What should I check before signing a lease?

Confirm the rent, deposit, and exact lease dates, and read the fine print on early termination, rent increases, and who pays which utilities. Check the pet, guest, and repair rules, and document the apartment's condition with photos before you move in. If a promise matters to you, make sure it's written into the lease.

Can I negotiate a rental agreement?

Often, yes — especially the deposit, move-in date, minor repairs, or adding a pet clause. Landlords are usually more flexible in a slow market or with a reliable tenant. Ask politely and get any agreed change written into the lease itself, not just promised over text or in person.

How do I protect my security deposit?

Document the place thoroughly with timestamped photos and video before you move in, and note existing damage in writing to the landlord. Keep it clean, report problems promptly, and read the deposit terms so you know what counts as a deduction. On move-out, do a final walk-through and get any deductions itemised. This is general guidance, not legal advice — local tenant laws vary.

Rental Agreement Checklist

A lease is a binding contract, and the time to catch a bad clause is before you sign it, not after. This checklist walks through the terms that trip renters up most — the deposit, utilities, repairs, early termination, and the quiet auto-renewal in the fine print. Document the place with photos before you move in, and get every promise in writing. Find more real estate checklists.

Curated by the Gisti team · Updated July 2026

Rental Agreement Checklist · 15 items

Read the whole lease, including the small print and any addendums, before signing anything
Verbal promises don't count — if it isn't written in the lease, assume it won't happen.
Confirm the rent amount, due date, accepted payment methods, and any late fees
Check the deposit amount, what it covers, and the exact conditions for getting it back
Ask how and when it's returned, and what counts as normal wear versus a deduction.
Confirm the lease start and end dates, and whether it renews automatically or goes month-to-month
Read the early-termination clause and what breaking the lease actually costs
Know the notice period and penalty before you sign — plans change.
Check who pays which utilities and services — water, heat, electricity, gas, internet, trash
Get the split in writing; 'utilities included' sometimes comes with a cap.
Review the pet policy, any pet deposit or rent, and the rules on guests and subletting
Note exactly which repairs and maintenance are yours versus the landlord's
Clarify who handles a blocked drain, a broken appliance, or a heating failure, and how fast.
Confirm parking, storage, and any shared-space details in writing
Check the rules on rent increases and how much notice you'll get
Understand the landlord's right of entry and how much notice they must give before visiting
Most places require reasonable written notice except in an emergency.
Photograph and video every room before move-in, including existing damage, and share it with the landlord
Timestamped photos are your best protection against losing the deposit over pre-existing wear.
Make sure every blank in the lease is filled in, and both parties sign and date it
Never sign a lease with empty blanks someone could fill in later.
Save the landlord or property manager's name, phone, email, and address for notices
Keep a signed copy of the lease and every receipt and message in one place

Make it yours in Gisti

Open this checklist in Gisti to tick items off, add your own, set reminders, and keep it in sync across Android and the web. AI can tailor every item to your exact situation.

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