Your Lease, Line by Line

The story: Read it before the keys

Maya and Jade read a long lease with a magnifying glass before taking the keys from the landlord.

1. Narrator: Maya and Jade found a two-bedroom. The landlord hands them a 12-page lease.
2. Adult: Sign here and the keys are yours today.
3. Maya: Can we read it first? It’s a contract.
4. Narrator: They find the due date, a late fee and the deposit rules. They check repairs and the cost to leave early.
5. Jade: It says joint lease. If I moved out, would you owe all the rent?
6. Narrator: On a joint lease, each person can owe the whole rent. Read the lease before you get the keys.

What you’ll learn

1. A lease is a contract

   A lease is a contract for a home. It sets the term (how long), the rent and its due date, late fees and the deposit. It also covers pets, guests and whether you can sublet.

2. Repairs and entry

   The lease should say who fixes what and how to ask for repairs. It should also say how much notice the landlord gives before coming in. State law sets some of these rules too.

3. Renewal and leaving early

   Know how the lease renews. Some renew automatically unless you give notice by a set date. Breaking a lease early can cost a fee or months of rent. Find the exact rule before you sign.

4. Joint leases

   On a joint lease, each tenant can owe the whole rent, not just their share. If a roommate leaves, the others may have to cover it. Roommates can talk this through before signing.

Key words

lease

a rental contract for a home (a car lease works differently)

sublet

to rent your place to someone else while you’re still on the lease

late fee

a charge for paying after the due date

Common questions

Can I ask to change a lease before signing?

Yes, you can ask. Some landlords agree to changes, like a pet rule or a repair. Get any change in writing in the lease.

Remember this

Read the lease before you get the keys.

Try it: Mark up a sample lease

1. Use a sample lease from the game.
2. Circle the rent and due date, the late fee, the repair rule and the rule for leaving early.
3. Write one question you’d ask the landlord before signing.

The whole mission; no account or app needed.

Live facts

Numbers that change over time, with when they were last checked and where they come from.

• Tenant rights in your state

  Source: HUD(opens in a new tab)

• Find your state attorney general

  Source: NAAG(opens in a new tab)