Those who rent out homes are much like those who have leased BMWs from a car dealership for a specified period of time. Both parties are entering into a contract or an agreement. In the case of the automobile, the agreement specifies how long the lease is for, what the car owner can do to the automobile, and what the leasee cannot do with the BMW. The same is true for renters and those who own rental properties. The difference between the two leases is that one of them is in the $30,000 range while the other is tens times that amount.
The lessor (landlord) usually requires half a year’s rent in security deposits. The lessee (tenant) needs to have references, paystubs, bank statements, verification of employment, credit scores, as well as the security deposits, to get a rental property. Perhaps the lessor specifies a certain number of days on the job, minimum salary, and even criminal history. Or perhaps the landlord does not ask for any of these things, only requires first and last month’s rent, and has a less vigorous investigation process before letting a tenant move into an apartment or home.
Regardless of the lease requirements, a lease is a vital document to have in hand when renting out a property or moving into a new apartment or home. A lease is essentially an agreement made between a landlord and a tenant. When dealing with commercial properties or apartment complexes, the lease agreement is usually in extraordinarily detailed format with pages of specified policies, potential fees and clauses that cover every possible situation. While a less vigorous lease is more common for rental of a home, a lease agreement is no less essential for either type of rental.
A Tennessee lease agreement is no less prescriptive than a lease agreement in Florida. However, learning the laws in Tennessee can be highly beneficial for savvy Florida lawyers. For example, the tenant laws in Tennessee are comparatively more lenient than they are in Florida. For instance, in the state of Florida, landlords have one right that prevents them from being obligated to renew a lease for a tenant who has been convicted of a felony. In Tennessee, they do not have that right.
Knowledge of lease agreements, tenant law and landlord rights is critical for both Tennessee and Florida attorneys in civil litigation. Leases become vital pieces of evidence in motion practice. Illustrations include: One such example is the case of Wiggins v. Woods. In this case, the appellate court made a decision where the outcome could have potentially favored either party, had one of the tenants in the trial court filed to compel arbitration based on the terms and conditions of the leasing agreement. Instead, the appellate court favored the landlord, because the tenant did not understand the implications of relying on the arbitration clause in the lease and used it as a sword. Had the tenant been better aware of the details in the comprehensive Tennessee lease agreement PDF, he may have been more successful in his appellate brief and ultimately won his appeal.
Because this information about a Tennessee lease agreement PDF is in place, landlords in Tennessee have been able to evict tenants who violate their leases more effectively and landlords in Florida have been able to help their tenants retain their rights without overly damaging those opportunities for others. New Florida attorneys, particularly in civil litigation, should be prepared to present, defend and oppose motions for eviction based on clearly defined lease agreements.