By Steven Lewis


An agreement between owner and tenant is the basis for a property deal. Although by law it is possible to have a verbal agreement, it's incredibly hard to prove in the case of a dispute. An owner and tenant agreement defines the legal obligations of both parties. It includes the basic agreement, restriction and all other specifications and information about the deal.

Property owners usually have a ready contract for when subletting their units. It is up to the tenant if he or she agrees with the given document or if he or she would want to negotiate the terms further.

The prepared contract will consist of the rent amount, method of payment, amount of down payment, security deposit and duration of rent. It would also include actions that would breach the contract, possible rent increments and a procedure for handling disputes.

Some owners include stipulations on additional rules such as pets, parking, smoking, etc... Accountability on repairs, utilities due and other foreseeable matters should also be clearly stated on the document.

These written agreements are best handled with the assistance of a real estate attorney. Real estate attorneys are experts on the matter and they can ensure that all matters on subletting are covered.

Real estate attorneys are also useful as they know the laws of the state. An agreement must comply with state laws for it to be valid.

The agreement, once settled upon, should be signed by both parties and dated. A notary can be a helpful addition to the contract to make it legal and binding. Both the owner and the tenant will need to have a copy of the agreement for their records.

In order to have a good working relationship between the owner and the tenant, it is important to be represented at the closing so no matters are missed. In addition, it is a good idea to come to the table with an open mind in order to be able to discuss anything either party wishes to discuss before finalizing the transaction. This will help both parties feel confident in the transaction and likely avoid contract problems down the line.




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