Free template · Updated October 18, 2026

Short-Term Rental Agreement template

A short-term rental agreement covers a vacation or holiday stay in a home or apartment: dates, guests and occupancy limit, check-in and check-out, payment and deposit, house rules, cancellation, and the host's permit and tax details.

A short-term rental agreement is a contract between a host and a guest for the use of a furnished home, apartment, or cabin for a few nights or weeks, usually as a vacation or holiday stay. It sets the dates, the number of guests, the price and deposit, the house rules, and the cancellation terms. You need one for every direct booking, and it is a useful addition to a platform booking when you want your house rules signed.

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1. Parties and Property

This Short-Term Rental Agreement (the "Agreement") is made on [DATE] between [HOST NAME], of [HOST ADDRESS] (the "Host"), and [GUEST NAME], of [GUEST ADDRESS], phone [PHONE], email [EMAIL] (the "Guest"), together the "Parties". The Host agrees to let the Guest use the furnished property at [PROPERTY ADDRESS] (the "Property"), including [FURNISHINGS, PARKING, POOL, OTHER AMENITIES], for the stay described below. Excluded areas: [LOCKED STORAGE, OWNER'S CLOSET, GARAGE, or NONE].

2. Rental Period, Check-In and Check-Out

The stay begins on [ARRIVAL DATE] with check-in from [TIME] and ends on [DEPARTURE DATE] with check-out by [TIME] (the "Rental Period"). Early check-in or late check-out is available only with the Host's prior written consent (a text or email is enough), and may cost [AMOUNT]. Access: [KEY HANDOVER / LOCKBOX / SMART LOCK CODE SENT ON (DATE)]. This Agreement grants a temporary right to occupy the Property for the Rental Period only. It is not a lease and does not create a tenancy, to the extent permitted by local law. If the Guest does not leave at the end of the Rental Period, the Host may charge [AMOUNT] per night and use the remedies available under local law.

3. Guests and Occupancy Limit

The Property may be occupied by no more than [NUMBER] guests overnight, including children, and no more than [NUMBER] people at any time. Registered guests: [NAMES OF ALL ADULT GUESTS]. The Guest named above must be at least [AGE] years old, must stay at the Property for the whole Rental Period, and is responsible for the conduct of everyone they allow onto the Property. Visitors beyond the overnight limit are allowed only [BETWEEN (TIME) AND (TIME) / WITH THE HOST'S PRIOR CONSENT / NEVER].

4. Rent, Fees and Taxes

Nightly rate: [AMOUNT] x [NUMBER] nights = [SUBTOTAL]. Cleaning fee: [AMOUNT]. Other fees: [PET FEE, EXTRA GUEST FEE, or NONE]. Occupancy, lodging, or tourist taxes: [AMOUNT OR RATE], [COLLECTED BY THE HOST / COLLECTED BY THE BOOKING PLATFORM / NOT APPLICABLE]. Total: [TOTAL AMOUNT]. Payment schedule: [AMOUNT OR PERCENTAGE] on signing to confirm the booking, and the balance by [DATE], by [PAYMENT METHOD]. The booking is not confirmed until both this Agreement is signed and the first payment is received.

5. Security Deposit

The Guest will pay a security deposit of [AMOUNT] by [DATE] [or: The Host will place a hold of (AMOUNT) on the Guest's card]. The Host will return the deposit within [NUMBER] days after check-out, less reasonable charges for damage beyond normal wear and tear, missing items, extra cleaning caused by the Guest, rule violations listed in section 7, or unpaid amounts, with a written list of any deductions and photos where practical. If the deductions exceed the deposit, the Guest will pay the difference within [NUMBER] days of the Host's written request.

6. Cancellation

If the Guest cancels in writing: [NUMBER] or more days before arrival, [FULL REFUND / REFUND LESS (AMOUNT)]; between [NUMBER] and [NUMBER] days before arrival, [PERCENTAGE]% refund; fewer than [NUMBER] days before arrival or no-show, [NO REFUND / REFUND ONLY IF THE DATES ARE REBOOKED]. If the Host must cancel, or the Property becomes unusable through no fault of the Guest (for example, a major repair, a natural disaster, or an order of a public authority), the Host will refund all amounts paid for the nights affected, and the Host's liability will be limited to that refund. Where the booking was made through a platform, the platform's cancellation policy applies to the amounts it collected.

7. House Rules

The Guest and everyone on the Property will follow these rules: (a) no parties or events [or: events only with the Host's prior written consent]; (b) quiet hours from [TIME] to [TIME]; (c) no smoking or vaping [INSIDE / ANYWHERE ON THE PROPERTY]; (d) pets [NOT ALLOWED / ALLOWED: (TYPE, NUMBER, FEE)]; (e) parking only at [LOCATION], for no more than [NUMBER] vehicles; (f) [POOL / HOT TUB / FIREPLACE / GRILL] rules: [RULES]; (g) trash and recycling: [INSTRUCTIONS]; (h) respect neighbors and building rules, a copy of which is [ATTACHED / POSTED AT THE PROPERTY]; (i) additional rules: [RULES]. A serious breach of these rules, such as a party, exceeding the occupancy limit, or illegal activity, allows the Host to end the stay early after [NOTICE] without a refund for the remaining nights, to the extent permitted by law.

8. Condition, Damage and Maintenance

The Host will provide the Property clean, safe, and in good working order, with working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors where required. The Guest will report any damage, malfunction, or safety issue to the Host at [PHONE] promptly, and in any case before check-out. The Guest is responsible for damage caused by the Guest or their visitors, beyond normal wear and tear. The Host may enter the Property during the Rental Period only for emergencies, for urgent repairs, or after giving [NUMBER] hours' notice.

9. Cameras and Privacy

Recording devices at the Property: [NONE / EXTERIOR CAMERA AT (LOCATION) / NOISE MONITOR THAT DOES NOT RECORD AUDIO]. No camera or recording device is placed in a bedroom, bathroom, or sleeping area. The Host will not share the Guest's personal details except as needed to manage the booking, to meet legal or tax obligations, or when required by law.

10. Permits, Liability and General Terms

The Host confirms that the Property may be used for short-term rental under applicable rules. Permit or registration number, if required: [NUMBER, or NOT REQUIRED]. To the extent permitted by law, the Host is not responsible for loss of or damage to the Guest's belongings, or for injury, except to the extent caused by the Host's negligence or a defect the Host knew about. The Guest uses amenities such as the pool, hot tub, or bicycles at their own risk and will supervise children at all times. This Agreement is governed by the laws of [GOVERNING LAW JURISDICTION]. It is the entire agreement between the Parties about the stay and may be changed only in writing. If any provision is held invalid, the rest remains in effect. The Parties agree that this Agreement may be signed electronically and in counterparts, each of which is an original and all of which together form one agreement.

11. Signatures

HOST: [HOST NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] GUEST: [GUEST NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE]

Our take: Our take: a short stay is not a tenancy, and the agreement should read like it. A residential lease gives someone a home for months or years with tenant protections; a sublease lets an existing tenant pass on part of their own lease. A vacation rental is a short, fixed stay with a firm check-out time, and the most useful clauses are the boring ones: the maximum number of guests, quiet hours, no parties, and what the deposit covers. Long stays can blur the line, and in some places a guest who stays long enough may gain tenant rights, so check your local rules before you accept a booking of a month or more. Before you list at all, check whether your city requires a permit or registration and which occupancy or lodging taxes apply. New York City, for example, requires hosts of stays under 30 days to register with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement, and booking platforms may not process transactions for unregistered listings there. If you take bookings through a platform, its terms and cancellation policy usually apply too, so keep this agreement consistent with them. Never place cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms, and disclose any others.

When should you use a short-term rental agreement?

When you rent out a vacation home, cabin, or apartment for a few nights or weeks
When a guest books directly with you instead of through a booking platform
When you want guests to sign your house rules, occupancy limit, and deposit terms before arrival
When you rent your own home while you are away on holiday
When a property manager handles short stays on behalf of an owner

How do you fill in this template?

Check your city's short-term rental rules first: whether you need a permit or registration, minimum stay or night caps, and which occupancy taxes apply. Fill in section 10 with your permit number.
Enter the dates, check-in and check-out times, and an occupancy limit that matches the beds and any local or building limit.
Set the price, fees, taxes, deposit, and cancellation schedule, and make them match your listing if you also take platform bookings.
Rewrite the house rules in section 7 for your property; delete anything that doesn't apply and add the rule you actually worry about.
Disclose any cameras or noise monitors in section 9, and attach building rules or a pet addendum if needed.
Upload it to eSignSimple, save it as a reusable template, and send it to each guest for e-signature before you share the access code. Guests don't need an account.

How do you get it signed online?

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.
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.
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.
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 October 18, 2026

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

Is a short-term rental agreement the same as a lease?

No. A lease gives a tenant the right to live in a property for a longer term, with tenant protections under landlord-tenant law. A short-term rental agreement covers a fixed stay of days or weeks and is usually treated as a temporary right to occupy. Whether a long stay turns into a tenancy depends on local law, so check your rules before accepting bookings of a month or more.

Do I need an agreement if guests book on Airbnb or Vrbo?

The platform's own terms and cancellation policy already apply to those bookings. Many hosts still ask guests to sign a short house-rules agreement, but check the platform's policies first, because some limit what you can ask guests to sign or pay outside the platform.

Do I need a permit to rent my home short term?

In many cities, yes. Some require registration or a permit, some cap the number of nights or ban short stays in certain zones, and many charge occupancy or lodging taxes. New York City, for example, requires registration for stays under 30 days. Check your city and county rules, and your HOA or building rules, before you list.

How much security deposit should I take?

Enough to cover a realistic repair or deep clean, not the value of the house. Many hosts set it between one and two nights' rent. Say exactly what it covers and how fast you will return it, and check whether your state sets rules or deadlines for deposits on short stays.

Can guests sign a vacation rental agreement electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally valid for this kind of contract in the US under the ESIGN Act and UETA, and in many other countries. eSignSimple keeps an audit trail of who signed and when.

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