As every successful landlord in Grande Prairie, Alberta will tell you, having an iron-clad lease or rental agreement is key to your rental business. A lease agreement, also known as a rental contract, sets out the rules that both you and your tenant must follow.
Now, there are certain terms that your lease should include in order to serve its purpose effectively. For example, in terms of rent rules, your lease should be clear on details like the rent amount, and where and when it’s due.
Your agreement should also be clear on things like pet rules, the lease term, names of tenants, occupancy limits, and on repairs and maintenance.
The benefit of having such a lease is that it’ll help you minimize the chance of any misunderstanding during a lease term.
So, in this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key items you should include in your Alberta lease agreement.
Item #1: Lease Term
A lease term, usually expressed in terms of months or years, is the period of time in which the terms of the lease are legally enforceable.
There are two types of leases: a periodic tenancy, and a fixed-term tenancy. A periodic tenancy does not specify an actual end date. The tenant is free to continue living in the property until either the landlord or tenant provides a written notice to end it.
There are different kinds of periodic tenancies: the weekly periodic tenancy and the monthly periodic tenancy. In a weekly periodic tenancy, a lessee agrees to rent week-to-week and pay rent on a weekly basis. Similarly, in a monthly periodic tenancy, a lessee agrees to rent month-to-month and pay rent on a monthly basis.
A fixed-term lease, on the other hand, means that the tenant agrees to rent the premises for a fixed time period. A tenant, for instance, may agree to rent the unit for a period of 6 months or one year. Once this term ends, it’ll then be assumed that the tenant will move out or renew the lease.
Whichever option you decide, your Alberta agreement must clearly state what type of lease you are offering.
Item #2: Names of Tenants
While it may sound rather obvious, some landlords fail to include the names of all adult renters residing in their property.
Including the names of all tenants (minus children) in the Alberta lease makes each one of them legally responsible for all terms of the lease. This means that you can ask rent from any of them should one tenant skip paying rent. It also means they are all responsible for following the rental rules.
Item #3: Occupancy Limits
Your lease must specify that only rental applicants that have been screened, approved and signed the lease are allowed to reside on your property. By including this clause, you will have full control over who is staying in your unit.
Do you allow subletting in your Grande Prairie Alberta rental property? If you do, then you need to mention this. Make sure the renter knows that in order for them to sublet the rental they must ask for your permission first.
This ensures that all the people living in your property are qualified to live there. That is, they have passed the entire screening process.
It also means that you can evict anyone who lives in your property without your permission.
Item #4: Security Deposits
If you are an experienced property investor, then you know that security deposits are often a source of conflict between a landlord and a tenant.
Generally, landlords require renters to return the property in the same condition as they found it. If they don’t, the landlord may have a right to deduct the appropriate costs from their security deposit.
In some cases, though, the renter and landlord may not agree on the costs. If all other conflict resolution methods fail, the issue may eventually end up in a small claims court.
So, how do you avoid any confusion? Well, by being clear on several things:
- The security deposit amount. When setting this amount, make sure that you stay compliant to the Alberta security deposit limit law.
- How the security deposit is going to be stored and returned.
- Any non-refundable fees you may have. For example, for pets or for cleaning.
- The conditions that a tenant must meet for it to be returned.
Item #5: Rent Rules
Don’t assume it, make sure your Alberta lease agreement also mentions the dollar amount of rent. It goes without saying that the amount you set for rent should coincide with the value of your property.
Make sure your rental contract states:
- The amount of rent. The right amount is key to running a successful rental business in Grand Prairie, Alberta. It will attract the right tenant to your rental property and help you earn maximum profits.
- Forms of payments accepted. Providing a variety of payment methods makes rent payment easy for tenants. Good examples include online payments, direct deposit, credit cards, and money order.
- The due date. Usually, the rent due date is the first day of the month. You should also indicate if you offer a grace period, and how long it runs.
- You should also state what happens when a tenant fails to pay on time. Will there be a late rent fee. If so, how much will the fee be?
Item #6: Utilities
Be clear on who is responsible for what in terms of utilities. Common utilities in rental properties include electric, water, gas, sewer, and garbage. These utilities are crucial as they allow your rental property to meet Alberta habitability laws.
The following table gives a summary on how most landlords in Grand Prairie handle utilities.
Utility |
Paid By |
|
Electricity |
Depends |
|
Security and Alarm System |
Tenant |
|
Internet and Cable |
Tenant |
|
Water and Sewer |
Landlord |
|
Trash Collection |
Landlord |
| Natural Gas |
Depend |
Item #7: Pet Rules
There are usually two types of landlords: those that allow pets and those that don’t.
If you allow pets, then it’s important that you let your tenants know about any restrictions you may have. Note things like the type of pets you allow, the maximum size and breed. If you don’t allow pets, then make sure your Alberta agreement clearly states the “no pet” clause.
These are the key items you should include in your Alberta lease agreement. These should help set you out on the right path to generating maximum return on your investment.