Lease Terms: What You Need to Know Before Signing a Lease

Signing a lease agreement on a new apartment is exciting — especially if you were racing against the competition to get your application approved on a popular place, or it’s your first time moving out on your own. But remember: This is a legally binding contract, and you need to be aware of what you are agreeing to do. Before signing your name on the dotted line, it’s important to go through the lease terms slowly and read the fine print to ensure the living situation will be a good one for you and your landlord.

While your lease terms will vary from apartment to apartment—and even more so across different states — there are a few standard terms you can and should look out for before signing your lease.

This is perhaps the most important lease term on our list, as paying rent on time is the first step to establishing a positive relationship with your landlord. Along with the exact rent amount expected each month and the monthly due date, this part of your lease should also spell out:

Remember, the general rule of thumb for renters is to spend no more than 30% of one’s income on housing. Make sure the monthly rent is affordable, and ask any questions you have related to rent, before signing your lease. While rent negotiation down the line is possible, you shouldn't go into a new lease expecting that it will occur.

You can expect that standard apartment lease is generally set for six months or a year, unless you are signing a month-to-month rental agreement, which would only cover 30 days at a time. It’s important to look closely at the start and end date of your lease to plan your move to your new home — especially if you are currently living in a rental with a lease that is about to expire. For example, if your current lease ends on the 15th of the current month, but the move-in date for your next lease is the 1st of the following month, you will need to make a plan for housing yourself and storing all of your belongings until then.

Also keep in mind if you are moving to another city or state that you may be moving to a place that has a “move-in season” like Boston, MA — where leases typically begin on September 1st. In Boston, it is not uncommon to sign a lease in June that will only begin in September, while in New York City it’s much more likely that you’ll sign a lease that begins within the next 30 days.

Always confirm that your move-in and move-out dates are feasible and plan accordingly.

When you lease a property, in addition to your first and last month’s rent, you will likely also be charged a security deposit (often equal to the first month’s rent) before you move in. When you hand over a security deposit, you are allowing the landlord to use it to pay for repairs, should you damage the property. In this section of the lease, the landlord will outline:

Knowing the terms that your landlord set for your security deposit will help you make sure that they are following state laws. For example, many states set requirements around holding and returning security deposits.

Even though your landlord owns the property you are living in, you have rights around their coming and going. In this section, your landlord will explain under what circumstances they are allowed to enter your space. This is another area that may have requirements under state law. Many states require that a landlord must give a tenant proper notice in writing at least 24 hours prior to entering.

Understanding your responsibilities when it comes to maintenance is vital because, if the terms are unclear to you, it can end up costing you in the long run. If you are moving into an apartment where the tenant is required to cover a bulk of the repairs, it may not be the right living situation for you. This section will answer questions such as:

This section will also usually include a clause on how soon a landlord will be expected to repair damages after receiving a proper maintenance request from the tenant. Make sure your landlord is clear about how to send requests for repairs, and includes contact information for these requests — especially if a management company is responsible for fielding requests rather than the landlord themselves.

Many states have laws around what landlords need to cover, such as proper heating and keeping the apartment weathertight (so, yes, you should call your landlord or property manager about that leaky roof immediately.) Following these terms will ultimately help keep both the tenant and landlord accountable for maintaining a clean and comfortable state of the apartment. For more information on apartment maintenance, read our full guide.

If you don’t have a pet and don’t plan on getting one, then the rules around pets are one less thing you have to worry about. If you do plan on moving in a furry friend, then make sure you and your landlord are in agreement about your expectations and responsibilities when it comes to the pet policy. This section should tell you:

In addition to the standard terms that nearly all leases include, each landlord is also at liberty to include any other miscellaneous rules of their own. Keep track of how these compare with other leases you’ve seen, and if they feel very restrictive or not. Some examples of extra terms your landlord may include may be related to:

A lease is an agreement between you and your landlord that is meant to outline all expectations, rules, and responsibilities prior to your moving in to a property. It’s important to go through your lease, line-by-line, ahead of time to ensure that you are able to uphold your part of the agreement and ask any questions you have before signing. If you are not able to follow all of the rules outlined in your signed lease, then you may end up losing your security deposit — or worse, being evicted from your apartment or early lease termination. For all general information on lease signing and rental properties, please refer to our Renter Guide.