Simple One-page Rental Agreement

Why Use a One-Page Lease Agreement Template?

A free rental agreement form may come in different versions. Some may cover more details and terms while others keep to the standard provisions to create a simple rental document. To check if this is the right document for you, here are some pros and cons:

PROS:

• The straightforward language in the short lease contract can be easily understood by the landlord and tenant.
• The essential aspects are still explained thoroughly. This includes a security deposit, period of time, and delegation of responsibility between landlord and tenant.
• If the landlord and tenant agree to renew this rental agreement every month, less time will be needed to check, ensuring a smooth transaction.
• Riders can still be attached to this type of residential lease agreement.
• The landlord has the upper hand in the basic rental agreement since his or her permission must be obtained in some provisions.
• For the tenant, this type of residential lease agreement has fewer restrictions.

CONS:

• On the downside, a shorter lease agreement does not provide the landlord an opportunity to discuss common areas of the real estate, which may be troublesome for someone renting a shared building. Fortunately, the landlord may seamlessly add this through a lease agreement builder.
• Because the rental agreement is short, it does not discuss important legal wording in detail. Some of these are:
• “Indemnify”– This word explains that the landlord will not be responsible for any damage or harm that happens inside the premises. This is acceptable if there is no common area on the premises. However, if there are, you may want to include a more specific discussion about the landlord’s responsibilities for these shared spaces.
• “Reasonable prior notice” – Since the word “reasonable” is quite subjective, you may check real estate laws of the state. In most states, a 30-day notice is required. The length of notice is also determined by the circumstance.
• “Any rules and regulations” – These normally come as attachments or riders to the rental lease agreement.
• A fixed-term rental requires more opportunities to discuss alterations, maintenance, property use, and other conditions that are crucial to keeping both parties at peace in the long-term. A short rental agreement may not provide this.
• This type of rental agreement does not discuss the number of “occupants” or “use of furnishings,” although additional conditions or lists of occupants may be included as a rider to the contract.

Get a Personalized Document

FormsPal provides a free lease agreement template, which can be readily downloaded and used. You may choose from an MSWord file (DOCX), PDF, or an Open Office program (ODT).
To further customize your lease agreement in order to match your real estate rental needs, you may use FormsPal’s step-by-step builder.

Reasons to Customize Your Own Rental Agreement

The landlord and the tenant may want to add more conditions for the following reasons:

1. Having a personalized rental agreement gives more security to both parties.
2. It makes the agreement more thorough and therefore reduces the need to negotiate.
3. Through the contract builder, the landlord may add other important information and provisions.
4. The tenant’s needs and requests can be accommodated through the builder.
5. The builder can ensure that additional clauses and amendments are kept legal.

Simple One-page Rental Agreement Form Details

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How to Fill Out the One-Page Rental Agreement

Filling out the one-page rental agreement takes about 8 minutes and has 27 fillable fields. Work through the form from top to bottom, and complete each step on the template as you read it. Most of the form is already written, so you only enter names, dates, amounts and a few choices.

The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Simple One-page Rental Agreement template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.

FormsPal has prepared a free printable basic rental agreement, which you can download on this page.

If you don’t have any of the required programs to open the above rental agreements, we highly suggest that you install the free Open Office program.

Step 1: Enter the date and the parties

A “party” is someone who takes part in the agreement. The “landlord” or “lessor” owns the property. The “tenant” or “lessee” pays for the right to live there for a set “term.”

Type these items in the opening paragraph at the top of the form:

• Blank 1: Date of the agreement
• Blank 2: Full name of the landlord
• Blank 3: Full name of the tenant
• Blank 4: Phone number and e-mail address

Step 2: Describe the property and the term

A lease must also answer the questions “Where?” and “How long?” Below is the information to be included in section one:

• Blank 1: Complete address of the real estate property (include its unit number, floor, building number, street, area, city, county, state, zip code).
• Box 2: Tick “Month-to-month” if both parties renew the agreement every month, or tick “Term” for a longer period without a monthly renewal.
• Blank 3: If you ticked “Term,” type the number of months the tenant may occupy the premises.

Step 3: Choose the security deposit

In most cases, a security deposit is required for new tenants, even after a thorough background check. This is necessary to secure payments for utilities or to repair damages just in case the tenant leaves without settling his or her obligations.

• Box 1: Tick “No security deposit” if the tenant does not need to give one. If the landlord requires a security deposit, then he or she must tick the second box (1.2)
• Blank 2: If you ticked the deposit box, write the amount of the deposit on the line provided. Attorneys recommend payment of no more than 150% of the monthly rent amount.

Step 4: Enter the rent

Unlike a longer lease agreement, short contracts combine the rent details and conditions in one paragraph and are filled out as follows:

• Blank 1: Type the date when the rental term begins.
• Blank 2: Type the day of the month the rent is due, for example “3rd day of each month.”
• Blank 3: Type the monthly rent amount in dollars.
• Blank 4: The full address designated by the Landlord where the tenant must pay rent. This could be his or her residential address, office, or a representative’s address.
• Blank 5: Write the late fee amount in dollars, separate from the rent.

Step 5: List the utilities the landlord provides

Write the utilities the landlord will provide on the line after “Landlord shall provide the following utilities.” The tenant takes care of all other utilities, as the form states. If none apply, simply write “n/a” (not applicable).

Step 6: Review maintenance, damage and insurance

In sections four to seven, both tenant and landlord must review how the premises will be used.

In section six, in particular, the landlord must indicate the manner in which he or she wishes to receive requests. Depending on the urgency, the problem may also be remedied by the tenant without notice to the other party. However, this section does not provide provisions for reimbursement.

To make changes to these sections, we at FormsPal highly recommend consulting an attorney or using our custom lease agreement builder.

Even with good care, major problems such as fires, burglary or storms can still happen. Sections seven and eight cover these cases.

• Blank 1, the tenant must agree to this waiver by placing his or her signature or handwritten initials on the blank provided.

Sections nine to twelve have no blanks. Read them with the other party before you sign.

Step 7: Set the pet and walkthrough terms

Though not all tenants may have pets, those who own “fur babies” will take this clause as a make-or-break decision point. Therefore, the agreement must contain a clause about pet ownership. If you are the landlord, you may use the following options:

• Box 1: Tick “Pets are prohibited” if you cannot allow pets on the premises or if the tenant has no plans of keeping them. Otherwise, tick “Pets are permitted.”
• Blank 2: Write your conditions after “as follows.” For example, you may name a size limit, a breed, or a type of animal.

In rare cases, landlords may need to relocate tenants and enter the premises. Sections 14 and 15 discuss these. On the other hand, section 16 mentions other “rules and regulations” that may be attached as riders to the lease agreement.

Section 17 covers the walkthrough. Checking the condition of the premises together before move-in helps both landlord and tenant, and both parties may take pictures to document it.

• Box 1: Mark “Walkthrough waived” if the tenant trusts the landlord’s word and signs the lease without a thorough walkthrough.

The agreement must disclose the presence of harmful materials on the premises. Lead-based paint disclosures are the most common warnings for residential properties. However, other disclosures can be added if there is a presence of mold or bed bugs.

Step 8: Sign as the landlord

Once both sides agree on every provision of the rental agreement, the landlord signs on the Landlord’s signature line at the bottom of the form.

Step 9: Sign as the first tenant

The tenant signs on the first Tenant’s signature line.

Step 10: Add signatures for other tenants

Those living with the main tenant may also add their signatures on the second and third Tenant lines. The form has three Tenant lines in total.

A one-page rental lease agreement can cut down on paperwork and make renting easier for both parties. It also has pros and cons, so check that this short lease works for your property. If it needs adjustments, you may consult an attorney or use our contract builder.

Frequently Asked Questions

People often ask the same few things before they use a one-page rental agreement, such as what it is and how long it takes to fill out. Here are short answers to each of them.

What is a one-page rental agreement?

A one-page rental agreement is a short residential lease that fits the key terms on a single sheet. It names the parties and the property, and it sets the term, the rent and the security deposit. It is quick to read and to fill out.

How long does it take to fill out?

The template takes about 8 minutes and has 27 fillable fields. Most of the text is already written, so you only complete these parts:

• The date and the names of the landlord and the tenant
• The property, the term and the security deposit
• The rent and the utilities the landlord provides
• The pet and walkthrough choices
• The signatures

The steps above show each part of the form.

When is a one-page lease a good fit?

It suits a simple rental of one home or room when you want plain language and few terms. If you need extra conditions, add a rider or use FormsPal’s step-by-step builder to create a longer lease.

Can I add my own terms to the template?

Yes. FormsPal’s builder lets you add the conditions and responsibilities that fit your rental, and the document is updated as you go.

Should an attorney look at the agreement?

If you change the template or have questions about your own situation, you may consult an attorney. A lawyer can also check that your changes protect both the landlord and the tenant.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Jennifer M. Settles

Author & Attorney

With over 25 years of experience as a business and transactional attorney, Jennifer has mastered the craft of closing highly successful deals for her clients. Through her wide-ranging expertise in commercial contracts, real estate transactions, M&A and corporate law, Jennifer secures results that are second-to-none.