Rental Agreements

[TC2002]

I am trying to find sample rental agreements to use, so that I can confirm things with my soon to be tenant. I've never rented out before, so I am looking for specific wordings and such so that I know that the necessary legalities and responsibilities of landlord and tenant will be addressed.

Does anyone know of any links that have sample rental agreements specific to Alberta?

Thanks in advance!

[westbeach70]

try boardwalk.com possibly... They might have a .pdf file you can download possibly???

[TomcoPDR]

Calgary apartment association
www.calapt.org

They sell pre-typed format forms, even a starter landlord kit.

[el-nino]

I have one. Pm me your email I can send it to you

[TC2002]

Thanks el-nino, I have pm'd you.

[urbannomad]

you can find stuff like at staples i believe...i can recall something along the lines of "self will" self...etc...

basically do it yourself things. worth a look imo.

[ricosuave]

It basically doesnt have to be, and shouldnt be, full of legalese.

As long as it covers off the basics, and what items you as a landlord want in there, it will suffice.

You can put anything you want in an agreement, if the tenant signs to it, it is legal and valid.

In my old ones, I had the tenants initial off on each individual point as I explained it so that they understood what that point was about, and the final sign at the end was for the whole document.

easy peasy.

[TC2002]

True. I just want to make sure I cover the "essential" categories, and it's nice to know where to start.

Great idea on having them sign off the individual parts! I think I'll do that as well. :thumbsup:

[S4maniac]

Originally posted by ricosuave
It basically doesnt have to be, and shouldnt be, full of legalese.

As long as it covers off the basics, and what items you as a landlord want in there, it will suffice.

You can put anything you want in an agreement, if the tenant signs to it, it is legal and valid.

In my old ones, I had the tenants initial off on each individual point as I explained it so that they understood what that point was about, and the final sign at the end was for the whole document.

easy peasy.

I would be careful about having an agreement that just covers the basics. It always seems to be the pain in the ass tenant that will find the hole in your homemade agreement.

Also, you can't put "anything you want" in an agreement and assume its legal. The Residential Tenancy Act supercedes ANY lease. The ones for sale online comply totally with the Act and I would recommend spending the few bucks to get one of those.

As a forinstance ... if you write in the lease that your month to month tenant must give 60 days notice to vacate, he really only has to give the required 30 days required in the Act. If you fight in court, he'll win.

[Maddog55]

A few good links for landlords:

http://www.landlordandtenant.org/splash.aspx

http://www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/pdf/tipsheets/RTATipsheet.pdf

http://www.landlordsinfo.com/

http://www.lawdepot.com/ <----- This is a good place to order online legal documents

[urban.one]

This is a good reply.

The law is there to protect both the tenant and landlord.

The landlord could put anything they want in the lease and the tenant can sign it but if its against the Act, then its invalid.


Originally posted by S4maniac


I would be careful about having an agreement that just covers the basics. It always seems to be the pain in the ass tenant that will find the hole in your homemade agreement.

Also, you can't put &quot;anything you want&quot; in an agreement and assume its legal. The Residential Tenancy Act supercedes ANY lease. The ones for sale online comply totally with the Act and I would recommend spending the few bucks to get one of those.

As a forinstance ... if you write in the lease that your month to month tenant must give 60 days notice to vacate, he really only has to give the required 30 days required in the Act. If you fight in court, he'll win.

[ricosuave]

hey guys, i didnt mean 'anything' i meant in the sense of being based on the act as well.

[TC2002]

That's logical that all terms should abide by the law. :) Thanks for all of the feedback. I have written out the terms and waiting to get the renter to sign it!