Free Arkansas Residential Lease Agreement

A standard lease agreement is a legally binding contract between a landlord and a tenant. This is written to conform to state laws where the property is located. In Arkansas, these allow both parties to comply with a series of set terms for a specified number of months or years.

Rental contracts and lease agreements have a lot of similarities as they both set out payment plans and the terms of use for a house or apartment. 

However, the big difference is the duration that they cover. Rental agreements usually only cover short-term tenancies of a few months at a time or month-to-month contracts.

A lease agreement should contain the following details:

• How long the tenant may legally reside in the property

• How much rent should be paid

• Information about the security deposits necessary

• When rental installments are due

• Any additional costs that must be serviced by the tenant

• The rules regarding the proper use of the property

• Situations that constitute lease violation eviction procedures

There are many types of Arkansas lease agreement forms that can be used to manage and legally bind many different types of rental situations. They allow landlords to rent out various types of property they might have and for tenants to find the best kind of tenancy for their needs.

The most common types of lease agreements in Arkansas include:

• Standard: Fixed set of terms that both the landlord and tenant commit to for a series of months or years.

• Rent-to-own: Rent-to-own options allow the possibility for tenants to purchase the property they are renting. 

• Month-to-month : Similar basic terms to standard lease agreements, but they can be renewed or ended each month.

• Commercial: Utilized by tenants that intend to use a piece of real estate to run a business.

• Room rental: Rental properties that are located within shared living areas.

• Condo or mixed unit : Used by landlords of properties that have multiple rental units, such as duplexes or cooperatives.

• Sublease Agreement: Permit tenants to assign or “sublease” the property to another person.

Arkansas lease agreements must contain some disclosures and addendums when they are completed and signed. This is to properly inform the tenant of any health risks or potential issues with the property, or details about how the property is managed that they must be aware of. 

These essential addendums include the following: 

Lead paint disclosure: If the rental unit is in a building constructed before 1978, the landlord or their agent must disclose whether lead paint can be found on the property and must provide safety information for any located on the premises.

An AR lease agreement must be written and signed within the laws of Arkansas state, otherwise, it will be legally contestable and can be declared invalid and block either party from recourse if a violation is committed. These will police how you start and end the contract and control what procedures you can reasonably ask a tenant to follow.

The most important laws to consider when you are renting a property in Arkansas include:

• Security deposits:Arkansaslandlords may charge no more than 2 months’ rent if the property is a non-rent control unit. This must be returned to the tenant within 60 days of vacating the property and returning the keys. Landlords must also give advance notice of any deductions.

• Landlord’s right to enter: Landlords in Arkansas can enter the rental property without advance notice. However, it is recommended to give tenants 24 hours’ notice before visiting the property, as a courtesy.

Before beginning the process of creating a residential lease agreement in Arkansas, it is sensible to review an example document first. Use our AR lease agreement sample below to find out more about the structure and contents of a fully-fledged rental contract.

Besides lease agreements, there are various other legal documents that are commonly used by landlords. If you are the owner of a rental property, one of the following forms may be helpful for you: 

• Arkansas Rental application

• Arkansas Eviction notice