Where Do I Get a Good Rental Lease Agreement?

[Rachel H.]

Hi! I'll be renting out my place for the first time in a few months and I'm wondering where I can get an excellent Rental Lease Agreement that I can easily customize for my local jurisdiction (or have it customized). It doesn't have to be free, but I'm hoping there's a not too expensive resource out there and alternative to having a real estate attorney do it. Thanks for any tips!

[Bettina F.]

Ok, I admit that I am cheap......

Do you have a friend in Seattle that rents from a large, professionally managed apartment complex or from a large SFH rental provider? (Should be the same city as your rental property since Seattle has more restrictive laws than King County.) If so, get a copy of his lease and use that as your template. These large providers have attorneys on staff to review their leases, to make sure everything legal and protects the LL's interests.

Retype the lease in your computer, add your contact info into the header, and buy your friend a beer.  Be sure to tweak the lease where needed, so for example, your tenant is responsible for establishing utilities with Seattle City Light, etc.