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Residential Lease Agreement template

A residential lease agreement sets the terms for renting a property, including rent, security deposit, lease length, and the responsibilities of the landlord and tenant.

A residential lease agreement is a contract that lets a tenant live in a property for a set period in exchange for rent, and spells out the deposit, repairs and house rules. You need one whenever you rent out a home, apartment or room, including to friends or family, because verbal tenancies are hard to enforce and easy to misremember.

Replace everything in [BRACKETS], export to PDF, then send it for signature.

1. Parties and Property

This Residential Lease Agreement (the "Lease") is made on [DATE] between [LANDLORD NAME], of [LANDLORD ADDRESS] (the "Landlord"), and [TENANT NAME(S)] (the "Tenant"). The Landlord agrees to rent to the Tenant the property located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS], including [INCLUDED FURNISHINGS / PARKING / STORAGE] (the "Property").

2. Term

The Lease begins on [START DATE] and ends on [END DATE]. [OPTIONAL: After the end date, the Lease will continue on a month-to-month basis unless either party gives NOTICE PERIOD written notice.]

3. Rent

The Tenant shall pay rent of [RENT AMOUNT AND CURRENCY] per month, due on the [DAY] day of each month, by [PAYMENT METHOD]. Rent paid more than [GRACE PERIOD] days late incurs a late fee of [LATE FEE], to the extent permitted by law.

4. Security Deposit

On signing, the Tenant shall pay a security deposit of [DEPOSIT AMOUNT]. The Landlord will hold the deposit as required by applicable law and return it within [RETURN PERIOD] after the Tenant moves out, less lawful deductions for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear, with an itemized statement of any deductions.

5. Utilities and Services

The Tenant is responsible for [TENANT-PAID UTILITIES, e.g. electricity, internet]. The Landlord is responsible for [LANDLORD-PAID UTILITIES, e.g. water, trash collection].

6. Use and Occupancy

The Property shall be used only as a private residence for the Tenant and the following occupants: [OTHER OCCUPANTS]. The Tenant shall not sublet or assign the Lease without the Landlord's written consent. Pets are [NOT PERMITTED / PERMITTED SUBJECT TO PET TERMS]. Smoking is [NOT PERMITTED / PERMITTED].

7. Maintenance and Repairs

The Tenant shall keep the Property clean and in good condition and promptly report any needed repairs. The Landlord shall keep the Property in habitable condition and make necessary repairs within a reasonable time, except for damage caused by the Tenant or their guests. The Tenant shall not make alterations without the Landlord's written consent.

8. Landlord Access

The Landlord may enter the Property to inspect, make repairs, or show it to prospective tenants or buyers, after giving at least [NOTICE PERIOD, e.g. 24 hours] notice, except in an emergency.

9. Termination and Move-Out

Either party may end the Lease early only as permitted by this Lease or applicable law. At the end of the Lease, the Tenant shall return all keys and leave the Property in the same condition as at move-in, except for normal wear and tear.

10. Governing Law and General Terms

This Lease is governed by the laws of [GOVERNING LAW JURISDICTION]. Where local landlord-tenant law gives either party rights that cannot be waived, those rights apply. This Lease is the entire agreement between the parties and may only be changed in writing signed by both parties.

11. Signatures

The parties agree that this Lease may be signed electronically and in counterparts, and that electronic signatures have the same effect as handwritten signatures. LANDLORD: [LANDLORD NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] TENANT: [TENANT NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] TENANT: [ADDITIONAL TENANT NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE]

Our take: Our take: landlord-tenant law is the most local law there is, so treat this template as a checklist, not a finished product. Deposit caps, required disclosures (lead paint in older US homes, for example) and notice periods vary by state and city. The mistake we see most is only one tenant signing for a couple or a flat share; every adult occupant should sign. The clause people forget is who pays which utilities. If you're renting a room inside your own home, a roommate agreement may fit better, and our guide on signing a lease online covers the remote workflow.

When should you use a residential lease agreement?

  • When renting out a house, apartment, condo, or room
  • When renewing a lease with an existing tenant on new terms
  • When converting an informal rental arrangement into a written agreement
  • When you manage rentals remotely and need tenants to sign without meeting in person

How do you fill in this template?

  1. Enter the landlord, all adult tenants, and the full property address.
  2. Set the lease start and end dates, monthly rent, due date, and late fee.
  3. Fill in the security deposit, utilities split, and rules for pets, smoking, and occupants. If pets are allowed, attach a pet addendum.
  4. Check local landlord-tenant rules (deposit limits, notice periods) and add the governing-law jurisdiction.
  5. Upload the lease to eSignSimple and send it to every tenant and the landlord for e-signature.

How do you get it signed online?

  1. Save it as Word or PDF. Paste the filled-in text into Word or Google Docs and keep it as a .docx file, or export it as a PDF. eSignSimple accepts both, plus DOC, ODT and RTF, up to 25 MB; Word files are converted to PDF on upload.
  2. Upload and place the fields. Sign up with Google, upload the file and drag signature, initials, date and text fields onto the page for each signer. Set a signing order if one party must sign first.
  3. Send it for signature. Each signer gets a private link and signs in the browser without creating an account. Automatic email reminders go out every three days (up to three) until everyone has signed.
  4. Keep the signed copy. When the last person signs, everyone can download the final PDF with a certificate of completion, an audit trail and a SHA-256 fingerprint you can verify later.

Signing on your own device only? The guide to signing a PDF covers the free built-in options, and the security page explains how signed files are stored and verified.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state; have a lawyer review contracts with high stakes.

Written by Buğra Sözeri, founder and editor, eSignSimple · Last reviewed

Buğra builds eSignSimple and writes and maintains its guides. He researches each legal page against the official texts linked on it and updates pages when the law or the product changes. He is not a lawyer, and nothing here is legal advice. About eSignSimple

Frequently asked questions

Can a lease agreement be signed electronically?

In most places, yes. Residential leases are commonly signed electronically. eSignSimple keeps an audit trail with timestamps, IP addresses, and a document hash for each signature.

Should every tenant sign the lease?

Generally, every adult who will live in the property should sign, so each is responsible for following the lease and paying rent.

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit?

It depends on where the property is. Many states and countries cap deposits, often at one to three months' rent, and set deadlines for returning them.

Is a free lease agreement template enough?

A template covers common terms, but landlord-tenant law is very local. If you are unsure about required disclosures or rules in your area, consult a local lawyer or housing authority.