Residential Lease Agreement Checklist

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign a lease for an apartment or house. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete lease states

Rent and due date — the monthly amount and the day it is due.
Grace period and late fee — how many days after the due date, and the fee charged after that.
Lease term — start date, end date, and what happens at the end.
Security deposit — the amount, the conditions for deductions, and the deadline for returning it.
Auto-renewal and notice — whether the lease renews automatically, and how much notice is needed to leave.
Utilities — which utilities you pay and which the landlord pays.
Maintenance responsibilities — who handles repairs, yard work, filters, and how to request service.
Early termination and subletting — the fee or terms for leaving early, and whether subletting is allowed.
Other fees — pet fees, parking, amenity, or admin fees, each listed with an amount.

What's commonly not stated

Renewal rent increase — how much the rent can go up at renewal, and how much notice you get, is often missing.
Normal wear and tear — what the landlord counts as damage versus normal wear is rarely defined.
Entry notice — how much notice the landlord gives before entering may not be stated.
Repair timelines — how quickly repairs will be made is often left open.
Recurring fees — monthly charges beyond rent can appear in an addendum rather than the main lease.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

“What is the grace period, and what is the late fee after it?”
“Does the lease renew automatically, and how much notice do I need to give?”
“Which utilities am I responsible for?”
“What is the fee to end the lease early, and can I sublet?”
“Are there any monthly fees beyond rent?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

Check my document →

We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much should rent be?

We don't price other people's rentals — rent depends on the location, the size of the unit, and the local market. What you can check is whether your lease states the rent, the late fee, the deposit terms, and every recurring fee. If it doesn't, that's a question to ask before signing.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my lease?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing renewal term or repair rule isn't a verdict on the landlord; it's an unknown in a contract you'll live under for a year or more. Getting it stated costs nothing and settles it before move-in.

Can Spend Defense read my actual lease?

Yes. Short leases fit the Quick Check ($4.99, up to 10 pages); many leases with addenda run longer and go through the Document Review ($19, up to 25 pages). You'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask before you sign.

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.