Fillable PDF
Residential rental agreement template
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We built this rental agreement template for the common case: one landlord, one or more tenants, one home, and a fixed or open-ended term. It puts the facts both sides argue about later (rent, due day, deposit, start and end dates) on the first page, followed by a short set of plain-language clauses you can edit before anyone signs.
This is a general example, not legal advice. Tenancy rules differ a lot by country, state and even city: deposit caps, notice periods, rent increase limits and required disclosures are often set by law and override whatever a contract says. Check your local rules, or ask a local tenancy adviser, before you rely on it.
How to fill it in
- Download the fillable PDF, or open it straight in our Fill PDF form tool in your browser.
- Fill in the property, both parties and the rent, deposit and date terms.
- Read the numbered clauses and edit them to match your agreement and local law.
- Add the inventory and other annexes with Merge PDF, then sign with Sign PDF.
- Send it to the other party to sign, and save the final copy to My files if you are signed in.
What each part of the agreement is for
The property block should identify the home so precisely that nobody could confuse it with another unit: street, number, unit or flat number, postcode. In the description, list what comes with it, such as appliances, a parking space or a cellar, because those are the items that cause disputes at move-out.
In the parties block, write every adult tenant's full legal name, not just the person who found the flat. The contact line is where formal notices go, so use an email address or postal address that will still work in a year. The terms block is the money part: write the rent as an amount and currency, the day of the month it is due, and the deposit as a separate figure.
Common mistakes we see
Most rental disputes come from things that were never written down rather than from badly worded clauses. Before signing, check that the page answers these questions.
- Leaving the end date blank without saying the tenancy is open-ended or month to month.
- Mixing rent and utilities in one number, so nobody knows what a later increase applies to.
- No move-in condition record: attach photos or a dated inventory, signed by both sides.
- A deposit amount above the legal cap in your area, which can make that clause unenforceable.
- Only one tenant signing when several adults live in the home.
What to attach, how to send it and how long to keep it
Useful attachments are the inventory with photos, any house rules, an energy certificate or other disclosures your local law requires, and copies of ID if you collect them. Combine them into one file with our Merge PDF tool so the signed agreement and its annexes travel together, and use Compress PDF if photos make the file too big for email.
Send the final PDF to every party and keep a signed copy for the whole tenancy plus several years after it ends, since deposit and damage claims can come up long after the keys are returned. If you protect the file with a password using Protect PDF, share the password through a different channel than the document.
Frequently asked questions
Is this rental agreement valid in my country?
It is a general starting point. Many countries and states require specific clauses, disclosures or official forms for residential leases, and those rules take priority. Compare it with your local requirements before signing.
Can both sides sign it online?
Yes. Each party can open the PDF in our Sign PDF tool, add a drawn or typed signature and the date, and send the file on. Whether an electronic signature is accepted for leases depends on local law; in most places it is fine for ordinary residential tenancies.
Can I change the clauses?
Yes. The clauses box is editable text. Delete what does not apply and add terms such as pets, subletting or garden care. Keep it short; anything long is better as a signed annex.
Where are my files stored?
Filling and signing run in your browser. If you are signed in, you can save the result to My files, which is encrypted. Otherwise the file stays on your device.
Our templates are general examples, not legal or tax advice; check the rules that apply where you live and work.