Rent Agreement Forms: Essential Points

Answer 1

Whether a person is renting their home from a private property owner or a major real estate company, it is important to understand what types of information do and do not belong on a rental agreement. If a person does not take the time to read the fine print of their rental agreement, they may find that they have given up more of their rights than they had realized. For example, some rental companies include stipulations in their rental agreements that give property owners unfettered access to the property at anytime, which may result in a renter having considerably less privacy in his or her home than is usual. Let’s take a look at some of the primary points of interest on a rent agreement that an individual should take a close look at before signing a rental agreement.

One of the most important items of interest on a lease agreement for a renter to consider involves their responsibility for the condition of the property at the beginning and the end of the lease. Every rental agreement should include a stipulation that a reasonable amount of ware and tare is acceptable during the length of the lease and that a renter cannot be held liable for such minor damages. If there is no such stipulation in the rental agreement, a property owner can request that a renter pay for the replacement or repair of property that is damaged simply as a result of occupying a piece of property in a safe manner.

Similarly, it is up to a renter to ensure that permission for pets or certain types of equipment are included in the wording of the rental contract. It is not enough to rely upon a spoken agreement or exchange of email messages for these stipulations, as the wording of the rental agreement will supersede any agreements made outside of the contract. So long as a renter insists that this permission is granted in the rental agreement itself, there will be no chance for a misunderstanding in the months or years to come.