Review: E-Renter.com

E-Renter.com — offers free versions of a house lease and an apartment lease. Both of these are pretty solid; the apartment lease emphasizes specific rules and regulations typical to renting. There are some differences between house or duplex renting and apartment renting, primarily who takes care of the lawn (or defining what are common areas the landlord is responsible for). Still, these were a little odd in that they differed in areas they didn’t need to.
E-Renter.com preview

For instance, the house lease gives specifics on the right of entry section (in an emergency, otherwise 24-hour notice), whereas the rental lease states a generic clause that entry will be as allowed by law. Your location may require something different than 24 hours’ notice (for us, it is 48), but it seemed interesting that these two leases would differ on the same issue.

The house lease puts more maintenance on the tenant, including painting (which the apartment lease version prohibits), something we’ve found to be a disaster. Do you want tenants painting your property? Almost every time we’ve allowed it, we’ve regretted it, sometimes severely. You’ll want to be sure what you use is clear as to precisely what you want on maintenance issues like painting.

Those minor items aside, the house lease is pretty decent in its basic clauses: subletting prohibition, quiet enjoyment, indemnity, waiver, joint and several; however, it misses some. It has no time is of the essence clause, which means that dates, like when rent is due, become very fluid, and assignments or successors.

It also lacks an entire agreement clause and choice of law (not always critical but often significant). The apartment version has the same strengths and weaknesses in the clauses. Its rules and regulations are detailed and thoughtful, covering areas of potential problems and damages that may not have occurred to you. You’ll find many good ideas for yourself in these examples; just make sure they apply to you before using them.

Unfortunately, a few essential clauses are missing. With those added (which you can find on other free leases), these would be good leases to start with. In my thinking, I would take the house lease, add relevant details (rules, regulations, and the like) that look good from the apartment lease, add in the missing clauses, and use that hybrid.

Here is a link to these forms (as well as a few others):

https://www.e-renter.com/resources/

 

Or check our article about the best lease agreement service we found: Best Rental Agreement Site.