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Sample Lease Agreement
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This document is intended as a sample only. No claim is made or implied that particular provisions within this document have necessarily been shown to hold up in a court of law. Landlords are advised to seek legal counsel when composing a lease to meet their individual needs.
RESIDENTIAL LEASE
1. PARTIES AND PREMISES:
This Lease agreement is made on , 20 , between _________________, herein referred to as Landlord and herein referred to as Tenant.
Landlord rents to Tenant and Tenant rents from Landlord for use as a residence, an unfurnished apartment, located at
________________________ in the City of ________________, County of
__________, State of Vermont.
2. TERM:
The initial term of this lease is to commence on , 20 , and to end on , 20____, on the following terms and conditions:
3. RENT:
Tenant agrees to pay as rent for the demised premises Dollars ($ ) per month, payable by check or money order, without demand, in advance on the 1st day of each month. Rent will be considered late if not received by Landlord before the 6th of the month, unless a written agreement is in effect with an alternative payment plan. Late payments affect tenant credit references.
4. SECURITY DEPOSIT:
On execution of this agreement, Tenant deposits with Landlord the additional sum of Dollars ($ ), receipt of which is acknowledged by Landlord, as security for the full and faithful performance by Tenant of this agreement, all of which shall be refundable within 14 days from the date of surrendering the premises, provided Landlord may retain all or a portion of the security deposit for the following:
a.non payment of rent;
b.damage to property of the Landlord, unless the damage is the result of normal wear and tear or the result of actions or events beyond the control of Tenant. At the beginning of the tenancy, Landlord and Tenant shall prepare a list of existing damages to the premises. A dated signed copy of such list shall be obtained by both Landlord and Tenant for purposes of assisting in the resolution of the amount of security deposit to return to Tenant;
c.nonpayment of all utility charges for which Tenant is responsible and which may constitute a lien on the property, or other utility charges which Tenant was required to pay directly to Landlord;
d.bringing the apartment back to a level of cleanliness equal to when the tenant occupied the dwelling unit, and;
e.expenses required to remove, store and dispose of articles abandoned by Tenant.
5. UTILITIES:
The responsibility for payment to entities providing utilities and other services to the premises during the term of the Lease shall be as follows:
Heating:
Electric:
Water/Sewer:
Trash:
Other (Specify):
6. HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS:
Tenant agrees that the demised premises shall be occupied solely by the following household members:
Any other people not herein named may not live in the unit without the written permission of Landlord. Tenant shall not sublet the unit or any part thereof, or assign this agreement without Landlord’s written consent.
7. PEACEFUL ENJOYMENT:
Tenant shall conduct himself or herself and require other persons on the premises with the Tenant’s consent to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb other tenants’ or neighbors’ peaceful enjoyment of the premises. Tenant will comply with the terms of any local noise ordinances which may apply. Receipt of two (2) notices of violation of such ordinance shall constitute grounds for termination of this lease.
8. ACCESS:
Landlord may enter the dwelling unit with the Tenant’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Landlord may also enter the dwelling unit for the following purposes between the hours of 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM on no less than 48 hours’ notice:
a.when necessary to inspect the premises;
b.to make necessary or agreed upon repairs, alterations or improvements; and
c.to exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers or contractors.
Landlord may enter the dwelling unit without consent or notice when Landlord has reasonable belief that there is imminent danger to any person or to property.
9. EVICTION:
Any failures by the Tenant to pay rent or other charges promptly when due shall constitute a default herein under and permit Landlord at its option to terminate this tenancy upon 14 days’ written notice to Tenant. Failure to comply with any other material term or condition herein shall also constitute a default and permit Landlord at its option to terminate this tenancy upon 30 days’ written notice to Tenant. Upon such termination(s), all leasehold rights of Tenant under this agreement shall be forfeited and Tenant shall surrender possession.
10. HOUSEKEEPING:
Tenants shall keep and maintain the demised premises in a clean and sanitary condition at all times, and on the expiration or sooner termination of the tenancy shall surrender the premises to Landlord in as good condition as when received, ordinary wear and tear and damage by the elements excepted. Tenant shall not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage or remove any part of the premises or its fixtures, mechanical systems or furnishings or deliberately or negligently permit any person to do so. Tenant shall not remove any tree, shrubbery, vine or other plant from the premises and shall not store personal possessions in the common area or basement without written permission of Landlord.
11. REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS:
Unless caused by the negligence of the Tenant, Landlord shall be responsible for repairs to the interior and exterior of the premises. It is the responsibility of Tenant to promptly notify Landlord of the need for any such repair of which the Tenant becomes aware. Tenant will be responsible for any repairs caused by his/her negligence.
Lessor shall put the demised premises into condition fit for their occupation by the commencement of the tenancy, and shall repair all subsequent changes in condition thereof which may render them untenantable, except that lessee shall repair all deteriorations or injuries to the demised premises occasioned by her, his, or their want of ordinary care or greater degree of culpability. No duty on the part of lessor shall arise with respect to repairs to tenantability under this section, however, if lessee is in substantial violation of any one or more of the following obligations:
(a) To keep the demised premises clean and sanitary as the condition of same permits.
(b) To remove from the dwelling unit all rubbish, garbage, and other waste, in a clean and sanitary manner.
(c) To properly use and operate all electrical, cooking and plumbing fixtures and to keep them as clean and sanitary as their condition permits.
(d) To allow any person on the premises, with permission, to willfully or wantonly destroy, deface, damage, impair, or remove any part of the structure or dwelling unit or the facilities, equipment, furnishings, or appurtenances thereto.
(e) To occupy the premises as a residential dwelling, utilizing the portions thereof for living, sleeping, cooking, or dining purposes only which were respectively designed or intended to be used for such occupancies.
Tenant will not make alterations, additions or improvements on the premises without in each case first obtaining the written consent of Landlord. A consent to a particular alteration, addition or improvement shall not be deemed a consent to future alterations, additions or improvements.
12. FIRE OR OTHER CASUALTY:
If the premises shall be destroyed by fire or other casualty, or shall be so damaged that the Landlord decides that repair is not warranted economically, then this lease shall terminate, and rent for the period in which said premises are not habitable shall not be owed. If the premises shall become partially uninhabitable on account of fire or other casualty, than a just, proportionate part of the rent shall be abated until the premises have been restored to their former condition. If the heat or other utilities cease for any cause not within control of Landlord, the obligation of Tenant under the terms of this lease shall not be affected thereby, nor shall any claim against the Landlord accrue to Tenant by reason thereof.
13. EXPIRATION OF LEASE AND NOTICE TO MOVE:
Should Tenant remain in possession of the premises with the consent of Landlord after the natural expiration of this lease, a new tenancy from month to month shall be created between Landlord and Tenant which shall be subject to all the terms and conditions hereof.
14. SERVICE:
In the event there are two or more Tenants named herein, service of any notice by Landlord on any one of the Tenants named herein shall be construed, and Tenants hereby agree that such service shall be construed, as effective service of notice to all Tenants residing on the premises.
15. LIABILITY:
Each Tenant signing this lease shall be jointly and severally liable to Landlord for all obligations arising under this lease.
16. ATTORNEY’S FEES:
If suit is brought by Landlord for possession of the demised premises, for the recovery of any rent due under the provision of this agreement, or for any obligation of Tenant arising under this agreement or by law, then Tenant hereby agrees to pay Landlord all costs in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees.
17. TENANT’S POSSESSION:
Tenant is strongly encouraged to buy Renter’s Insurance in order to protect their belongings.
18. PARKING:
The apartment is provided to Tenant without off-street parking.
19. ALL CONDITIONS OF LEASE AGREEMENT:
The conditions of the lease are separate, the validity of each not being dependent upon the other. This lease constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. The breach of any condition of this lease is to be considered substantial. This lease is executed in two copies, each copy to be considered an original for all purposes. This lease shall be construed according to the Laws of the State of Vermont.
In witness whereof, the parties have executed this agreement at the day and year first above written.
This document is intended as a sample only. No claim is made or implied that particular provisions within this document have necessarily been shown to hold up in a court of law. Landlords are advised to seek legal counsel when composing a lease to meet their individual needs.
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity