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Property & rentals 2 signers 3 pages 32 blanks to fill in

Residential Lease Agreement Template

Rent a house or apartment for a fixed term, with the rent, deposit, bills, pets, repairs, access and move-out rules written down and signed by landlord and tenant.

Use This Template — Free See the Agreement Signers don’t need an account
Residential lease agreement
The blanks in brackets are what you fill in. VergeHR adds each signer’s signature and date boxes.
Residential lease agreement — page 1 of 3
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Residential lease agreement — page 2 of 3
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Residential lease agreement — page 3 of 3
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Use This Template Fill in the blanks, name who signs, and send — from VergeHR eSignature.

What is a residential lease agreement?

A residential lease is the contract between a landlord and the people who will live in their home for a fixed term — usually six months or a year. It is the document both sides go back to when rent is late, the boiler breaks, a pet appears or the tenant moves out and the deposit is in question, so it pays to have it clear and complete from the start.

This template names the landlord with an address for notices, an optional managing agent, every adult tenant and any other occupants, and describes the home and what comes with it. It sets the fixed term and what happens at the end — rolling on month to month or ending — then the rent, due date, payment method, an optional first prorated payment and an optional late charge, only where the law allows. It covers the security deposit and where it is held, who pays which bills, rules on use, subletting, alterations, pets and smoking, repairs by each side, the landlord's access notice, contents insurance, ending the lease lawfully, move-out, and the disclosures you attach. Tenancy law is local and often cannot be contracted out of, so the lease says local law applies where it conflicts.

Best for
Landlords renting a whole house or apartment for a fixed term
Signed by
The landlord and the tenant (add more tenants as signers)
Term
Fixed start and end dates; then month to month or ends, as you choose
Length
About 3 pages, initialled on every page

When to Use a residential lease agreement

  • Renting an apartment or house on a 12-month lease
  • A first-time landlord letting their former home
  • A small landlord standardising leases across a few properties
  • Letting a furnished home for a fixed six-month term
  • Replacing a verbal arrangement with a written lease

What You Fill In

32 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: landlord, tenant.

1 The parties

  • Date of the lease*
  • Landlord (owner)*
  • Landlord address for notices*
  • Managing agent (if any)
  • Tenant(s)*
  • Other people who will live there

2 The home

  • Address of the home*
  • The home is let* unfurnished · part-furnished · furnished
  • Also included

3 Term

  • Lease starts*
  • Lease ends*
  • At the end of the term* it continues month to month on the same terms · it ends, unless both parties sign a renewal

4 Rent

  • Currency*
  • Monthly rent*
  • Rent is due on*
  • How rent is paid*
  • First payment (if prorated)
  • Late payment charge

5 Deposit

  • Security deposit
  • Where the deposit is held

6 Bills

  • Bills paid by the Tenant*
  • Bills paid by the Landlord

7 Use of the home

  • Pets* none without the Landlord's written consent · allowed as listed below
  • Pets allowed
  • Smoking and vaping* not allowed anywhere in the home or on the property · allowed only outdoors, away from doors and windows · allowed

8 Repairs and access

  • Tenant's routine upkeep
  • Repairs and emergencies contact*
  • Notice before the Landlord enters (hours)*

9 Other terms

  • Renter's contents insurance* recommended · required
  • Disclosures and attachments
  • Additional terms
  • Governing law*

10 Who signs

  • Landlord signature and date, initials on every page · The owner of the home, or the agent signing for them.
  • Tenant signature and date, initials on every page · The person renting the home. To have more tenants sign, add them as signers in the editor and place their boxes.

What the residential lease agreement Covers

  1. The Home
  2. Term
  3. Rent
  4. Security deposit
  5. Bills
  6. Using the Home
  7. Repairs and maintenance
  8. Landlord's access
  9. Insurance
  10. Ending the Lease and moving out
  11. Disclosures and additional terms
  12. General

Using the residential lease agreement, step by step

1 Name the parties and the home

Enter the landlord's name and an address for notices (many places require one), any managing agent, every adult tenant and anyone else who will live there. Describe the home, whether it is furnished, and extras like appliances, parking or storage.

2 Set the term and rent

Enter the start and end dates and choose what happens at the end. Add the monthly rent, due date and payment method, a prorated first payment if the lease starts mid-month, and a late charge only if local law allows one.

3 Deposit, bills and house rules

Enter the deposit and where it is held — many places cap deposits or require them to be protected. Split the bills, choose the pet and smoking rules, and edit the tenant's routine upkeep.

4 Access, disclosures and signing

Set the notice before you enter (at least the legal minimum), a repairs contact, and whether contents insurance is required. List the disclosures and documents you attach, such as a lead paint disclosure or condition checklist. Then add the tenants as signers and send.

Tips Before You Send It

  • Check the local rules first: deposit limits and protection, required disclosures, notice periods and rent rules vary widely.
  • Do a move-in inspection with dated photos and attach the checklist to the lease.
  • Have every adult tenant sign — in the editor, add each one as a signer and place their boxes.
  • Give the tenant a copy of the signed lease straight away; VergeHR emails it to everyone automatically.

Sign It Online In Minutes

  1. Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
  2. Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. VergeHR builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
  3. Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in Files and emailed to everyone.
Use the residential lease agreement Template — It’s Free

Residential lease agreement: frequently asked questions

Does this lease work in my state or country?

It is written to be jurisdiction-neutral and says local tenancy law applies where it conflicts. Most places add their own requirements — specific disclosures, deposit rules, notice periods, sometimes an official form — so check the local rules and attach anything required before sending.

What happens when the fixed term ends?

You choose. Either the lease rolls on month to month on the same terms, and either side can end it with at least one rental period's notice or longer if the law requires, or it ends unless you both sign a renewal. Local law may decide what happens if the tenant simply stays on.

Can the landlord charge a late fee?

Only if you add one, and only to the extent the law allows — many places cap or ban late fees. Leave the field empty to leave it out.

Is an electronically signed lease valid?

Electronic signatures are generally valid for ordinary residential leases in the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada. Some places require particular forms, witnesses or registration for certain leases, typically longer ones, so check the local rules. VergeHR keeps an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion with the signed PDF.

Use This Template — Free