lease-agreement-checklist

name	lease-agreement-checklist
description	Creates lease agreement review checklists ensuring all essential terms, disclosures, and addenda are included.
allowed-tools	Read Write Glob
metadata	{"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"}

Lease Agreement Checklist

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Review a residential lease agreement for completeness before signing
• Ensure all essential terms, disclosures, and addenda are included
• Identify missing clauses that could create problems during the tenancy
• Create a standardized checklist for consistent lease preparation

DO NOT use this skill for drafting lease agreements from scratch, commercial lease review, or legal advice. This is a completeness checklist — always consult an attorney for legal review.

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Core Principle

A COMPLETE LEASE PROTECTS BOTH LANDLORD AND TENANT — EVERY MISSING CLAUSE IS A POTENTIAL DISPUTE WAITING TO HAPPEN.

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Phase 1: Lease Context

Required Inputs

Input	What to Ask	Default
Role	"Are you the landlord or tenant reviewing this lease?"	Landlord
State	"What state is the property in?"	No default — state law affects requirements
Property type	"Single-family, apartment, condo, duplex?"	Single-family
Lease term	"Fixed-term or month-to-month?"	12-month fixed
Special circumstances	"Any unusual terms — furnished, utilities included, roommates, pets?"	Standard unfurnished

GATE: Confirm role and jurisdiction before applying the checklist.

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Phase 2: Essential Terms Checklist

Party & Property Information

• Full legal names of all tenants (adults)
• Landlord/management company legal name and contact
• Complete property address including unit number
• Lease start date and end date
• Move-in date (if different from lease start)

Financial Terms

• Monthly rent amount
• Rent due date (typically 1st of the month)
• Accepted payment methods
• Grace period specified (number of days)
• Late fee amount and when it applies
• Security deposit amount
• Security deposit return timeline and conditions
• Any non-refundable fees (application, cleaning, admin)
• Prorated rent for partial first/last month (if applicable)
• Rent increase terms and notice requirements

Occupancy & Use

• Maximum number of occupants
• Guest policy and limitations
• Permitted use (residential only)
• Restrictions on home businesses
• Subletting and assignment policy
• Quiet hours or noise restrictions

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Phase 3: Policies & Responsibilities

Maintenance & Repairs

• Landlord maintenance responsibilities defined
• Tenant maintenance responsibilities defined
• Maintenance request procedure (how to submit)
• Emergency maintenance contact and procedure
• Lawn care, snow removal, and exterior maintenance assigned
• Tenant liability for damage beyond normal wear and tear

Utilities & Services

• Which utilities landlord pays
• Which utilities tenant pays
• Utility transfer responsibility and timeline
• Shared utility arrangements (if multi-unit)

Pets

• Pet policy clearly stated (allowed/not allowed)
• Pet deposit or fee amount
• Monthly pet rent (if applicable)
• Breed, size, or number restrictions
• Pet damage liability

Insurance

• Renter's insurance requirement stated
• Minimum coverage amount specified
• Proof of insurance deadline
• Landlord named as interested party (if required)

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Phase 4: Legal Protections & Addenda

Termination & Renewal

• Early termination clause and penalties
• Lease-breaking fee or buyout option
• Move-out notice period (30/60 days)
• Renewal terms (auto-renew, month-to-month conversion, or expire)
• Landlord's right to terminate and required notice
• Move-out inspection procedure
• Property condition documentation (move-in/move-out)

Required Disclosures (Verify by State)

• Lead-based paint disclosure (pre-1978 properties — federal requirement)
• Mold disclosure (where required)
• Bed bug disclosure (where required)
• Sex offender registry notification
• Flood zone disclosure
• Known defects or hazards
• Asbestos disclosure (where required)
• Shared utility disclosure (where required)

Common Addenda

• Move-in/move-out condition report
• Pet addendum (if pets allowed)
• Parking addendum (assigned spots, rules)
• Smoking policy addendum
• Mold prevention addendum
• HOA rules attachment (if applicable)
• Appliance inventory list
• Key/access device inventory

Signatures & Execution

• All adult tenants have signed
• Landlord or authorized agent has signed
• Date of execution
• Copies provided to all parties
• All addenda initialed and attached

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Review Summary Template

## Lease Review Summary

**Property:** [Address]
**Reviewed by:** [Name]
**Date:** [Date]

### Status: [Complete / Missing Items / Needs Legal Review]

### Missing or Incomplete Items:
1. [Item] — [Why it matters]
2. [Item] — [Why it matters]

### Items Needing Clarification:
1. [Clause] — [What is unclear]

### Recommendations:
- [Action item 1]
- [Action item 2]

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Anti-Patterns

• Using a generic online template without state customization — lease laws vary dramatically by state and even city. Generic templates miss required local provisions.
• No move-in condition report — without documented property condition at move-in, security deposit disputes are unresolvable.
• Vague maintenance responsibilities — "Tenant is responsible for upkeep" without specifics leads to disagreements.
• Missing disclosures — failing to include required disclosures can void lease provisions or create legal liability.
• No early termination clause — life happens. Having a clear buyout process is better than a messy breach.

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Recovery

• Lease already signed with missing terms: Create an addendum covering the missing items. Both parties sign.
• State-specific requirements unknown: Research your state's landlord-tenant statutes or consult a local real estate attorney.
• Tenant disputes a lease term: Reference the specific clause. If the clause is genuinely ambiguous, negotiate a reasonable interpretation and document it.
• Using an outdated lease template: Review and update annually. Laws change, and your lease should reflect current requirements.
• Multiple properties with different lease versions: Standardize to one template per property type and jurisdiction. Customize only the property-specific details.