Simple lease agreement template: free in Word, or sign it online
Reviewed in October 2026
A simple lease agreement is a short rental contract that covers only the essentials. It names the landlord and the tenant, the home, the rent, the deposit, the dates and the basic rules. It suits small landlords renting a single home or apartment.
Ten documents free, no card. Signed by the landlord and the tenant.
Example filled in with sample data
The full simple lease agreement
SIMPLE RESIDENTIAL LEASE
Landlord: [name], [phone or email]
Tenant: [names], [phone or email]
Property: [full address and unit]
1. Dates
The lease runs from [start date] to [end date]. After that it continues month to month until either party gives [30] days’ written notice.
2. Rent
Rent is [amount] USD per month, due on the [1st] by [method]. A late fee of [amount] applies after the [5th], as allowed by state law.
3. Deposit
The tenant pays a deposit of [amount]. The landlord returns it, less lawful deductions with a written list, within the time state law requires after move-out.
4. Utilities
The tenant pays [list]. The landlord pays [list].
5. Care of the home
The tenant keeps the home clean, reports repairs in writing and pays for damage beyond normal wear and tear. The landlord keeps the home safe and makes needed repairs.
6. Rules
Pets: [yes / no]. Smoking: [yes / no]. Subletting only with written consent. Only the people named above live in the home.
7. Entry
The landlord gives at least [24] hours’ notice before entering, except in an emergency.
8. Signatures
This lease follows the laws of [state]. Both parties agree to sign electronically, with the same effect as handwritten signatures. [If the home was built before 1978, the lead-based paint disclosure is attached.]
LANDLORD
Signature: ______________________
Name: [full name]
Date: [date]
TENANT
Signature: ______________________
Name: [full name]
Date: [date]
What the template includes
Names and contact of landlord and tenant
Address of the home
Start and end dates, then month to month
Rent, due date and late fee
Deposit and its return
Utilities in one line
Care of the home and repairs
Pets, smoking, subletting and occupants
Landlord entry with notice
What you fill in
Field
Example
Landlord
Grace Okafor, grace@example.com
Tenant
Ben Walsh, ben@example.com
Property
22 Orchard Lane, Boise, ID 83702
Dates
November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027
Rent
1,200 USD on the 1st by bank transfer
Deposit
1,200 USD
Pets and smoking
No pets, no smoking
How it gets signed
1Choose “Use this template”, fill in the fields and read the full simple 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.
If the other side sends their own PDF form instead, fill in the PDF form online, add the date and your signature, and download it.
What the law says
A short lease is as binding as a long one. State landlord-tenant law fills in anything the lease does not say, such as repair duties and deposit deadlines.
For homes built before 1978 the federal lead-based paint disclosure still applies, even on a one-page lease. The EPA has the disclosure form and the pamphlet.
The ESIGN Act gives the electronic signature on the lease the same effect as ink.
State differences
The one-page lease leaves the details to state law. These are the points that change most.
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.
When a simple lease is enough
A short lease works for one landlord, one home and a tenant you know or screened well. Many small landlords prefer it because tenants read it in full.
Choose the full lease agreement for buildings with shared rules, several roommates or a property manager. It covers guests, alterations and joint responsibility in more detail.
What a short lease must still include
Who the landlord and tenants are, with contact details.
The address, including the unit number.
The rent, the due date and how to pay.
The deposit and how it comes back.
The start date and how the lease ends.
Signatures of the landlord and every adult tenant.
Leave any of these out and you invite arguments. Everything else can follow state law.
A worked example
Grace rents her small house to Ben for six months at 1,200 USD. She fills in the template in ten minutes and sends it by email.
Ben signs from his phone the same evening. In April neither gives notice, so the lease continues month to month as clause 1 says.
Move-in day
1Walk through the home together.
2Take dated photos of every room.
3Write down meter readings for utilities.
4Hand over keys and note how many.
Attach the photos to the signed lease. They make the deposit return fair and fast.
Mistakes to avoid
Leaving out the end of the lease. Clause 1 already sets month to month after the end date.
Cash rent without receipts. Give a receipt each time or use a transfer.
Handshake changes. Any change in rent or rules goes in writing and gets signed.
Simple lease or full lease: a quick comparison
Point
Simple lease
Full lease agreement
Length
One page
Three to five pages
Best for
One home and one tenant
Roommates, buildings, managers
Guests and alterations
Left to state law
Written rules
Joint responsibility for rent
Not stated
Stated for every tenant
Time to fill in
About ten minutes
About twenty minutes
Both are binding once signed. Pick the one your tenant will actually read.
Collecting rent without trouble
Ask for rent by bank transfer or an online payment app that leaves a record. If the tenant pays in cash, give a signed receipt every time.
Send a short reminder a few days before the due date in the first months. Tenants who start paying on time usually keep doing it.
Renewing or ending the lease
A month before the end date, ask the tenant if they want to stay. If yes, keep the lease running month to month or sign a new one with new dates.
If either of you wants to end it, send written notice at least 30 days ahead. The lease termination letter has the wording.
Checklist before you send it
1The address includes the unit number.
2The rent and deposit match what you advertised.
3The late fee fits your state’s limit.
4Every adult who will live there is named and signs.
5The lead disclosure is attached if the home is from before 1978.
Then send it. The tenant signs from a phone in a minute, and you both keep the same signed PDF.
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 simple lease, when and from which device.
Does the 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 simple lease in Word?
Yes. “Download in Word” gives you the full simple lease with no email and no account. You can print it or edit it and sign it here later.
Is a one-page lease legal?
Yes. Length does not decide validity. State law fills in the details the lease leaves out.
Can I add a pet clause later?
Yes. Sign a short amendment with the pet, any deposit and the rules.
Can I use it for an apartment?
Yes. Add the unit number and any building rules the tenant must follow.
What if the tenant wants a longer lease?
Change the end date in clause 1 before sending, or use the full lease agreement for a twelve-month term.
