Lease agreement template: free in Word, or sign it online

Reviewed in October 2026

A lease agreement is a contract where a landlord rents a home to a tenant for a set term in exchange for rent. It sets the rent, the deposit, the length of the lease, who fixes what and the house rules. This residential lease covers a fixed term, usually twelve months.

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Ten documents free, no card. Signed by the landlord and every adult tenant.

Lease agreement example, filled in with sample data — Example filled in with sample data

The full lease agreement

RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

This Residential Lease Agreement (the "Lease") is made on [date] between [Landlord name], with address at [address] (the "Landlord"), and [Tenant names] (together, the "Tenant").

1. Property

The Landlord rents to the Tenant the property at [full address, including unit number] (the "Property"), including [parking space, storage, appliances listed].

2. Term

The Lease starts on [start date] and ends on [end date]. If the Tenant stays after the end date with the Landlord’s consent, the tenancy continues month to month on the same terms.

3. Rent

The Tenant will pay rent of [amount] USD per month, in advance, on the [1st] day of each month, by [bank transfer / online portal / check]. Rent for a partial first month is [amount].

4. Late fee

If rent is not received by the [5th] day of the month, the Tenant will pay a late fee of [amount], within the limits of state law.

5. Security deposit

The Tenant will pay a security deposit of [amount] before moving in. The Landlord will hold it as the law requires and return it, less lawful deductions with an itemized list, within the time set by state law after the Tenant moves out.

6. Occupants

Only the Tenant and the following people may live at the Property: [names]. Guests may stay up to [14] days in any six-month period.

7. Utilities

The Tenant pays [electricity, gas, internet]. The Landlord pays [water, sewer, trash].

8. Use of the Property

The Tenant will use the Property only as a private home, follow building rules and avoid disturbing neighbors. No illegal activity is allowed.

9. Maintenance and repairs

The Tenant will keep the Property clean and report needed repairs promptly in writing. The Landlord will keep the Property safe and habitable and make repairs within a reasonable time. The Tenant pays for damage caused by the Tenant or guests, beyond normal wear and tear.

10. Alterations

The Tenant will not paint, remodel or change locks without the Landlord’s written consent.

11. Pets

[No pets are allowed.] [Option: The Tenant may keep description of pet, with a pet deposit of amount.] Assistance animals are allowed as the law requires.

12. Smoking

Smoking of any kind is [not allowed / allowed only in] [areas].

13. Landlord entry

The Landlord may enter to inspect, repair or show the Property with at least [24] hours’ notice, or at any time in an emergency.

14. Subletting

The Tenant may not sublet or assign the Lease without the Landlord’s written consent.

15. Ending the Lease

Either party may choose not to renew by giving written notice at least [30] days before the end date. At move-out the Tenant will return all keys and leave the Property clean and in the same condition, except for normal wear and tear.

16. Lead-based paint

[If the Property was built before 1978:] The Landlord has given the Tenant the lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet, attached to this Lease.

17. General terms

This Lease is governed by the laws of [state]. Each adult Tenant is responsible for the full rent. Notices may be sent by email to [addresses]. The parties agree to sign electronically, with the same effect as a handwritten signature.

LANDLORD

Signature: ______________________

Name: [full name]

Date: [date]

TENANT

Signature: ______________________

Name: [full name]

Date: [date]

TENANT

Signature: ______________________

Name: [full name]

Date: [date]

What the template includes

Property address and what comes with it
Fixed term with month-to-month holdover
Rent, due date, payment method and late fee
Security deposit and its return
Who lives there and the guest limit
Utilities split
Use, maintenance, repairs and alterations
Pets, smoking and landlord entry
Subletting only with consent
Non-renewal notice and move-out condition
Lead-based paint disclosure for older housing
Joint responsibility of all tenants for the rent

What you fill in

Field	Example
Date	October 21, 2026
Landlord	Hillcrest Rentals LLC
Tenants	Emily Carter and Luis Romero
Property	418 Maple Ave, Unit 2B, Columbus, OH 43215
Term	November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027
Rent	1,650 USD due on the 1st
Security deposit	1,650 USD
Late fee	50 USD after the 5th

How it gets signed

1Choose “Use this template”, fill in the fields and read the full lease agreement once more.
2Send it by WhatsApp or email. The other party opens the link on their phone without an account.
3They tap the brown bar at the bottom that says “Sign as …” and draw their signature with a finger.
4Everyone gets the signed PDF with its signature certificate. Anyone can check it at signsolu.com/verificar.

Before signing, each signer agrees to sign electronically. The screen links to the electronic signature disclosure the ESIGN Act asks for.

Your first ten documents are free and need no card.

Anyone can check a signed PDF against its original for free, with nothing uploaded.

What the law says

Residential leases follow state landlord-tenant law, and many cities add their own rules. The lease can add terms, but it cannot remove rights the law gives tenants, such as a habitable home.

For housing built before 1978, federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet before the tenant signs. The EPA publishes the rule and the forms. Clause 16 of the lease covers it.

The ESIGN Act gives an electronic signature on a lease the same effect as ink. Landlord and tenants can sign from their phones and keep the same signed PDF.

State differences

The lease structure is the same across the US. These points change by state and sometimes by city.

Security deposit. Many states cap the amount and set a deadline to return it with an itemized list of deductions.
Notice to end or change a tenancy. Thirty days is common for month-to-month rentals. Some states and cities require more.
Late fees. Some states cap them or set a grace period.
Entry by the landlord. Many states set a minimum notice, often 24 hours, except in emergencies.
Required disclosures. Mold, flood zones, bed bugs and who manages the property appear in some states.
Rent control. A few states and many cities limit rent increases for some buildings.

Fill in clauses 4, 5, 13 and 15 with your state’s numbers before you send the lease.

Fixed-term lease or month to month

A fixed-term lease locks the rent and the tenant for a set time, usually a year. Both sides get stability. A month-to-month lease renews each month and can end with notice.

Many landlords start with a twelve-month lease and let it roll to month to month afterwards. Clause 2 already does that.

Before the tenant signs

1Screen the tenant with an application and a background check, following fair housing rules.
2Walk through the unit together and record its condition with dated photos.
3Give the lead-based paint disclosure if the building is from before 1978.
4Collect the deposit and the first month’s rent after both sides sign.
5Hand over keys only once the signed lease is in your account.

Common lease mistakes

Only one roommate signs. Every adult who lives there should sign so all are responsible for rent.
No move-in record. Without photos, deposit disputes become one word against another.
Late fees above the state limit. An excessive fee can be thrown out.
Verbal pet permission. Put any pet approval in writing in clause 11.

A worked example

Hillcrest Rentals leases unit 2B to Emily and Luis for twelve months at 1,650 USD. Both sign from their phones on Tuesday night.

In month seven the kitchen faucet leaks. Emily reports it by email under clause 9 and the landlord fixes it in three days. At the end of the year nobody gives notice, so the lease rolls to month to month.

Signing a lease online

Add the landlord and each adult tenant as signers. They get the link by WhatsApp or email and sign with the brown bar at the bottom. Everyone receives the same signed PDF with its certificate.

Attach the lead disclosure and the move-in checklist to the same document. They are signed together and stay together.

Before you sign

Other templates

Frequently asked questions

What should be included in a lease agreement?

The names of the landlord and every adult tenant, the address, the term, the rent and late fee, the deposit, utilities, repairs, pets, landlord entry, subletting and how the lease ends. This template has a clause for each one.

Can a landlord write their own lease?

Yes. A lease does not need a lawyer to be valid, but it has to follow your state’s landlord-tenant law, such as limits on deposits and notice periods. Starting from a template helps you cover the standard terms.

Is a lease signed online legally binding?

Yes. The ESIGN Act gives an electronic signature the same legal effect as a handwritten one. The signed PDF and its certificate show who signed the lease, when and from which device.

Does my tenant need a SignSolú account to sign?

No. They open the link on their phone and sign with the brown bar at the bottom of the screen.

Can I download the lease agreement in Word?

Yes. “Download in Word” gives you the full lease agreement with no email and no account. You can print it or edit it and sign it here later.

Do all roommates need to sign the lease?

Yes. Every adult who lives there should sign. Clause 17 makes each one responsible for the full rent.

Does a lease need to be notarized?

No, not for a standard residential lease. Very long leases can follow special recording rules.

Can I use this lease in any state?

Yes, after filling in your state’s numbers for deposit, notice, late fees and entry. Check any city rules too.

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