Essential Clauses That Must Be Included in the Tenancy Agreement When Renting Out

The vast majority of disputes in rental relationships stem from issues not written in the contract. The following clauses are often missing in standard printed agreements.

Inventory list and delivery report

For furnished rentals, prepare a delivery report listing each item with its brand, model, and current condition. A report supported by photographs nips most disputes during eviction in the bud.

Rent increase rate

In residential rentals, the increase cannot exceed the twelve-month average of the CPI from the previous rental year. Even if a higher rate is written into the contract, the legal limit applies.

Responsibility for dues and common expenses

• Routine operating expenses (cleaning, elevator maintenance) belong to the tenant as a rule
• Major repair and renovation expenses related to the main structure belong to the landlord
• Concierge, heating, and water sharing must be explicitly stated in the contract

Deposit

The deposit cannot exceed three months' rent. Issue a receipt for deposits taken in cash; for payments made via bank transfer, writing 'deposit' in the description section is important for evidentiary purposes.

Prepare the contract in two wet-signed copies and have the parties initial every page. A single-copy contract is the most frequently encountered deficiency in disputes.

For rentals in our portfolio, we handle the contract preparation and delivery report ourselves.