Sample Forms For Landlords

[Debbie]

I am providing forms/applications/agreements for Landlord and tenant.

If anyone is interested, please see attachments that I use for my rental properties.

I want everyone to be aware that the Rental Application (with modified contents) is the courtesy of ALDO.

Feel free to use my samples along with your own modifications.

Debbie

DISCLAIMER: Each state has it's own laws. Do your due diligence that each of the clauses is allowable by your state's law. Have an attorney or your Landlord Association to review that the clauses are acceptable within your state's law.

[Debbie]

Uploading documents has a default of five limits.

Here are more sample attachments....

[Dan Auito]

SAWEEEET! Now that's what we call a value added post gang!!!!

[Jeffery (LCLA)]

Great info, thanks. I've got a question for you. I noticed at the bottom of your forms it states (Tenant’s Copy with original signatures & initials), does that mean that you give the original document to the tenant and keep a copy for yourself? and if so, why?

[Debbie]

Great info, thanks. I've got a question for you. I noticed at the bottom of your forms it states (Tenant’s Copy with original signatures & initials), does that mean that you give the original document to the tenant and keep a copy for yourself? and if so, why?

We print off two copies prior to signatures.

One copy that has "Tenant's Copy with Original Signatures and Initials".

Second copy that has "Landlord's Copy with Original Signatures and Initials".

Everyone signs and initial every pages hence all forms are originals.

Reason for this: Our fellow landlord had to go to court for eviction purposes.
Judge asked for the copy of the lease. Landlord provided one and the tenant provided one. Then, it became he said/she said situation.

Problem? The tenant manipulated a few clauses in the lease that had no signatures and/or initials on it. The back of the lease had signatures and the only clauses on that last page were the standard state/federal laws. Hence, made it easy for the tenant to manipulate the wording in the clauses that had no original signatures and/or initials.

[Jeffery (LCLA)]

Ah Ha, thank you.

[Aldo]

Thanx, Debbie. You've got to know that some of those puppies are going end up at my site since they're made obvious by their absence. A little state-specific fine-tuning and they'll be good to go for WI.

To all others, Debbie offered some great documents. I looked at them and would not have said they were great if I didn't beleive it. If there is a form you need which is not included in that offer, you may find something of use at www.askaldo.info (http://www.askaldo.info) Please note that most of my forms are WI-specific.

Jeffery, the tenant hasn't been born yet who will get the original of anything.

[Terry CA]

It is great of Debbie and Aldo to share these with those here...but...being a LL in the most litigeous state in the union, I still would STRONGLY suggest you use forms drafted by LL attorneys specifically in your OWN STATE. Not just "an attorney" but attorneys whose primary job is to go to court on behalf of LL's.

I would suggest local LL associations if available in your area as a GREAT starting point.

Rental agreements and other documents should be written according to the laws of your state. Many states have MANDATED clauses, prohibited wording, mandated FORMAT (including clauses at certain size/bold, etc).

Applications can also be tricky per state laws. For example in CA to ask "what relationship" one tenant is to another is...ILLEGAL. And to enforce a jointly/severally clause which should be in EVERY agreement, there should not be a tenant and then co-tenant.

Just a few quick notes...if you use the forms provided, please at least review them with a local LL attorney.

This is in no way a negative to Debbie or Aldo...just the reality of being in this business for almost 30 years and seeing too many "tragedies" in courts against LL's.

[Dan Auito]

Terry, I and everyone else here really appreciate your willingness to share the years of wisdom you have accumulated in the biz.

It's so refreshing to see someone from the other-side overcoming others opinions and objections in an effort to help others.

You're a shinning jewel amongst many stones in the sea of humanity, thank you.

[Aldo]

Terry, thanx for re-enforcing the all-important point of ensuring a form snagged from the web is legal in the snagger's state. I clearly state that my forms are WI-specific for that very reason.

Folks, here's an example of what can happen when using a form that does not comply with local law and which resulted in a potential problem for every landlord in Wisconsin. Skipping details, in McTaggert v Wisconsin the court ruled that any lease containing a provision contrary to law is null and void. No! Not the provision. The entire lease. Google on "McTaggert v Wisconsin" and a great article will be the only hit.

To all, before using a form, any form, have it reviewed by an atty who does RE law appropriate to your type of investing. Yeah, atty's don't work for free, but you don't either. The truth is that you can be sued for mega-bucks because you declined to spend a hundred bucks to follow the 11th Commandment.

For those that don't know, the 11th Commandment is: Cover thy butt.