Free Rent Agreement Template
Create, customize, and securely e-sign your residential lease agreement online. Protect your property and your rights—in minutes.
No credit card required. Free forever plan available.
Trusted by thousands of landlords, tenants, and real estate professionals
What is a Rent Agreement?
A rent agreement, also known as a lease agreement, is a legally binding contract between a landlord (lessor) and a tenant (lessee) that outlines the terms and conditions for renting a property. It protects both parties by clearly defining their rights, responsibilities, and the rules governing the tenancy. A well-drafted agreement prevents future disputes by setting clear expectations from the start.
Key Components of a Comprehensive Rent Agreement
Our customizable template includes all the essential clauses you need to create a robust and protective lease. Here are the key sections you can expect:
1. Identification of Parties and Property
Clearly lists the full legal names and contact information of the landlord(s) and tenant(s). It also includes the complete address and a detailed description of the rental property, including any specific areas or amenities included in the lease (e.g., parking spots, storage units).
2. Lease Term
Specifies the duration of the lease, including the exact start and end dates. This section also outlines the conditions for renewal or termination, such as whether the lease converts to a month-to-month tenancy after the initial term expires and the notice period required by either party to terminate the agreement.
3. Rent, Deposits, and Fees
Details the exact rent amount, the due date (e.g., the 1st of every month), and acceptable payment methods. It also specifies the security deposit amount, conditions for its use and return, and details about any other potential fees, such as late payment penalties or charges for returned checks.
4. Rules and Regulations
This critical section outlines the specific rules the tenant must follow. It covers policies on pets, smoking, noise levels (quiet hours), property alterations, and the number of occupants. Having these rules in writing is essential for maintaining the property and ensuring a peaceful environment.
5. Maintenance and Repairs
Defines the responsibilities for property maintenance. It clarifies which repairs are the landlord's duty (e.g., plumbing, heating) and which are the tenant's (e.g., changing light bulbs, minor upkeep). It also provides a clear process for how tenants should report repair requests.
6. Landlord's Right to Entry
States the conditions under which the landlord can enter the rental property. This clause typically requires the landlord to provide reasonable notice (e.g., 24 hours) before entering for non-emergency reasons like inspections, repairs, or showing the property to prospective new tenants or buyers.
Why Use eSignly for Your Rent Agreement?
Finding a generic template online is easy, but ensuring it's secure, professional, and legally sound is not. eSignly combines a robust template with a world-class eSignature platform to give you peace of mind.
Legally Binding Signatures
Our eSignatures are compliant with the U.S. ESIGN Act and UETA, making your signed rent agreements legally valid and admissible in court.
Bank-Grade Security
Protect sensitive information. All documents are encrypted in transit and at rest, and our platform is compliant with SOC 2 and ISO 27001 standards.
Fully Customizable
Easily edit, add, or remove clauses to fit your specific property and state requirements. Our template is a starting point, not a rigid form.
Comprehensive Audit Trail
Every action—from viewing to signing—is time-stamped and recorded in a detailed audit log, providing undeniable proof of the signing process.
Sign on Any Device
Tenants can review and sign from their phone, tablet, or computer without needing to download any apps or create an account.
Instant Notifications
Get notified via email the moment your agreement is viewed and signed, so you can finalize the lease and hand over the keys faster.
Simple and Intuitive
Our platform is designed for everyone, not just tech experts. You can send a rent agreement for signature in under five minutes.
Save as a Reusable Template
Once you've perfected your agreement, save it as a template to reuse for future tenants, saving you valuable time and effort.
Completely Free to Start
Access our rent agreement template and send documents for signature with our generous free plan. No hidden fees, no trial periods.
From Template to Signed Agreement in 3 Simple Steps
Our process is designed to be fast, intuitive, and secure.
Select & Customize
Choose the rent agreement template. Easily add tenant details, rent amounts, and any custom clauses specific to your property.
Add Signers & Send
Enter the tenant's name and email address. Drag and drop signature and date fields where they need to sign, then click send.
Sign & Store Securely
Your tenant receives a secure link to sign online. Once completed, all parties get a final copy, and the document is stored securely in your eSignly account.
Ready to Secure Your Rental Property?
Stop relying on outdated paper forms and unsecured emails. Create your professional, legally binding rent agreement today and experience a smarter way to manage your leases.
Use Free Template NowWhat Our Users Are Saying
We're trusted by independent landlords, property managers, and tenants across the country.
"eSignly's rent agreement template saved me so much time. I used to spend hours with Word documents. Now, I can send a professional lease from my phone in minutes. The audit trail gives me complete peace of mind."
"As a first-time renter, I was nervous about the lease. The eSignly process was so straightforward. I could read everything clearly on my laptop and sign without having to print anything. It felt secure and modern."
"Our agency manages over 50 properties. eSignly has become indispensable. The ability to create a master template and then quickly customize it for each new tenant has streamlined our entire leasing workflow. It's a game-changer."
"The free plan is incredibly generous. I only have two rental units, so I don't need a complex system. eSignly gives me the professionalism of a large company without the cost. Highly recommended."
"What I love most is the convenience for my clients. They can sign a lease from anywhere, which is crucial in a competitive rental market. It speeds up the whole process and makes us look great."
"The security features are top-notch. Knowing that every signature is tracked and the final document is tamper-proof is why we chose eSignly over other options. It's a professional-grade tool that's easy enough for anyone to use."
Real-World Success Stories
See how eSignly transforms the rental process for users like you.
Streamlining Onboarding for a "DIY Landlord"
Client Overview: Mark owns three residential properties and manages them himself while working a full-time job. His previous process involved emailing Word documents, waiting for tenants to print, sign, scan, and email them back, leading to delays and lost paperwork.
The Problem: Mark needed a faster, more reliable way to get lease agreements signed. The manual process was time-consuming, unprofessional, and made tracking signed documents a nightmare, especially when tenants were remote.
Key Challenges:
- Wasting hours coordinating signatures.
- Difficulty tracking document status.
- Unprofessional appearance for prospective tenants.
- Risk of incomplete or improperly signed agreements.
Our Solution:
We introduced Mark to eSignly's free plan. He customized our rent agreement template once and saved it. For each new tenant, he simply opens the template, enters their details, and sends it for signature directly from the platform.
- Utilized the reusable template feature.
- Tracked document status in real-time from his dashboard.
- Enabled mobile signing for tenant convenience.
- Received automated notifications and a secure, final PDF.
Positive Outcomes:
Enhancing Client Experience for a Real Estate Agency
Client Overview: "Prestige Rentals" is a boutique real estate agency specializing in high-end rental properties. They pride themselves on providing a premium, seamless experience for their discerning clients (both owners and tenants).
The Problem: Their paper-based leasing process felt outdated and clashed with their high-tech brand image. It created friction, requiring in-person meetings just for signatures and slowing down deal closures in a fast-moving market.
Key Challenges:
- Process did not match their premium brand identity.
- Delays in closing leases due to scheduling conflicts.
- Inconvenient for international or out-of-state tenants.
- Lack of branding on leasing documents.
Our Solution:
Prestige Rentals upgraded to an eSignly Business plan. They used the branding features to add their logo to emails and signing pages. Their agents now send lease agreements the moment a tenant is approved, allowing for instant signing from anywhere in the world.
- Implemented custom branding for a professional touch.
- Used templates for different property types.
- Leveraged instant, remote signing to close deals faster.
- Provided a superior, modern experience for clients.
Positive Outcomes:
Providing Clarity and Security for Student Renters
Client Overview: A group of four university students were renting their first off-campus apartment. They were unfamiliar with legal contracts and anxious about the process, especially since their parents, who were co-signing, lived in different states.
The Problem: The landlord sent them a dense, 15-page PDF via email and asked them to "print, sign, and scan it back." This created confusion about where to sign, how to get co-signer signatures, and the security of sending personal information over email.
Key Challenges:
- Coordinating signatures from multiple people in different locations.
- Lack of clarity on required fields and initials.
- Security concerns with emailing sensitive documents.
- No easy way to track who had signed.
Our Solution:
The students' landlord used eSignly to manage the process. He set up the document with clearly marked fields for each student and co-signer. eSignly automatically routed the document to each person in the correct order for their signature.
- Set a specific signing order for all parties.
- Clearly marked all required signature and initial fields.
- Provided a secure, centralized platform for the entire transaction.
- Gave all parties a final, executed copy automatically.
Positive Outcomes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We've got answers.
Is this rent agreement template really free?
Yes, absolutely. You can use our rent agreement template and send a limited number of documents for signature each month with our Free plan. It's perfect for individual landlords or those who only need to sign a few agreements per year. No credit card is required to sign up.
Are electronic signatures legally binding for rent agreements?
Yes. In the United States, the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act of 2000 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) give electronic signatures the same legal status as handwritten ones. eSignly's platform is fully compliant with these laws, making your signed agreements legally enforceable.
Can I customize the template for my state's laws?
Our template is designed to be a comprehensive starting point. It is fully editable, so you can add, remove, or modify clauses to align with your local and state-specific landlord-tenant laws. We always recommend consulting with a local attorney to ensure your final agreement is fully compliant with all jurisdictional requirements.
Do my tenants need to create an eSignly account to sign?
No, they don't. Signers receive a secure email with a link to the document. They can open, review, and sign on any device with a web browser without needing to register or download anything. The process is designed to be as frictionless as possible for them.
What happens after the agreement is signed?
Once all parties have signed, eSignly automatically sends a final, executed PDF copy to everyone involved. The document, along with its comprehensive audit trail, is stored securely in your eSignly account for easy access anytime, anywhere.