Lease and Contract Agreement Guidelines
If you are planning a home exchange or a home rental, chances are you would like to iron out the accommodation details.
Using a home rental contract or home exchange contract is recommended when entering an agreement with a third party. It is always a good idea to write down and sign off on both parties’ expectations so that everyone is on the same page.
Home Rental, Exchange and Vehicle Use Contract Examples
We’ve created free home exchange, home rental, and vehicle use sample agreement guidelines specifically to help you sort out pertinent information. You can download these documents, tailor them to your needs and fill in all of the information for both parties to sign. Please note that you will need Acrobat (or an equivalent PDF reader) to use the following documents.
Home Exchange Contract Guidelines & Template
Home Exchange Contract Agreement Guideline
Home Rental Contract Guidelines & Template
Home Rental Contract Agreement Guideline
Vehicle Use Contract Guidelines & Template
Vehicle Use Contract Agreement Guideline
You may want to search lease or contract recommendations specific to where your home is located (or where the other place is located if you are a tenant or home exchanger). The sample contracts included above cover these topics and more:
- SabbaticalHomes.com Member contact information (both parties)
- Security deposit, rental amount and dates of contract
- Home exchange terms and dates
- Home insurance and local fees
- Utilities (who will be financially responsible for payment)
- Condition of the home and any maintenance or repairs included in the agreement
- Subletting terms (if applicable)
- Use of additional facilities (i.e. community pool or recreation room)
- Security, locks and arrangement of keys
- Terms for mail, pets, smoking and any additional house sitting tasks
- Vehicle make, model, year, insurance information, dates of use, condition of the vehicle, maintenance and repair, license and fees, mileage and any other details agreed upon
Before Creating a Contract: Questions to Ask & Checking References
Communication Guidelines
Before you can create a contract, you will need to learn more about the other member and what they are looking for in a home or tenant. The better your communication upfront, the more accurate your contracts and agreements will be – and you’ll probably have a better overall experience with the other member.
We’ve provided questions to ask potential tenants and potential landlords. These can serve as starting points to being able to assess whether both members are a good fit for each other.
Checking References
You will also need to check each other’s references before agreeing to terms and finalizing a contract. Here is our guide to this process: Checking References: The First Step to a Successful Stay.
Links to:
Related: SabbaticalHomes.com FAQ: Communication Between Members
Landlord/Tenant Check In Guidelines
In addition to checking each other’s references and creating a contract agreement, it can be helpful to take pictures of the home when the tenant or home exchanger is checking in. This can prevent miscommunication about any wear and tear on paint, furniture, appliances and the like when it’s time to move out. Either the landlord or tenant can take the pictures. Even better, take photos together during a walkthrough prior to or at move in!
Related: Tips to Prepare your Home for Tenants
Other Agreement Guideline Resources
Lawpack is a self-help legal publisher serving the United Kingdom. It includes a section on property letting.
The U.S. Legal Forms website is a fee-based service that provides state-specific Lease, Lease Application, Reference Check Consent, Pre and Post Inventory Checklist, Lead Paint Disclosure, Welcome Letter etc.
Legal Zoom is another fee-based service that provides state-specific, customized lease agreements, throughout the United States.
Bail Facile is a resource for leases and forms in France, and here is a resource for contracts in for Italy.
Please let us know if you have suggestions or resources for contracts and leases in additional countries! Connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
