What makes a lease legally binding in New York?

To be considered legally binding, a lease agreement must contain both parties’ signatures and the following clauses: Landlord’s name, address, and contact details Tenant’s name and contact details Rent amount and due date Late fees and policies Lease agreement length A Property description A court of law might not consider the lease valid without these clauses.

Where can I find a free printable lease agreement in New York?

PandaDoc provides a free New York lease agreement template which you can edit and sign online. Our sample document is entirely customizable, and you can access it with your free account. You can complete the details and send the file to the renter to sign. Once it’s signed, you can download it as a PDF with the click of a button and print it anytime.

What must a lease contract contain in the state of New York?

New York laws require a few mandatory disclosures added to the document along with the contract’s basic details. These disclosures include: Whether the residence might have lead-based paint used if built before 1978. Certificate of Occupancy for Properties with three or fewer units. Information on the sprinkler system, if one is present on the premises. Agree to perform a move-in inspection with the renter after signing the lease. One-year history of bedbug infestations at the start of the contract.

What are the legal requirements for signing a New York lease agreement?

You must be at least 18 years old to sign a lease and be in a sound state of mind. The lease agreement must contain the required information, like the owner’s information, the Property description, rental amounts, and other terms. Further, both parties must have the chance to read through the lease and agree to it of their own violation.

How to notarize a lease agreement in New York?

While New York doesn’t require a lease to be notarized, it’s often something you still want to do. To notarize it, you and the other signer must visit the public notary’s office, and they’ll confirm your identity and notarize it. You can also use online notary services like PandaDoc Notary.

New York Lease Agreement Template

Prepared for:

[Tenant.FirstName][Tenant.LastName]

[Tenant.Company]

Created by:

[Landlord.FirstName][Landlord.LastName]

[Landlord.Company]

[Landlord.FirstName][Landlord.LastName] ("Landlord") agrees to lease (Property.Name)("Property"), listed below, to [Tenant.FirstName][Tenant.LastName] ("Tenant") per the terms of this New York lease agreement.

Property: (Property.Name)

Address: (Property.Street) (Property.City) (Property.State) (Property.Zip)

Term of Agreement

This agreement activates on (Start.Date) ("Start Date") and operates on a:

Month-to-month basis for as long as both parties do not sign a new contract that operates on a lease basis.

Lease basis for one calendar year or until (End.Date) ("End Date").

Should the Tenant remain on the Property after the lease terminates, and the Landlord willingly accepts Rent, the contract will switch to a month-to-month basis, and all terms remain in full force and effect.

Rent

The Tenant pays $ (Rent.Amount) ("Rent") by the 1st of each month to lease the Property. This Rent complies with the Maximum Base Rent system as set forth by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. A late fee will apply to the Tenant per the terms below if the Landlord does not receive the Rent by the 1st of each month.

The approved payment methods for Rent are (Payment.Method1) or (Payment.Method2) to (Payment.Location). The Landlord will provide the Tenant with a written receipt of the Rent each month. The Tenant must ensure to deliver the online or mailed Rent before or on the 1st.

The Landlord will prorate the payment remitted on the 1st should the Start Date fall on any other date than the 1st of that month.

Security Deposit

Upon activating this contract, the Tenant must pay the Landlord a refundable security deposit of $ (Deposit.Amount). The Landlord will keep the security deposit in an account separate from their assets. As the Property

(has/does nor have) six or more units, the Landlord
(will/will not) pay interest gained in the interest-bearing account to the Tenant.

The Landlord must give the Tenant a written, itemized statement of deductions on the security deposit and refund the entire or partial amount within 14 days of terminating the lease and after the Tenant vacates the Property.

The Landlord can make the following deductions on the security deposit:

To repay unpaid Rent and fees the Tenant owes.
Repairing the Property beyond the standard wear and tear.
Cleaning the Property beyond the average expectation.

The security deposit is not a payment of any Rent payment.

Late Fees and Returned Checks Charges

The Landlord can charge a late fee of ($50/$ (5%Rent.Amount)) if they have not received the full Rent payment by the 6th of each month, then a daily late fee of $ (Late.Fee) applies. Any payments returned will incur a charge of $ (Charge.Amount), whether the reason is a "stop payment," inefficient funds, or any other.

Occupants

The Landlord approves the individuals listed in the table below, and the Tenant agrees no other persons will stay on the Property. The Tenant must receive written consent from the Landlord for any guests remaining more than fourteen (14) days on the Property.

Name	Age
[Tenant.FirstName][Tenant.LastName]	[Tenant1.Age]
[Tenant2.Name]	[Tenant2.Age]

Maintenance and Upkeep

The Tenant must maintain the inside and outside of the premises in sanitary conditions on a day-to-day basis, including the below maintenance:

The Tenant must notify the Landlord in writing of any damage, problem, or breakage, which the Landlord will repair within a reasonable time. If the cause of the problem, damage, or breakage is due to the Tenant or their guests, the Landlord may require the Tenant to bear the repair costs.

The Tenant may fix it at their costs and deduct a reasonable repair amount from their Rent if the Landlord does not repair or otherwise resolve an extremely habitable defect in the appropriate time.

The Tenant may not modify the Property, such as painting the ceiling, walls, or other parts of the residence, putting nails in the walls, or other modifications that might damage the Property beyond the standard wear and tear.

The Landlord is responsible for repairing any habitable defects and mechanical damages, like plumbing, electrical problems, HVAC breakages, etc., within a reasonable timeframe.

Additional Provisions

Both parties agree to adhere to the below terms.

Rights of Access

The Landlord must give written notice of entering the premises at least one calendar week in advance for the necessary repairs unless extenuating circumstances apply and twenty-four (24) hours notice to complete an inspection. In the case of emergencies, the Landlord can enter the premises with no advance notice.

Assignment and Subletting

The Tenant can only sublet or assign the Property to other parties with the written approval of the Landlord, provided the Property contains four or more residential units. The Landlord can hand over the contract to a new owner if they sell it during the lease period.

Quiet Enjoyment

The Tenant will abide by all local, County, and State New York laws on criminal conduct, noise ordinances, and other laws. The Tenant agrees not to cause excessive noise or commit waste on the premises.

Utilities

Both parties will take responsibility for utilities as per the below terms:Landlord provides for the following utilities: (Landlord.Utilities)

Tenant arranges and makes payments for the following utilities: (Tenant.Utilities)

Both parties prove for the following utilities: (BothParties.Utilities)

Keys

The Tenant cannot make any copies of keys, keyless security, or key fobs as these items are the possessions of the Landlord. Should the Tenant lose the keys, they must arrange with the Landlord for new ones at the cost of the Tenant. Once the lease terminates, the Tenant will return all keys to the Landlord.

Other Provisions

Rights of Termination

This agreement expires on (End.Date) by 11:59 pm. When the lease expires, the Tenant will vacate the Property immediately. However, if the Landlord knowingly accepts Rent, the lease continues as a month-to-month contract.

Should the Tenant misrepresent any material fact on the rental application or violate the terms of the agreement, the Landlord can end the contract. Appropriate procedures and notice to the Tenant required by the laws of New York will apply to this termination.

Move-in Payments Due

On or before signing the lease and moving into the Property, the Tenant will make the following payments:

First Month's Prorated Rent: $ (ProratedRent.Amount)
Last Month's Rent: $ (Rent.Amount)
Security Deposit: $ (Deposit.Amount)
Other: $ (Other.Amount)
Total: $ (Total.Amount)

Full Disclosures

Landlord Contact Information:[Landlord.FirstName][Landlord.LastName] / (Landlord.ContractDetails) / [Landlord.StreetAddress][Landlord.State][Landlord.City][Landlord.PostalCode]
Lead-Based Paint: This Property (was/was not) built before 1978, and lead-based paint, a hazardous substance to human health, (might be/is not) present on the Property.
Certificate of Occupancy: The Landlord acknowledges that the Property (has/does not have) three or fewer residential units and (must/does not have to) provide the Tenant with written confirmation of its Certification of Occupancy.
Sprinkler System: The Landlord confirms that this Property (has/does not have) a sprinkler system. If a sprinkler system is installed, the Landlord will provide information on when the system was last serviced and inspected: (Sprinkler.MaintenaneDetails).
Move-in Inspection: While the Landlord is not required to provide a list of problems with the premises, the Landlord will cooperate with the Tenant to perform an inspection of the premises after signing the lease. This inspection is to create a list of pre-existing defects and damages to the unit, which both parties will sign.
Bedbug Policy: The Landlord agrees to provide a written one-year history of any bedbug infestations on the Property. The Landlord will provide this written one-year history of the bedbug infestations again if the contract is renewed.

Applicable Law

The laws of New York interpret and govern this agreement. In the case of a dispute, the venue will be in the county of (County) in New York. Both parties agree to make good-faith efforts to discuss it beforehand in person before resorting to lawsuits.

Agreement

The full agreement between both parties consists of this lease contract and any attachments. It supersedes all previous negotiations and commitments, oral or written, concerning this tenancy. Parties must add contract modifications in writing, and each must sign it. Both parties acknowledge and understand all the terms in this contract and the rights it grants as expressly set forth herein.