Standard residential lease agreement, free download

A landlord in Texas State requires entering into a Texas Residential Lease Agreement with the tenant for leasing a residential property. This agreement has 34 sections comprising various terms and conditions of the tenancy equally binding on both the landlord and the tenant. This lease agreement complies with the Title 8, Chapter 92 of Texas State Law for governing residential lease contracts. Please review the entire document carefully. The tenant must sign separate addendums for keeping pets or waterbeds on the premises.

The landlord must […]. However, please remember that the members of the Texas Facilities Commission approve such lease and Commission subjects it to revocation on day notice upon rejection of approval by the quorum of the Commission […].

Attorney fees and court costs in a lawsuit. Some leases and rental agreements will define who pays the expenses of a lawsuit if the landlord and tenant go to court over a breach of your rental agreement or lease such as, a dispute about the security deposit. Condition of the rental unit. Leases and rental agreements customarily include a provision in which the tenant agrees that the rental is an inhabitable condition when they move in and promises to alert the landlord immediately to any dangerous conditions if they occur.

Extended absences. Some landlords require their tenants to notify them in advance of any extended absences they plan to be away from the premises. This is usually anything longer than a week. Limits on guest stay. Landlords might limit overnight guests to keep long-term guests from attaining the station of full-fledged tenants who have not been screened, approved by the landlord or listed on the lease or rental agreement.

No illegal activity. Landlords can limit their potential liability by including a clause prohibiting illegal and disruptive behavior—like using drugs, dealing drugs or causing trouble.

If the tenant is involved in any illegal activity, the landlord can terminate their tenancy. Landlords can prohibit all pets, or restrict the types allowed—with the exception of service and emotional support animals. If a rental is pet-friendly, it is helpful to include pet policies in the lease or rental agreement. Examples of this would be to write out how many pets a tenant can have, what types, breeds, and sizes of animals are allowed.

Restrictions on the number of occupants. Landlords will typically set a limit to the number of people who can live in their rental property. Federal law requires that landlords allow two people per bedroom. Restrictions on the use of the property. Landlords can prohibit or restrict smoking of any kind in their rental property. If the landlord wants to limit smoking, they should include where tenants may smoke.

State and local disclosures. Many state and local laws require landlords to disclose documentation, policies, or specific unit information to tenants prior to moving in. Since these laws vary from state to state and sometimes by city or county it is important to have your agreement looked over by a landlord-tenant attorney in your state to guarantee the correct disclosures are included in your lease.

Some disclosure laws impose heavy fines or legal ramifications to landlords if they are not followed. The only federally required landlord disclosure pertains to lead-based. Known as Title X, this disclosure is designed to protect families from exposure to lead from paint, dust, and soil. Section of this law requires the disclosure of known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before the sale or lease of housing built before Cautious landlords do not allow tenants to sublet their rental property without their written consent.

The lease should state who pays for each utility that services the premises. Generally, a landlord will cover the garbage and water. Tenants normally pay for the internet, cable, gas and electric service. It is unlawful for a landlord to require a tenant to waive any of their rights or place discriminatory conditions in a lease or rental agreement.

Illegal provisions may result in the landlord being liable for damages. Charging penalties instead of fees. A penalty is a means to prevent specific behavior, while the fee is intended to cover losses. Individuals are not legally allowed to charge penalties but they can charge fees. So basically, while fees are legal, they cannot amount to a penalty. An example of this may be increasing the fee for late payments in order to punish the tenant for paying late.

These penalties are not only unenforceable, but they may also violate state and local laws on landlord retaliation. Making the tenant responsible for maintenance and repairs. This is to make tenants feel that the maintenance and repair responsibilities are theirs.

Watch for language stating the tenant is responsible for maintenance and repairs — it is illegal and unenforceable. Warranty of habitability. Every state has specific health and safety codes that provide minimum standards for rental units.

Do not sign a lease without a clause requiring the landlord to keep the unit habitable. Security deposit. Security deposit deductions are the most common cause of lease disagreements. JavaScript Required You are reading this message because your browser either does not support JavaScript or has it disabled. What type of property is being rented? Mobile Home.

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This document preview is formatted to fit your mobile device. The formatting will change when printed or viewed on a desktop computer. Page of. Subject to the provisions of this Lease, apart from the Tenant, no other persons will live in the Property without the prior written permission of the Landlord.

No guests of the Tenants may occupy the Property for longer than one week without the prior written consent of the Landlord. No animals are allowed to be kept in or about the Property. Parking space is not provided under the terms of this Lease and no vehicle may park on or about the Property. The Tenant and members of the Tenant's household will not smoke anywhere in the Property nor permit any guests or visitors to smoke in the Property.

The Tenant and members of the Tenant's household will not vape anywhere in the Property nor permit any guests or visitors to vape in the Property. The term of the Lease commences at noon on November 24, and ends at noon on November 24, The Parties will complete, sign and date an inspection report at the beginning and at the end of this tenancy. The Tenant will obtain written permission from the Landlord before doing any of the following: applying adhesive materials, or inserting nails or hooks in walls or ceilings other than two small picture hooks per wall;.

The Tenant is responsible for the payment of all utilities in relation to the Property. The Tenant is hereby advised and understands that the personal property of the Tenant is not insured by the Landlord for either damage or loss, and the Landlord assumes no liability for any such loss. The Tenant is not responsible for insuring the Landlord's contents and furnishings in or about the Property for either damage or loss, and the Tenant assumes no liability for any such loss.

In the event that any action is filed in relation to this Lease, the unsuccessful Party in the action will pay to the successful Party, in addition to all the sums that either Party may be called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful Party's attorney fees. This Lease will be construed in accordance with and exclusively governed by the laws of the State of. If there is a conflict between any provision of this Lease and the Act, the Act will prevail and such provisions of the Lease will be amended or deleted as necessary in order to comply with the Act.

Further, any provisions that are required by the Act are incorporated into this Lease. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Lease will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Lease.

Such other provisions remain in full force and effect. This Lease may only be amended or modified by a written document executed by the Parties. Without the prior, express, and written consent of the Landlord, the Tenant will not assign this Lease, or sublet or grant any concession or license to use the Property or any part of the Property.

A consent by the Landlord to one assignment, subletting, concession, or license will not be deemed to be a consent to any subsequent assignment, subletting, concession, or license. Any assignment, subletting, concession, or license without the prior written consent of the Landlord, or an assignment or subletting by operation of law, will be void and will, at the Landlord's option, terminate this Lease.

If the Property should be damaged other than by the Tenant's negligence or willful act or that of the Tenant's employee, family, agent, or visitor and the Landlord decides not to rebuild or repair the Property, the Landlord may end this Lease by giving appropriate notice. The Tenant will promptly notify the Landlord of any damage, or of any situation that may significantly interfere with the normal use of the Property or to any furnishings supplied by the Landlord.

The Tenant will not engage in any illegal trade or activity on or about the Property. The Parties will comply with standards of health, sanitation, fire, housing and safety as required by law. The Parties will use reasonable efforts to maintain the Property in such a condition as to prevent the accumulation of moisture and the growth of mold.