General information, not legal advice. This template is a starting point. Laws differ by state and city, so have a licensed attorney review your final document before you use it.
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The short version
- An apartment lease has to cover life in a shared building: common areas, quiet hours, parking, trash and packages.
- List every monthly charge in one table so the resident sees the full cost.
- Explain how shared utilities are billed, such as submeters or a ratio formula, where the law allows.
- Attach the community rules and apply them the same way to every resident.
What an apartment lease is
An apartment lease, sometimes called a multifamily lease, is a residential lease for a unit in a building or community with other households. The basics, such as rent, deposit and term, are the same as any lease. What sets it apart is everything shared: hallways, laundry rooms, pools, parking lots, trash areas and walls. Clear rules for those shared parts are what keep a building pleasant and disputes rare.
When to use it
Use it for units in duplexes, triplexes, small apartment buildings and large communities, whenever residents share areas or services. For a whole house, use the single-family lease. For a room in a shared home, use the room rental agreement.
How to use the template
- Fill in the owner, the managing agent and the unit details, including parking and storage.
- Complete the monthly charges table.
- Explain utilities: what residents set up, what you bill and how.
- Attach your community rules and fill in quiet hours and the package location.
- Set the pet and smoking policies.
- Attach required disclosures and the move-in checklist.
- Sign and give each resident a full copy.
What to include
- Owner, agent, residents and occupants.
- The unit, parking, storage and mailbox.
- Term and month to month terms after it ends.
- Rent and every monthly charge.
- Deposit, utilities and billing method.
- Community rules, smoking and pets.
- Maintenance, entry, insurance and subletting.
- Disclosures, default, early termination and move-out.
State rules to check
- Deposit limits, holding rules and return deadlines.
- Late fee caps and grace periods.
- Utility billing rules.
- Entry notice periods.
- Required disclosures, such as lead paint, bed bugs, mold or smoking policy notices.
- Local rent and just cause rules in many cities.
Common mistakes
- Rules enforced for some residents and not others, which invites fair housing complaints.
- Hidden fees outside the monthly charges table.
- Vague parking terms, a constant source of friction.
- No package policy, which leaves the office holding liability for deliveries.
Apartment leases in TenantLoop
In TenantLoop, applicants apply online, you review each application on one record, and the lease wizard prorates the first month and posts the charges to the ledger. The lease goes out for e-signature, and each resident gets their own portal to pay rent and send repair requests. Email and portal announcements reach the whole building at once.
What is in the template
A fixed-term lease for a unit in an apartment building or complex: rent and deposit, parking and storage, community rules, common areas and amenities, quiet hours, packages, trash, entry and move-out, with state rule slots.
- Parties and occupants
- Unit and community
- Term
- Rent and other monthly charges
- Security deposit
- Utilities
- Community rules
- Smoking
- Pets
- Maintenance and repairs
- Entry
- Insurance and liability
- Subletting and short stays
- Disclosures and attachments
- Default
- Early termination
- Move-out
- Other terms
Read the whole apartment (multifamily) lease agreement template
Get the file
Free, no sign up. Fill it in by hand or edit the Word file.
General template, not legal advice. Have an attorney in your state review before use.
Filling it in, and what to watch for.
How is an apartment lease different from a house lease?
It covers shared spaces and neighbors: common areas, amenities, quiet hours, parking spaces, trash rooms, packages and building access. Utilities are often billed by the landlord rather than set up by the resident.
Can I change the community rules during the lease?
Reasonable rules can usually be updated with written notice if the lease says so, as long as they apply to everyone and do not take away a major right the resident bargained for. Big changes are best saved for renewal.
Can I bill residents for water and trash?
Many states allow utility billing by submeter or a ratio formula, but some regulate the method, require disclosures or ban certain fees. Check the rules before adding utility charges.
Do I need a lead disclosure for an apartment?
Yes, for buildings built before 1978 unless an exemption applies, such as a studio with no separate bedroom. Reports on common areas must be disclosed too.