Situation pack · residential rentals
Landlord Pack
Application → lease → receipts → late notice → deposit
Renting out a house, a condo or a spare unit produces the same paperwork every time, in the same order. A prospective tenant applies, you sign a lease, rent comes in (and occasionally comes in late), and at the end you settle the security deposit. Each of those moments has a document that protects you if things go wrong, and each document has state rules attached: what you may charge an applicant, what a lease must disclose, how much notice a late payer gets, and how many days you have to return a deposit.
This pack puts the five generators in sequence, so you do them once and in the right order. Choose your state below and every link points to the version written for that state. Enter the names and the property address once and they are saved in your browser to prefill the forms; nothing is sent to us.
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The steps, in order
Pick a state above to get state-specific links; until then, links go to the general page.
Screen the applicant with a rental application
What: Collect identity, income, rental history and consent to a background check on one signed form before you hand over keys or take a deposit.
When: Before any money changes hands. Several states cap the application fee or require you to refund it — the state page shows the rule and its citation.
Sign the lease agreement
What: Fix the term, rent, due date, deposit amount, late fees, maintenance duties and the disclosures your state requires. Both parties sign; each keeps a copy.
When: Once the applicant is approved and before move-in. Deposit caps and required disclosures differ by state, and the lease generator for your state carries them.
Issue a rent receipt for every payment
What: Record the amount, the period it covers, the date and the method. A receipt ends disputes about whether a month was paid, and some states require one for cash payments.
When: Each time rent is received, especially for cash or money orders. Keep a copy with your records for the whole tenancy.
Send a late rent notice when a payment is missed
What: A written notice states the amount overdue, any late fee the lease allows, and the date by which the tenant must pay. It is the paper trail you will need if the matter ever reaches court.
When: After the grace period in your lease has passed. If it comes to an eviction, the notice period is set by state law — use the calculator rather than guessing.
Settle the deposit at move-out
What: Itemize deductions, return the balance and, if you are the tenant, demand it in writing when it is late. The calculator shows the return deadline for your state; the letter formalizes the demand.
When: The clock starts when the tenant moves out and hands back the keys. The number of days is a state rule — check it in the calculator, then send the letter if the deadline passes.
Why the order matters
Each document assumes the previous one exists. A late rent notice quotes the due date and late fee from the lease; a deposit letter quotes the deposit amount and the move-out date. Landlords who skip the application or use a lease without the state disclosures find that the later documents are harder to enforce. Doing them in sequence, with the same names and address, keeps the file consistent.
What is state-specific and what is not
Rent receipts and late rent notices are close to universal in form, so their generators are not split by state. Applications, leases and deposit paperwork carry state rules — fee caps, disclosures, deposit limits and return deadlines — which is why those steps link to the page for the state you picked. Every rule on those pages is shown with the statute it comes from; verify it before relying on it, because legislatures change these numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need all five documents?
Not for every tenancy, but each one covers a moment that regularly turns into a dispute. The application and lease are the minimum; receipts and notices matter as soon as rent is paid in cash or paid late; the deposit paperwork applies at every move-out.
Where are my details stored?
In your browser only (localStorage). Nothing is uploaded. Clear your browser data and it is gone.
Is any of this legal advice?
No. The pack organizes free templates and links to state rules with their citations. For a contested eviction or a large deposit dispute, talk to a local attorney or your state’s landlord-tenant agency.