Free Contract Generator

Free Lease & Rental Agreement Generator

Create a residential lease or rental agreement covering rent, deposit, late fees, pets, utilities and the federal lead-paint disclosure — with the deposit, entry and notice terms deferring to the law of the state you choose. Fixed term or month-to-month. Download Word & PDF, generated on your device.

  • Free
  • No signup
  • Word & PDF
  • Fixed or month-to-month

How it works

  1. 01
    Add the parties and property

    Landlord, tenant(s) and the rental address.

  2. 02
    Set rent and terms

    Rent, due date, deposit, late fee, pets, utilities and smoking.

  3. 03
    Review clause by clause

    Including deposit and entry terms, which point to your state’s rules.

  4. 04
    Download Word & PDF

    Generate a clean lease on your device, no watermark.

FAQ

Lease agreement questions

Does this lease follow my state’s laws?
It uses standard residential-lease clauses and points to your state’s rules for the things states regulate — like deposit limits, return deadlines and entry notice — instead of hard-coding numbers that change. For the specifics, see the state guides linked below and confirm the current rules for your state.
How much security deposit can I charge?
That depends on your state. Many states cap the deposit (often one or two months’ rent) and set a deadline to return it after move-out. The lease leaves the amount to you and defers to your state’s limits; check your state’s rules before setting it.
Do I need the lead-paint disclosure?
If the housing was built before 1978, federal law requires you to disclose known lead-based paint and give tenants the EPA pamphlet. Turn on the lead-paint disclosure for any pre-1978 property.
Can I use this for a month-to-month rental?
Yes. Choose “Month-to-month” for the term and the lease becomes an open-ended tenancy that either side can end with the written notice your state requires. There is also a month-to-month rental agreement page that starts with that option already selected.
Can I write my own lease agreement?
Yes. A residential lease is a private contract between a landlord and a tenant — nothing requires a lawyer to draft it, and in most states nothing requires it to be notarized either. What you cannot do is contract around your state’s landlord-tenant law: deposit caps, return deadlines, entry notice, required disclosures and the notice needed to end a tenancy are set by statute and override anything the lease says. Write the terms that are yours to set, and let the rest defer to state law — which is how this generator is built.
What is the difference between a lease and a rental agreement?
In everyday use a “lease” means a fixed term with an end date and a “rental agreement” means an open-ended month-to-month tenancy. Legally they are both leases and the same landlord-tenant law applies to each. This generator produces either one — pick the term and the wording follows.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
It is set by state law and the range is wide — California requires the deposit back with an itemized statement within 21 calendar days of move-out, while other states give 30 days or more. Miss the deadline and many states let the tenant recover more than the deposit itself. The state guides on this site cite the statute for California, Texas and Florida; check your own state before you deduct anything.
Is this legal advice?
No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Landlord-tenant law is state- and city-specific; consult a licensed attorney for advice about your situation.

Renting in California, Texas or Florida? See the California, Texas and Florida rental agreement guides for state-specific deposit and notice rules. No end date in mind? Start from the month-to-month rental agreement.