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Top 4 Things to Include in a Residential Lease Agreement

It can be quite confusing to read a lease. Often, landlords and tenants impulsively like to sign the document instead of trying to determine all the legal terms. But it is essential to know that a lease is an agreement that is enforceable legally. In case you fail to stick to all the terms, you could be in a fix at a later time. However, it is important that you go through the whole document before you sign on the dotted line. Know about the 4 important things that a free lease agreement PDF needs to include.

Utility Inclusion

This agreement needs to mention all the policies about billing and utility services. If you are going to be a tenant, you need to check whether your monthly rent includes the utilities as well. Also find out whether you would be expected to have any utility costs covered. A few landlords, for instance, pay for sewer services, water and electric, whereas the internet and cable expenses have to be paid by the renter. A lease agreement must mention the kind of utility expenses that must be paid, and who will be responsible for dealing with what.

Early Termination

The agreement must explain all that you must do prior to shifting. You have to check:

  • The amount of advance notice that would be needed
  • The kind of cleaning that you would be expected to deal with
  • The kind of options that you can avail in case you need to move out prior to the term expiration

You have to consider whether you can actually sublet the property that you have rented. If that is the case, you have to consider whether you have to find the sublet renter, or does that happen to be the responsibility of the landlord. In case you are unable to find anybody to sublet the property, will there be any penalty for breaking the residence agreement lease.

Repairs and Maintenance

You need to be very attentive to this as well, given the fact that it can cost you much time and money, as well as hassles. In a few types of Florida residential lease agreement, landlords are the ones who have to deal with all the maintenance and repair work, be it a damaged AC or a leaking faucet.

In a few situations, landlords will be in charge of replacing or repairing only big sized appliances. However, for all other things, the tenant would be the one regarded as responsible. And then, there are contracts where the entire maintenance and repair costs would be expected by the tenant. There could be stipulations regarding the maintenance of external spaces or yards, and the document for agreement must mention this in an accurate way.

It is important for you to check the lease and find out about the responsibilities of your landlord, and you – the tenant, as far as maintenance and repairs are concerned. You have to be clear regarding who would be in charge of payment, who would arrange for all the calls regarding services as well as how much time your landlord and you have, in order to take care of any problem. Both parties must have a clear idea about who is supposed to deal with which part of repair and maintenance work in a property.

Hank Pedro
the authorHank Pedro