California lease agreements allow a property owner (lessor) and a tenant (lessee) to enter into a binding rental agreement for residential or commercial property. The legally binding contracts cover all terms and conditions pertaining to a rental unit such as rent amount and payment date, security deposit, tenant and landlord responsibilities, and termination date. It is recommended that the landlord perform a credit check (through a rental application form) of any prospective tenants to ensure that they are financially stable enough to rent the property.
Laws – CIV, Div. 3, Part 4, Title 5 (Hiring of Real Property)
A California standard residential lease agreement is a written contract between a landlord and tenant for the renting of property in return for monthly rent. The tenant agrees to make payment and abide by the rules and terms of the agreement. If for any reason the tenant should break the lease, such as non-payment of rent or other lease violations, the landlord will have the…
A California month-to-month lease agreement is for tenants and landlords seeking to have an arrangement that is temporary and renews every time rent is paid. Typically, the landlord will collect a one (1) month security deposit in case of damage or if the tenant does not pay rent. A month-to-month rental agreement can be terminated under CIV 1946 with 30 days’ notice. Table of Contents…
A California rental application can be downloaded by a landlord and completed by a potential lessee to check and verify their credit, background, employment, and previous rental history. This will give any property owner enough information about the person’s past to judge whether it is a good idea to rent to them. After the application is completed, the landlord can review it and see if…
A California commercial lease agreement may be used to establish rental terms for any retail, office, or industrial property located within the State. If renting to a business, the landlord should seek a guaranty to ensure that if the tenant does not pay, the person in charge of making payments is liable for any unpaid receivables. There are three (3) main types of commercial leases:…
A California sublease agreement is a legal contract between an existing tenant and a person (sublessee) that wishes to rent the same space (partial or the entirety). The rent paid by the sublessee must be paid directly to the current tenant, and the term of the agreement may not go longer than the original one that exists between the landlord and tenant. It is advised…
A California roommate agreement contains the necessary language to solidify the terms and conditions of a rental situation involving two (2) or more roommates. Whether the individuals are college students new to renting or working professionals with experience in renting, it is typically recommended that living arrangements are clearly documented on paper. Topics that should be discussed and agreed upon will include rent amount, security…
The Megan’s law disclosure form must be attached to every residential lease agreement. Megan’s law is a computer database that contains all registered sex offenders and where they live in the State of California. Pursuant to Section 290.46 of the Penal Code, information about specified registered sex offenders is made available to the public via an Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice at…
