Signing a lease with a private landlord: Things to double-check and confirm

Anything short of a detailed, nuanced leasing agreement could lead to conflict and discrepancies with your landlord.

Ensure that everything is clearly written out and explained in your leasing agreement before signing it. Standardized leasing agreements from real estate firms are very detailed, but documents from small-scale property managers or independent landlords may lack the same level of detail.

Property managers or independent landlords may use platforms like ChatGPT to create a leasing agreement template. But AI tools can lack the ability to inject details and nuances, leaving some conditions open to interpretation. If your leasing agreement fits that description, consider discussing with your landlord the possibility of revising it.

Pro tip: Online AI content checker tools are great for identifying AI writing. However, these tools aren't foolproof, so exercise caution when using them. Remember, AI audit tools are helpful aids for identifying issues, but they can't substitute for human input in terms of context, legal interpretation, and mediation.

Lease type

• Is your lease a fixed-term or month-to-month agreement? 
  
• How long is the fixed term? 
  
• Does the lease type match what you discussed with the landlord? 

Party names and descriptions

• Is your full legal name listed on the “tenant” or "lessee" line? 
  
• Is your landlord’s name listed under the “landlord” or "lessor" category?

Property description

• Does the property description language match what you discussed with your landlord? 
  
• Review the bedroom count, square footage, amenities and other details. 
  
• If you’re renting a room, what other areas do you have access to within the house?

Rent and deposit amounts

• Do the monthly rent and security deposit amounts match what you discussed? 
  
• What is the exact due date for these payments? 
  
• Are there any late fees or penalties? 

Pet policy

• Are pets allowed on the property? 
  
• Are there any breed or size restrictions?
  
• How many pets can you have? 
  
• Is there a deposit amount listed for pets? 
  
• Is there a penalty fee for having pets? 
  
• Are there requirements for emotional-support animals? 

Termination policy

• How much notice must be given before a lease can be terminated? 
  
• What is the procedure for terminating early? 
  
• What is the monetary penalty for early lease termination? 
  
• What is the legal penalty for early lease termination? 

Smoking policy

• Is smoking allowed? 
  
• Are there designated smoking areas? 
  
• Is smoking allowed outside or around the property? 
  
• What is the penalty for smoking on the property? 
  

Guest policy

• How many guests can you invite to your home? 
  
• How long can they stay? 
  
• Is there a specific procedure for overnight guests? 
  
• Is there a policy on guest parking?

Maintenance

• What maintenance tasks are you responsible for? 
  
•  What is the procedure for notifying your landlord about maintenance issues? 
  
• Is there a standard timeline for responding to maintenance requests?
  
• How much notice can I expect before a service worker enters the unit to handle a maintenance problem?

Utilities

• What utilities are you responsible for? 
  
• Are certain utilities included in your rent? 
  
• Do you pay for utilities through your property manager or on your own? 

Lawncare

• Who is responsible for lawn care? 
  
• If it's you, how frequently are you required to cut the grass? 
  
• Will your landlord reimburse you for expenses?