4 Things a Landlord Should Include in a Rental Agreement

If you have properties that you rent to others, you’ll want to avoid any legal issues. There are many that can arise if you don’t do the proper things. Having a contract in place is the first order of business for any landlord. Knowing what the contract should include is certain to be very helpful to you.

  1. Length of rental

Listing the amount of time the tenant will rent the property should be listed in the contract. This is the key to being able to avoid a number of problems, such as having a vacant rental.

Once your tenant signs the contract, this will legally bind the tenant to staying in the property. It’s common for many landlords to rent annually and this should be clearly stated in the contract.

  1. Cost of rent

The amount you expect to be paid each month should be clearly listed in the rental agreement. There shouldn’t be any question about the price necessary to rent the apartment or home.

Additionally, you’ll want to include any deposits that are required to secure the rental. The precise amount should be listed and if this will be refunded if the tenant leaves the property.

  1. Policies

There may be certain things you may not want your tenant to do when renting. One of these could include not having any pets in your rental property.

Many landlords don’t want cats or dogs in the house or apartment that is being rented. Having it clearly stated in the contract can be very helpful with ensuring your wishes are kept and followed.

  1. Reasons for eviction

There are certain things that must be followed to avoid any type of eviction. The last thing you’ll want to have to issue is a s21 eviction notice.

You may want to have a section in the contract that states why an eviction could occur. This will allow the tenant to have a very clear understanding of this and below are typical reasons for eviction:

  1. Failure to pay the monthly rent on time each month.

· 2. Not complying with the rules set forth in the contract by the landlord.

· 3. Causing damage to the property and failing to repair any of these costly issues.

· 4. Having too many people live in the rental without the consent of the landlord.

Working diligently to keep your home or apartment rented is a task that should be done routinely. The last thing you’ll want to do is to avoid getting the money you need for your properties. However, having the least amount of legal hassled during this time is of utmost importance. You’ll be glad you took the time to have a contract in place that must be abided by the tenant. If you do have any disagreement with the tenant that can’t be settled, you may need to hire a lawyer to assist you. Don’t try to do things on your own that will need the expertise of an attorney to complete. Always work with a legal specialist to ensure the best results.