Alabama Lease Agreement

The lease becomes legally binding when all parties have signed: the landlord and all tenants living in the unit who are 18 and older. If you're worried about situations where a lease needs to end early, learn about breaking a lease and grounds for eviction.

Most rental agreements are short-term agreements, such as month-to-month tenancies, while lease agreements are usually for longer rental periods, such as six months, a year, or more.

In some circumstances, a tenant can break a fixed-term agreement early without penalty. A tenant can give 14 days' written notice to end an agreement early without penalty if: they have accepted an offer of social housing (e.g. from DCJ Housing)

A written agreement can act as a roadmap for the landlord-tenant relationship, especially if a dispute arises. Also, real estate (land) leases for more than one year must be in writing. If a lease for over one year is not in writing, it will generally not be enforceable in court.

If your landlord fails to make repairs which he is required to make, you may be able to break the lease. Give your landlord a written demand to make repairs that he is supposed to make under the lease or Alabama law. Give the landlord 14 days to make non-emergency repairs. Keep a copy of your letter.

Collect each party's information. Include specifics about your property. Consider all of the property's utilities and services. Know the terms of your lease. Set the monthly rent amount and due date. Calculate any additional fees. Determine a payment method. Consider your rights and obligations.

The Lease Must be in Writing It does not matter if the lease is handwritten or typed.

A lease can be written or verbal, but a verbal lease can be very difficult to enforce.If you decide to write your own lease make sure you include a clause that states if any condition is not legal, that the rest of the lease is still in effect.