Short term rental agreement template: free in Word, or sign it online
Reviewed in October 2026
A short term rental agreement is the contract between a host and a guest for a stay of days or weeks. It sets the dates, the number of guests, the price, the deposit and the house rules. Hosts use it for direct bookings and for stays with extra risk, like events or long stays.
Ten documents free, no card. Signed by the host and the guest.
Example filled in with sample data
The full short term rental agreement
SHORT TERM RENTAL AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made on [date] between [host name] (the "Host") and [guest name], with address at [address] and phone [phone] (the "Guest").
1. Property
The Host rents to the Guest the [house / apartment / cabin] at [address] (the "Property"), furnished, for temporary vacation use only.
2. Stay
Check-in: [date] after [time]. Check-out: [date] by [time]. Late check-out only with the Host's written approval.
3. Guests
Maximum [number] guests, including children. Only the people listed here may stay: [names]. Visitors are allowed until [time].
4. Price and Payment
The total price is USD [amount], including [nightly rate x nights], a cleaning fee of USD [amount] and applicable lodging taxes of USD [amount]. [Percentage]% is due at booking and the balance by [date].
5. Security Deposit
The Guest will pay a refundable deposit of USD [amount] by [date]. The Host will return it within [number] days after check-out, less the cost of damage beyond normal wear, missing items, extra cleaning or unpaid charges, with an itemized list.
6. Cancellation
If the Guest cancels [number] days or more before check-in, the Host refunds [percentage]% of payments. Within [number] days of check-in, payments are not refunded unless the Host rebooks the dates.
7. House Rules
No smoking inside. No parties or events without written approval. Pets: [rule]. Quiet hours: [time] to [time]. Parking: [rule]. Pool, hot tub or fireplace: [rule]. The Guest will follow the HOA and local rules provided by the Host.
8. Condition and Repairs
The Guest will report damage or problems within [number] hours. The Host will make reasonable efforts to fix essential services promptly.
9. Liability
The Guest uses the Property and its amenities at their own risk and is responsible for the conduct of their party. The Host is not responsible for loss of the Guest's belongings.
10. Entry
The Host may enter with reasonable notice to make repairs, or without notice in an emergency.
11. Governing Law and Signatures
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of [state]. The parties agree to sign it electronically.
Host
Name: [name]
Signature: ______________
Date: [date]
Guest
Name: [name]
Signature: ______________
Date: [date]
What the template includes
Host and main guest
Property and vacation use only
Check-in and check-out dates and times
Maximum guests and visitors
Total price, cleaning fee and lodging taxes
Security deposit and refund deadline
Cancellation policy
House rules on smoking, parties, pets and noise
Reporting damage and repairs
Guest liability and host entry
What you fill in
Field
Example
Host
Coastal Cottage Rentals LLC
Guest
Michael Andersen
Property
3-bedroom cottage, 14 Dune Rd, Kill Devil Hills, NC
Stay
July 10 to July 17, 2027
Guests
6 maximum
Total price
USD 2,940 including cleaning and taxes
Security deposit
USD 500, returned within 14 days
Pets
One dog under 40 lb, USD 75 fee
How it gets signed
1Choose «Use this template», fill in the fields and review the full short term rental agreement.
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 once.
4Everyone gets the signed PDF with its signature certificate. Anyone can check it at signsolu.com/verificar.
The signing screen tells each signer that signing means agreeing to sign electronically. It links to the electronic signature disclosure that the ESIGN Act asks for.
What you get once everyone signs
The signed PDF. The final short term rental agreement with every drawn signature in place.
The signature certificate. It lists each signer and the date and time of each signature.
A record you can check. The folio on the certificate opens the document history at signsolu.com/verificar.
Reminders. Turn them on and SignSolú reminds every signer who has not signed yet.
Your first ten documents are free and need no card.
What the law says
Short term rentals are regulated mostly by cities and counties. Many require a permit, a registration number and payment of lodging taxes. Check your local rules before you rent.
Some states set rules for vacation rental deposits, refunds and disclosures. Your agreement should follow them.
Stays of more than a set number of days can turn a guest into a tenant under some state laws. Keep stays short or follow your state rules for longer ones.
The ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001 gives an electronic signature the same legal effect as one on paper. A contract cannot be denied effect only because it was signed electronically.
When hosts use their own agreement
Direct bookings from repeat guests, a website or social media.
Large groups like family reunions or weddings.
Monthly stays for traveling workers or people between homes.
Higher-risk stays with pools, boats or hot tubs.
Booking platforms have their own terms. Many hosts still send a short agreement with their house rules, as long as the platform allows it.
House rules that prevent problems
Parties cause most damage and neighbor complaints. Clause 7 bans them unless you approve in writing.
Write a maximum number of guests and cars. Neighbors notice when eight cars park at a three-bedroom house.
Share the HOA and city rules with the agreement. Guests cannot follow rules they never saw.
Handling the security deposit
Take photos of the property before each stay. They support any deduction after check-out.
Send the guest an itemized list with each deduction. Return the rest by the date in clause 5.
Small damage is often cheaper to absorb than to dispute. Save deductions for real costs.
Common mistakes
Missing lodging taxes. Many places charge them on every stay. Show them in the price.
No guest list. Knowing who stays helps if something goes wrong.
Sending the agreement after arrival. Guests should sign before they get the door code.
Getting the agreement signed before check-in
Send the agreement with the booking confirmation. Guests sign from the phone while planning their trip.
Share the door code only after the signed agreement and the deposit arrive. The signed PDF shows the exact time the guest accepted the rules.
Save the filled agreement as your own template for the property. Each new booking needs only the guest, the dates and the price.
Hosts with several properties keep one template per property. Rules for a cabin with a hot tub differ from a city apartment.
Before you sign
Read every clause of the short term rental agreement with the other party before anyone signs. Change what does not fit your deal.
