| If you are going to rent out your home, then you | | | | You will also want to included any regulations and |
| should definitely get everything down in writing | | | | rules on issues like smoking or pets in the lease. |
| beforehand. By getting a written lease, you will | | | | Also, how many people are allowed to occupy the |
| provide security for yourself and you will have all | | | | building and whether then tenants are allowed to |
| the tenants obligations made obvious and legally | | | | sublease the residence out. |
| binding. | | | | Another critical thing to list is how long the lease is |
| It makes sense to make the lease as | | | | valid for, and whether there will be any revision of |
| comprehensive as possible, as this will save you | | | | rental fees during the lease. You should have a |
| hassles later. If not, then later on if there is | | | | clearly laid out dispute resolution protocol on the |
| trouble you will not have anything to back you up | | | | lease and also any conditions of termination, just |
| and it will take longer and cost more to sort out. | | | | in case there are problems later on. |
| For starters, you will want to have things like the | | | | Once you have everything you need you should |
| cost of rent, when it should be paid, how you | | | | ensure that it is faithful to all the local and state |
| want it paid and any other costs that will be | | | | laws. You need to be very sure of this as if it |
| incurred written down. Also to be included are | | | | doesn't then your lease is not binding. |
| things like who should pay for utilities and other | | | | After you have all this done, then you should and |
| costs. | | | | the tenant should both sign and date it. The thing |
| Another critical aspect that needs to listed is who | | | | is that once you have this sealed, then you have |
| is liable for maintenance costs as well as repairs | | | | given yourself peace of mind for the period of |
| to chattels. Even things such as snow and lawns | | | | the lease. |
| should be covered in the lease. | | | | |