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What should be in a lease agreement?

An owner and a renter go through a tabbed lease document together at a table, with a pen and house keys beside it
  1. Rent, term and payments
  2. Required disclosures
  3. Both parties sign

The short answer

A lease should accurately describe the parties, rental, term, payment obligations and operating arrangements, together with required provisions and disclosures for the location and tenancy.

On this page

Gather the core facts

Confirm names and roles, full address and unit, dates, rent, due date, deposit and other permitted charges. Address utilities, maintenance reporting, keys, parking and any agreed amenities. Distinguish contractual tenants from other occupants where applicable.

Check local and special requirements

Review disclosures, restricted clauses, entry rules, deposits, renewal and termination requirements. A subsidized tenancy or other special arrangement may require additional documents. Review the complete agreement rather than assuming the template covers everything.

Example: conflicting utility terms

The listing says water is included while an attachment assigns a separate charge. Resolve the actual arrangement and legality before execution. Then inspect the final package and attachments the parties will receive, not just the builder fields.

References and next steps

Use these references for the specific topic they cover. Local requirements and individual circumstances may differ.

The Rentari team writes and updates this guide. Examples illustrate decisions and do not describe customer results. This is general education. Confirm the rules and treatment for your property with a qualified local professional. Found an error or an unclear step? Send a correction with a link to this page and the wording you’d change.