• • • • • • Most standard leases will include basic information about the agreement, such as property address, dates, names of tenants, rent amount, security deposits, etc. However, the Devil is in the details. Most experienced landlords will tell you that the Devil is in the details. ![]() Lease Termination Letter From TenantThe real headaches come when a situation arises that is not addressed in the lease. By that point, the landlord is emotionally involved in the issue, and can’t truly be objective in his/her decision on how to handle it. To help you prevent some headaches, I’ve listed seven of my favorite (and useful) lease clauses in the section below. These clauses have saved me dozens of hours of correspondence, and thousands of dollars in legal drama, simply because I put them in the lease. Landlord Rental Agreement FreeWith that said, I am not a lawyer so you should consult with a licensed local attorney before using these in your own leases. You are responsible for performing your own research and complying with all applicable laws in regards to your unique situation. Severability Though a legal precaution, this is perhaps one of the most important clauses in a lease. This clause states that if one aspect of the lease is found to be illegal, the rest of the agreement will still be legally binding. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof shall, for any reason and to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, neither the remainder of this Agreement nor the application of the provision to other persons, entities or circumstances shall be affected thereby, but instead shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law. End Of Lease Letter To TenantWithout this clause, a judge who has found one small clause to be illegal, even if accidentally so, might consider the entire lease to be void. No matter how rock-solid your lease is, you should include this clause in your lease. 2. Late Fees and Allocations Though I’ve never had a late rent payment since I started using to collect rent, I always include this clause – just in case my tenant turns rebellious. Campus security training manual. Further, if you don’t specify a late fee in your lease, it will be nearly impossible to charge a late fee after-the-fact. Tenant if periodic agreement - may give 21 days' notice or a period equivalent to a single period of the tenancy,whichever is the longer. Landlord if periodic agreement - generally must give 60 days notice. This is a 10-page lease form with all provisions and terms required under Pennsylvania law. This lease form can be used as a rental agreement for a variety of residential premises, including apartments, single family homes, and more. Please check your because some have statutes that require a specific “grace period” and limit the amount you can charge. Regardless, this clause should specify the exact amount of the fee, the time at which it will be assigned, and if there are any additional, daily late fees for nonpayment. LATE FEE AND ALLOCATION OF PAYMENTS. In the event that any rent payment required to be paid by Tenant(s) hereunder is not paid IN FULL by the start of the SECOND (2nd) DAY OF EACH MONTH, Tenant(s) shall pay to Landlord, in addition to such payment or other charges due hereunder, an initial late fee as additional rent in the amount of 5% OF THE MONTHLY RENT AMOUNT. ![]() Further, a subsequent late fee of TWENTY DOLLARS ($20.00) PER DAY will be incurred by the Tenant(s) for every day payment is delayed after the 2nd day of the month. All future payments will be allocated first to any outstanding balances other than rent. Any remaining monies will be allocated lastly to any rent balance. The last sentence in this clauses ensures that all fees are paid first with whatever money the tenants choose to give me. The reason I allocate payments first to fees is because it’s much easier to sue a tenant for “unpaid rent” than it is for an “unpaid late fee.” 3. Subleasing If you don’t outlaw subleasing, your tenants will do it when you’re not looking. Worse, you can’t penalize them for it. You might be able to terminate the lease, but that’s not always preferable because then you have to find new tenants. I always prefer to allow subleasing, for a price. I give my tenants the option to sublease, but they have to pay a one-time fee. Further, the sublessee has to submit an application and is subject to my normal screening process and subsequent approval, only to eventually sign a subleasing agreement. ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLEASING. Tenant(s) shall not assign this Agreement, or sublet or grant any license to use the Premises or any part thereof without the prior written consent of Landlord. Consent by Landlord to one such assignment, subletting or license shall not be deemed to be a consent to any subsequent assignment, subletting or license. An assignment, subletting or license without the prior written consent of Landlord or an assignment or subletting by operation of law shall be absolutely null and void and shall, at Landlord’s option, terminate this Agreement and start the eviction process of all Tenant(s) and occupants. If subletting is approved by the Landlord, a one-time fee of THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00) PER SUBLET, is assigned to the lease. All subletting individuals are required to submit an application to the Landlord for evaluation and screening. Landlord reserves the right to reject any sublessee that does qualify. If any sublets are initiated by Tenant(s) without the prior written consent of the Landlord, for each individual sublet, Tenant(s) will be assigned and responsible for the subletting fee, for each sublet, spanning the entire term of this Agreement. Subleasing is common with my group houses. Many times, three of the five tenants will travel home for the summer and ask to sublet their room. The answer is always “yes” and then almost instantly, my wallet feels $900 heavier. To help with the subleasing fee, many of the tenants increase the cost of their room, thereby offsetting the fee (which I’m fine with). Joint and Several Liability In respect to a residential lease, joint and several liability means that each tenant is jointly AND individually responsible for the entire rent amount and for any damages. It allows you to consider all tenants as a single entity, for the purposes of giving notice, serving court documents, collecting rent or suing for damages. MULTIPLE TENANTS OR OCCUPANTS. Each Tenant(s) is jointly and individually liable for all Lease Agreement obligations, including but not limited to rent monies. If any Tenant(s), guests, or occupant violates the Lease Agreement, all Tenant(s) are considered to have violated the Lease Agreement.
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