How much can I charge for a security deposit?

Security deposit limits vary by state — commonly 1 to 2 months of rent. Many states require deposits to be held in a separate account and returned within 14 to 30 days of move-out with an itemized list of deductions. Check your state's specific rules.

What's the difference between a fixed-term lease and month-to-month?

A fixed-term lease (typically 6 or 12 months) locks both parties into the agreement until the end date. A month-to-month rental continues indefinitely until either party gives proper written notice — usually 30 days, though some states require 60.

Can I include a late fee in my lease?

Yes, most states allow reasonable late fees if the amount and grace period are clearly stated in the lease. Many jurisdictions cap late fees at 5–10% of monthly rent or require a grace period of 3–5 days. Check local landlord-tenant law before setting the amount.

Do I need to have my lease notarized?

Most residential leases don't require notarization to be legally binding — the signatures of all parties are usually enough. Some states require notarization for leases over one year. Notarization adds a layer of authenticity for disputes.

Lease Builder

Residential & Commercial Lease Agreement Generator

Build a professional lease in minutes. Eight lease types, guided steps, plain-English clauses, and AI-assisted drafting — designed for landlords, property managers, tenants, and small businesses.

Choose lease type What is a lease agreement?

Eight lease variants AI clause assistant PDF & DOCX export Reusable property templates

Step 1 — Choose your lease type

Pick the variant that matches your property. Each one comes with tailored clauses for the use case.

Residential Lease (Quick)

Streamlined residential lease.

Best for: Fastest path to a clean residential lease for any home, apartment, or room.

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Apartment Lease

Standard apartment rental agreement.

Best for: Individual apartment units in multi-unit buildings.

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Single-Family Home Lease

Whole-home residential rental.

Best for: Houses, townhomes, and detached single-family rentals.

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Month-to-Month Lease

Flexible rolling residential tenancy.

Best for: Short-term flexibility without a fixed end date.

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Room Rental Agreement

Renting a private room with shared spaces.

Best for: Roommate setups, ADUs, basement suites.

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Commercial Lease

Retail, warehouse, or general commercial space.

Best for: Storefronts, studios, light industrial, and mixed commercial use.

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Office Lease

Professional office or coworking space.

Best for: Office suites with CAM and building-services structure.

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Short-Term Rental Agreement

Vacation, Airbnb-style, or short-stay rentals.

Best for: Hosts renting nightly or weekly stays.

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How the Lease Builder works

Choose type

Apartment, single-family, month-to-month, room, commercial, office, or short-term.

Parties & property

Landlord, tenant, address, unit, and property details.

Rent & payments

Rent, deposit, late fees, utilities, pets.

Terms & rules

Duration, occupancy, maintenance, guests, parking.

Legal protections

Jurisdiction, notice, entry, dispute resolution.

Review & generate

Live preview, edit, then export PDF or DOCX.

Lease agreement essentials

Residential vs commercial leases

Residential leases protect tenants under landlord-tenant statutes that govern habitability, deposits, notice, and eviction. Commercial leases are largely freedom-of-contract — terms like CAM, insurance, and permitted use carry more weight, and tenant protections are narrower.

Understanding security deposits

Most states cap deposits (often 1–2 months' rent) and require return within a set window (commonly 14–30 days) with an itemized statement. Always document the move-in condition with a checklist or photos to defend deductions.

Common lease agreement mistakes

Vague rent due dates, no late-fee structure, missing entry-notice rules, silent on pets or guests, and no early-termination clause. The builder addresses each with sensible defaults you can customize.

Month-to-month lease basics

Month-to-month tenancies offer flexibility for both sides but require careful notice. Most states require at least 30 days' written notice to terminate or change terms, including rent increases — confirm your state's rule.

Landlord and tenant responsibilities

Landlords typically maintain habitability, structural systems, and major appliances. Tenants typically maintain cleanliness, minor upkeep, and notify the landlord promptly of needed repairs. The builder lets you split these explicitly.

Do you need a lawyer?

For standard single-unit residential leases, a well-drafted template is sufficient. Bring in counsel for multi-unit portfolios, complex commercial leases, rent-controlled jurisdictions, or any contested termination.

Pair with these documents

Most landlords need more than the lease itself.

Rental Application

Screen tenants with employment, income, and references.

Open builder

Demand Letter

Formally demand unpaid rent or compliance with the lease.

Open builder

NDA Builder

Protect confidential business information across deals.

Open builder

Ready to build your lease?

Pick a lease type and finish in under 10 minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

A complete residential lease should identify the parties and property, set the rent amount and due date, specify the lease term, address security deposits, list pet and occupancy rules, define maintenance responsibilities, and explain termination and renewal procedures.

Continue your lease workflows

Operationally relevant next steps — designed to keep your legal workflow continuous.

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