One-Page Lease Agreement Template
A free one-page lease agreement template that keeps a rental to the essentials — parties, property, term, rent, deposit, utilities, and signatures — in plain English on a single page. Download it in PDF or Word and fill in the bracketed fields.
Last updated: August 5, 2026
What Is a One-Page Lease Agreement?
A one-page lease agreement is a deliberately short rental contract that captures only the terms a landlord and tenant genuinely need to agree on: who is renting, what property, for how long, for how much, who pays the utilities, and what happens if either side wants out. It is the written version of a handshake deal, and it exists because a fourteen-page lease is often more document than a single-room rental, a family arrangement, or a short seasonal tenancy actually warrants.
The tradeoff is real and worth stating plainly. A short lease is easier to read and far more likely to actually be signed, but it leaves gaps that a long lease fills, and in those gaps your state landlord-tenant statute takes over by default. That is usually acceptable for a low-stakes tenancy and risky for a high-value one, so treat this template as a starting point that you extend with addenda — pets, parking, appliances, rules — whenever the situation calls for it.
When to Use This Template
- ✓You want a simple written rental agreement without wading through a long form lease
- ✓The tenancy is short, seasonal, or a room in a home you also occupy
- ✓You are renting to a family member or friend and still want the terms recorded
- ✓A verbal arrangement is already running and needs to be put in writing quickly
- ✓The rent, deposit, and term are straightforward and no unusual conditions apply
- ✓You plan to attach separate addenda for pets, parking, or house rules if needed
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Full text of the template. Fields in [BRACKETS] are placeholders you fill in.
One-Page Lease Agreement
1. 1. Parties and Property
This Lease Agreement is made on [DATE] between [LANDLORD NAME], with a notice address at [LANDLORD ADDRESS] and phone [LANDLORD PHONE] (the "Landlord"), and [TENANT NAME(S)], (the "Tenant"). The Landlord rents to the Tenant the residential property located at [RENTAL PROPERTY ADDRESS, INCLUDING UNIT NUMBER] (the "Premises"). If more than one Tenant signs, each is jointly and severally responsible for the full rent and all obligations under this Lease.
2. 2. Term
The lease begins on [START DATE] and ends on [END DATE]. If the Tenant remains after the end date with the consent of the Landlord and no new agreement is signed, the tenancy continues month to month and either party may end it with [NOTICE PERIOD, e.g., 30 days] written notice. If either party wants to end a month-to-month tenancy, notice must be given at least that many days before the next rent due date.
3. 3. Rent
The Tenant will pay rent of [MONTHLY RENT] per month, due on the [RENT DUE DAY, e.g., 1st] day of each month, payable to [PAYEE NAME] by [PAYMENT METHOD]. Rent received more than [GRACE PERIOD, e.g., 5] days late incurs a late fee of [LATE FEE], not to exceed the maximum allowed by state law. A returned or failed payment incurs a fee of [RETURNED PAYMENT FEE]. Rent for a partial first or last month is prorated at [DAILY RATE] per day.
4. 4. Security Deposit
The Tenant will pay a security deposit of [SECURITY DEPOSIT AMOUNT] before moving in. The deposit is held to cover unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and cleaning costs caused by the Tenant. The Landlord will return the deposit, with an itemized statement of any deductions, within [DEPOSIT RETURN PERIOD, e.g., 21 days] after the Tenant moves out and provides a forwarding address, or within the period required by state law if shorter. The deposit may not be used by the Tenant as last month rent.
5. 5. Utilities and Services
The Landlord will pay for: [LANDLORD-PAID UTILITIES, e.g., water, sewer, trash]. The Tenant will pay for: [TENANT-PAID UTILITIES, e.g., electricity, gas, internet], and will put those accounts in the name of the Tenant by the start date. Any utility not listed is the responsibility of the Tenant. Failure to keep a required utility on and paid is a breach of this Lease.
6. 6. Use and Occupants
The Premises will be used only as a private residence by the following occupants: [NAMES AND AGES OF ALL OCCUPANTS]. Guests may stay no longer than [GUEST STAY LIMIT, e.g., 14 consecutive days] without written approval from the Landlord. The Tenant may not sublet the Premises, list it on a short-term rental platform, run a business that brings customers to the property, or assign this Lease without the prior written consent of the Landlord. The Tenant will not disturb the quiet enjoyment of neighbors or use the Premises for any unlawful purpose.
7. 7. Pets and Smoking
Pets are [PETS ALLOWED OR NOT ALLOWED]. If allowed, only the following are approved: [APPROVED PETS, BREED AND WEIGHT], and a pet deposit of [PET DEPOSIT] and pet rent of [PET RENT] per month apply. Smoking and vaping are [PERMITTED OR PROHIBITED] inside the Premises and [PERMITTED OR PROHIBITED] on balconies, patios, and within [SMOKING DISTANCE] of any entrance. An assistance animal required as a reasonable accommodation is not a pet and is not subject to pet deposits or pet rent.
8. 8. Maintenance and Repairs
The Landlord will keep the Premises in a habitable condition and maintain the plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and any appliances supplied with the Premises. The Tenant will keep the Premises clean and sanitary, dispose of trash properly, use all systems and appliances reasonably, and report any needed repair to the Landlord promptly at [MAINTENANCE CONTACT]. The Tenant is responsible for the cost of repairs caused by the misuse or negligence of the Tenant, an occupant, or a guest. The Tenant will not paint, alter, or install fixtures without written permission, and is responsible for [TENANT-ASSIGNED TASKS, e.g., lawn care, snow removal, filter changes].
9. 9. Entry, Default, and Termination
The Landlord may enter the Premises with at least [ENTRY NOTICE, e.g., 24 hours] advance notice for repairs, inspections, or showings, and without notice in a genuine emergency. If the Tenant fails to pay rent or breaches any other term, the Landlord may give written notice and pursue the remedies allowed by state law, including termination of the tenancy and eviction through the courts. The Tenant remains liable for unpaid rent, damages, and reasonable costs of collection permitted by law. At the end of the tenancy, the Tenant will return all keys, remove all personal property, and leave the Premises clean and in the same condition as at move-in, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
10. 10. Signatures
By signing below, each party agrees to the terms above and confirms receipt of a copy of this Lease and of any disclosures required by law. LANDLORD: Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [LANDLORD NAME]. Date: [DATE]. TENANT: Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [TENANT NAME]. Date: [DATE]. TENANT (second, if any): Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [SECOND TENANT NAME]. Date: [DATE]. Electronic signatures have the same effect as original signatures.
11. Disclaimer
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. A one-page lease intentionally omits terms that many states require landlords to disclose, including lead-based paint disclosures for housing built before 1978, security deposit handling and interest rules, and required notice periods. Check the landlord-tenant statute for your state and city, attach the disclosures that apply, and consult a licensed attorney before relying on this document. Use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship with ScanContract.
Key Clauses Explained
What each important clause does — and what to watch out for before you sign.
Joint and Several Liability
Makes every tenant who signs responsible for the entire rent, not just their personal share.
If your roommate leaves in month three, the landlord can pursue you for one hundred percent of the rent, not half. Tenants sharing a place should either accept that risk knowingly or sign a separate roommate agreement that sets out who owes what between them. Landlords should keep this clause — it is the main reason a multi-tenant lease is collectible.
Term and Holdover
Sets the fixed end date and explains what the tenancy becomes if the tenant stays past it.
Short leases often forget to say what happens at the end date, which leaves both sides guessing. Confirm whether staying on converts the deal to month to month and how much notice ends it. Tenants should check that the notice period matches state law, since some states require more than thirty days for longer tenancies.
Security Deposit and Return
Sets the deposit amount and the deadline for returning it with an itemized statement.
Most deposit disputes are lost on documentation, not on law. Both sides should take dated photos at move-in and move-out and keep a signed condition checklist. Tenants should confirm the return deadline in the lease is not longer than the statutory maximum in their state, and landlords should note that missing the deadline can trigger penalties of two or three times the deposit.
Utilities Allocation
States exactly which party pays which utility and who holds each account.
A single vague line here causes more month-to-month friction than any other item in a short lease. Name every utility, including water, sewer, trash, gas, electric, and internet, and say who holds the account. In a shared or unmetered property, spell out the split formula, because "shared fairly" means something different to each side once a bill arrives.
Use, Occupants, and Guests
Limits who lives at the property and prevents subletting or short-term rental listings.
Landlords should list every occupant by name — an unlisted adult who moves in is the most common way a screening process gets bypassed. Tenants should make sure the guest limit is realistic for family visits and that it is measured in consecutive days, not total days per year, which is much harder to comply with.
Maintenance Responsibilities
Divides repair duties between the landlord habitability obligation and the day-to-day care owed by the tenant.
A short lease that pushes all repairs onto the tenant is not enforceable in most states, because the duty to provide a habitable dwelling generally cannot be waived. Tenants should be wary of a clause making them responsible for major systems. Both sides should agree in writing on any assigned chores such as lawn care or snow removal, and on a dollar threshold above which the landlord must approve a repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a one-page lease legally binding?▾
What does a one-page lease leave out?▾
Can I use a simple lease for a year-long rental?▾
Do I still need to give required disclosures with a short lease?▾
Can I add terms to a one-page lease later?▾
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