We have a sample lease you can use once you find a tenant.

You should talk to your attorney regarding your needs renting your property, for your protection. Although some items are just "common courtesy", it is better to be protected.

Some examples of  issues you could address with your attorney to include in your lease are:

• If you allow your tenants to have pets, discuss your liability with your attorney. Discuss liability issues regarding type of breed, noise issues, and which pets are OK. Are all pets OK? Somebody can bring their pet snake!;

• If pets are allowed, discuss who is responsible for the cleaning of the area (inside and outside) of your apartment or home for rent;

• Parking issues - Are they allowed to park junk cars on your rental property?;

• Noise and time issues in your apartment or rental home;

• Bringing other people to the rental property, apartment, or home for rent;

• Smoking inside the apartment or home rental;

• Cleaning issues (everyday, after parties, etc.) both inside and outside if renting a room on your home, and apartment, a home rental;

• Oil tank - issues of tenant not being able to pay for oil or heat. Frozen pipes issues;

• Specify the number of adults and children permitted in each unit for rent, and the number of each that will actually be residing. Are friends and relatives allowed to visit overnight? What are your rules about other people staying more than X amount of days on your rental unit, apartment, or home rental?
  1) Do you need approval in writing?
  2) Do they need to be added to the lease after staying X amount of days?
  3) Would you charge a rent increase?