The short answer
A lease should accurately describe the parties, rental, term, payment obligations and operating arrangements, together with required provisions and disclosures for the location and tenancy.
On this page
Gather the core facts
Confirm names and roles, full address and unit, dates, rent, due date, deposit and other permitted charges. Address utilities, maintenance reporting, keys, parking and any agreed amenities. Distinguish contractual tenants from other occupants where applicable.
Check local and special requirements
Review disclosures, restricted clauses, entry rules, deposits, renewal and termination requirements. A subsidized tenancy or other special arrangement may require additional documents. Review the complete agreement rather than assuming the template covers everything.
Example: conflicting utility terms
The listing says water is included while an attachment assigns a separate charge. Resolve the actual arrangement and legality before execution. Then inspect the final package and attachments the parties will receive, not just the builder fields.
References and next steps
Use these references for the specific topic they cover. Local requirements and individual circumstances may differ.
Written and maintained by the Rentari team. Examples explain a decision; they are not customer results. This is general education. Confirm the rules and treatment for your property with a qualified local professional. Found an error or an unclear step? Send a correction with this page's address and the detail to review.
Your next step
Prepare and review a lease