Is Zillow lease valid and legal?

[Bhumika Dhanani]

Greeting BP family!

Is a Zillow lease considered legal in Georgia? Or should I have a real estate agent create it for me? Listing my rental through a RE agent is a great option, and we did for the past 2 years. I want to try it myself. Any advice or suggestions are welcome. Thank you!

[Tim Baldwin]

A word of caution. The Zillow lease (like so many other leases you can get online) may not have provisions that are beneficial to you as a landlord. For example, in Florida, a landlord only has to give 3 days' notice to pay (excluding weekends and legal holidays) to the tenant, but the Zillow lease provides for more than 3 days. There are other provisions that do not, in my view as a landlord attorney, benefit the landlord. My advice is to form a relationship with a landlord attorney in your state, and in particular, one that is very familiar with property management, to prepare your lease specific to not only your state laws but also how you want to do business. Best wishes.