Apartment Rental Agreement
What It Should Include
An apartment rental agreement governs the relationship between the landlord (the property owner) and the tenant. An oral agreement is much harder to prove legally, so a written contract protects both sides.
Mandatory clauses
The contract should clearly specify:
- The parties — full details of both landlord and tenant;
- The property's exact address and condition (ideally with an inventory or photos attached);
- The rent amount, payment deadline, and payment method;
- The contract's term and the conditions for renewal/termination;
- The deposit amount and the conditions for returning it;
- Each party's liability if the property is damaged;
- Which party pays utility bills.
Deposit
A deposit normally secures against damage or unpaid debt at the end of the contract. The contract should clearly state when the deposit is returned in full to the tenant, and when it may be withheld — this is the most common source of disputes between the two sides.
Early termination
The contract should address when either party may terminate early (e.g. with advance notice) and what follows from that — including whether the other party is entitled to claim compensation.
A common mistake
The most common problem is vague or purely oral agreements about the deposit and utility bills. Specific, written terms significantly reduce the risk of a dispute later.