior, regardless of whether or where arrest or conviction occurs; you abandon the apartment; you give incorrect or false answers in rental application or you provide false or fraudulent documentation requested by us; you or any occupant is arrested, convicted, or given deferred adjudication for a felony offense; any illegal drugs or paraphernalia are found in your apartment; you or any guest or occupant engages in any prohibited conduct; or you or any occupant, in bad faith, makes an invalid complaint to an official or employee of a utility company or the government. If you are in default for any reason, we may file a suit for Lease Contract termination after giving you fourteen (14) days written notice of Lease Contract termination. Such notice will state that your Lease Contract will terminate fourteen (14) days of your receipt of the notice, unless the breach is remedied within the fourteen (14) day period.
Holdover
You or any occupant, invitee or guest must not hold over beyond the date contained in your move-out notice to vacate (or beyond a different move-out dated agreed to by the parties in writing). If a holdover occurs, then we shall be entitled for damages for the hold-over period plus any expenses incurred due to the breach of this condition of the Lease Contract.
Other Remedies
If your rent is delinquent, you immediately forfeit all rights to occupy the apartment any longer, and if you have not vacated the unit by the date specified in the Lease Contract termination notice, you are guilty of a misdemeanor. Each day of your unlawful presence in the apartment constitutes a separate offense. We may report unpaid amounts to credit agencies. Upon your default and early move-out, you will pay us any amounts stated to be rental discounts, in addition to other sums due. Upon your default, we have all other legal remedies, including suit for Lease Contract termination, possession, damages, rent, and all other monies due. We may turn any returned checks over to law enforcement officials for prosecution according to law.
4.3 Contract Termination and Dispute
This Lease Contract may only be amended, waived, or terminated by our representatives in writing. Any oral promises, representations or agreements by our representatives shall not be considered legally binding. No action or omission of our representative will be considered a waiver of any subsequent violation, default, or time or place of performance. Our not enforcing or belatedly enforcing written notice requirement, rental due dates, acceleration, liens, or other rights isn't a waiver under any circumstances.
Waiver of Jury Trial
To minimize legal expenses and, to the extent allowed by law, you and we agree that a trial of any lawsuit based on statute common law, and/or related to this Lease Contract shall be to a judge and not a jury.
Force Majeure
We shall be excused from performance of obligations if we are prevented from fulfilling such obligations by an act of God, strikes, epidemics, war, acts of terrorism, riots, or other occurrence, which is beyond our control.