District of Columbia Residential Lease Agreement

What this means. You are allowing specific animals and collecting a separate, refundable deposit for them. If a pet damages the place, the repair cost comes out of that deposit first. Assistance animals are treated differently under disability law, so the clause does not try to limit them.

What this means. The tenant cannot rent the place (or part of it) to someone else, or hand the lease over to another person, without asking the landlord in writing first. It keeps control over who lives in the property. Some states require the landlord to have a reasonable basis for saying no.

What this means. When the fixed term ends, nobody has to sign a new lease: the tenancy simply rolls on month to month under the same terms. Either side can end it by giving the notice you set here, or a longer notice if state law requires one.

What this means. Rent that arrives a few days after the due date is not treated as late and no fee is charged. Only after the grace period does a late fee kick in. Some states require a minimum grace period, so this clause helps keep the late fee on safe ground.

What this means. Lists the utilities the landlord will keep paying, so there is no argument later over the water or trash bill. Anything not on either list should be discussed before signing.

What this means. No smoking or vaping inside the unit or in enclosed shared areas. If someone breaks the rule and it costs money to remove the smell or residue, the tenant covers that cost.

What this means. Normally a tenant who leaves early still owes rent until the end of the term. This clause gives them a defined exit: give the notice you set, pay the fee, and the lease ends on the move-out date. It provides certainty for both sides.

What this means. When two or more people sign as tenants, the landlord can collect the full rent (or the full cost of damage) from any one of them, not just their share. Roommates then sort it out among themselves.

What this means. For housing built before 1978, federal law requires the landlord, before the lease takes effect, to disclose known lead-based paint and hazards, share available records, include a lead warning statement, and give the tenant the EPA pamphlet “Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home”. This clause puts the disclosure in the lease; the pamphlet still has to be delivered.

What this means. The landlord may enter to inspect, repair, or show the place, but only at reasonable times and after the advance notice you set — many states set a minimum notice by statute, and any longer statutory notice controls. In an emergency, entry without notice is allowed.

What this means. Instead of a fixed term, the tenancy continues month to month until either side ends it with the written notice you set here (state law may require a longer notice, which then controls). If you select this, you can leave the lease end date blank.

What this means. Several states require the lease (or a written statement) to say where the landlord or manager can be reached with notices and legal papers, and to whom and where the rent is paid. Filling this in helps meet those requirements and avoids disputes about where things had to be sent.

What this means. The landlord keeps the place habitable and makes the repairs the law requires; the tenant reports problems promptly in writing, keeps the place clean, and pays for damage they or their guests cause beyond ordinary wear. Nothing here waives tenant rights under state law.