STANDARD RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT - Fixed-Term Lease - rent, deposit, fees, and occupancy terms

Sep 4, 2026

Standard residential lease agreement template defining landlord-tenant roles and key obligations for a fixed-term tenancy that automatically converts to month-to-month unless either party gives written notice at least 30 days before expiration. Covers base rent amount and due date, acceptable payment methods, late fees and returned-check charges, security deposit handling and inspection, cleaning fee, property removal rules, tenancy term changes, tenant cooperation, insurance responsibilities, abandonment, occupant limits, and lock policies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Fixed-Term Agreement (Lease)

Rent

Form of Payment

Rent Payment Procedure

Rent Due Date

Bad-Check Servicing Charge

Security Deposit

Cleaning Fee

Removal of Landlord’s Property

Changes in Terms of Tenancy

Tenant Cooperation

Tenant Insurance

Abandonment

Occupants

Lock Policy

Lockouts

1 STANDARD RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT made this Day of , , by and between , herein called “Landlord,” and and , herein called “Tenant.” Landlord hereby agrees to rent to Tenant the dwelling located at under the following terms and conditions. 1. FIXED-TERM AGREEMENT (LEASE): Tenants agree to lease this dwelling for a fixed term of , beginning and ending . Upon expiration, this Agreement shall become a month-to-month agreement AUTOMATICALLY, UNLESS either Tenants or Owners notify the other party in writing at least 30 days prior to expiration that they do not wish this Agreement to continue on any basis. 2. RENT: Tenant agrees to pay Landlord as base rent the sum of $_________ per month, due and payable monthly in advance on the 1st day of each month during the term of this agreement. The first month’s rent is required to be submitted on or before move-in. 3. FORM OF PAYMENT: Tenants agree to pay their rent in the form of a personal check, a cashier’s check, or a money order made out to the Landlord. 4. RENT PAYMENT PROCEDURE: Tenants agree to pay their rent by mail addressed to the Landlord (replace this with landlord’s mailing address) , or in person at the same address, or in such other way as the Landlord will advise the Tenant in writing. 5. RENT DUE DATE: Tenant hereby acknowledges that late payment will cause Landlord to incur costs not contemplated by this Rental Agreement. We allow for a 3 day grace period. In the event rent is not received prior to the 4th of the month, Tenant agrees to pay a $25 late fee, plus an additional $5 per day for every day thereafter until the rent is paid. Neither ill health, loss of job, financial emergency, or other excuses will be accepted for late payment. 6. BAD-CHECK SERVICING CHARGE: In the event Tenant’s check is dishonored and returned unpaid for any reason to Landlord, Tenant agrees to pay a returned check charge of $25 AND accept whatever consequences there might be in making a late payment. If for any reason a check is returned or dishonored, all future rent payments will be cash or money order. 7. SECURITY DEPOSIT: Tenants hereby agree to pay a security deposit of $ to be refunded upon vacating, returning the keys to the Landlord and termination of this contract according to other terms herein agreed. This deposit will be held to cover any possible damage to the property. No interest will be paid on this money and in no case will it be applied to back or future rent. It will be held intact by Landlord until at least thirty (30) working days after Tenants have vacated the property. At that time Landlord will inspect the premises thoroughly and assess any damages and/or needed repairs. This deposit money minus any necessary charges for missing/dead light bulbs, repairs, cleaning, etc., will then be returned to Tenant with a written explanation of deductions, within 60 days after they have vacated the property. 8. CLEANING FEE Tenant hereby agrees to accept property in its present state of cleanliness. They agree to return the property in the same condition or pay a $200.00 minimum cleaning fee if the Landlord has to have the property professionally cleaned. 9. REMOVAL OF LANDLORD’S PROPERTY: 2 If anyone removes any property belonging to Landlord without the express written consent of the Landlord, this will constitute abandonment and surrender of the premises by Tenant and termination by them of this Rental Agreement. Landlord may also take further legal action. 10. CHANGES IN TERMS OF TENANCY: (This paragraph applies only when this Agreement is or has become a month-to-month agreement) . Owners shall advise Tenants of any changes in terms of tenancy with advance notice of at least thirty (30) days. Changes may include notices of termination, rent adjustments, or other reasonable changes in the terms of this Agreement. 11. TENANT COOPERATION: Tenant agrees to cooperate with the Landlord is sh

FAQs

When does the fixed-term lease end, and what happens after expiration?

The fixed term begins and ends on the stated dates. After expiration, the agreement becomes month-to-month automatically unless either party notifies the other in writing at least 30 days prior.

What are the late payment and returned-check consequences?

Rent not received prior to the 4th triggers a $25 late fee plus $5 per day thereafter during the grace period. A dishonored check results in a $25 returned check charge and future rent must be paid by cash or money order.

How is the security deposit handled and refunded?

The deposit is held to cover possible property damage and is not paid interest or applied to future/back rent. After the tenant vacates, the landlord inspects the premises and returns the deposit minus applicable charges with a written explanation within 60 days.

Sep 4, 2026

Upload by Lucas Martin