How to Efficiently Rent Out Your Apartment? Lease Agreement Template, Practical Examples, and Useful Tips
Updated: May 16
Renting an apartment is one of the most common contracts in Romania. Although frequently encountered, the legal implications and responsibilities associated with signing a lease agreement for a condo are not always fully understood by the involved parties. A well-drafted lease agreement template is essential for protecting both the landlord and the tenant.
This article will provide practical advice on how to use a lease agreement template to effectively protect your rights. Tenants can confidently use the lease agreement template for renting an apartment in Bucharest if you have come for university, or an apartment in Cluj if you want to perform in the IT industry, or in any other situation where you need a comfortable home.
Why is it important to use a well-drafted lease agreement?
A lease agreement template sets the terms and conditions under which the landlord grants the tenant the right to use the apartment and, if applicable, its accessories. An efficient lease agreement template includes information such as the duration of the lease, the rent, the obligations of the landlord and tenant, as well as the procedures for terminating the lease. Without such a document, both parties can be exposed to the risk of improper performance of the contract.
Using a lease agreement template reviewed by lawyers brings numerous advantages to the involved parties, especially if it’s your first experience renting a home.
Using a professional lease agreement template saves time and money.
Instantly download the professional lease agreement template and no longer need to consult a lawyer to draft a contract from scratch.
Using a professional lease agreement template brings professionalism.
Templates are usually drafted and reviewed by lawyers to include all necessary clauses to protect the rights of the parties involved in the transaction.
Using a professional lease agreement template brings legal safety.
The lease agreement templates from Docs & Deeds are designed based on practical experiences that you often cannot anticipate without legal expertise. Unfortunately, parties involved in a lease agreement can often have unpredictable behavior and not act in accordance with the contract's purpose.
For instance, poorly drafted lease agreements in Bucharest have been encountered where tenants vacated the property without proper handover, leaving behind unpaid utility bills. Conversely, some landlords fail to respect tenants' privacy, making unannounced and borderline illegal inspections of the rented property or not fulfilling their obligations to ensure the efficient use of the apartment.
Practical Cases of Using a Lease Agreement Template
Use the lease agreement template for the most common rental situations, such as:
Lease agreement for condo rental in Bucharest: a professional lease agreement template for renting an apartment in Bucharest can help students that come for college or young families in search for a condo to anticipate risks arising from specific issues with city apartments, such as the dangers of living in "red dot" buildings, interrupted utilities, difficult neighbors, or lack of parking spaces.
Lease agreement for landlords relocated outside the country. Tenants may damage the property or fail to maintain it properly, leading to repair costs for the landlords. This risk is heightened for landlords who are abroad and cannot perform inspection visits at the rented location because of leaving outside the country.
Furnished apartment lease agreement: a landlord renting a furnished apartment wants to ensure all their belongings are protected. A well-structured lease agreement can include a detailed inventory of the furniture and appliances in the apartment, as well as the conditions for their use and maintenance. In case of damage, the tenant will be responsible for repairs or replacement.
Lease agreement termination. Many tenants need to move to another city for professional reasons and must terminate the lease early. Benefits of professionally drafted contacts, with clear termination clauses, will specify the procedures to be followed, such as the notice period and possible penalties. Thus, both parties are protected, and the termination process is transparent and fair.
Additional Information about Lease Agreements
After signing, it is necessary to register the lease agreement with ANAF (National Agency for Fiscal Administration).
Registration with ANAF.
Registering the lease agreement with ANAF is mandatory for the landlord to comply with tax legislation and declare income from rent. These are taxable incomes according to the law. Furthermore, lease agreements registered with ANAF are enforceable titles in case of non-payment of rent, providing the landlord with an efficient mechanism to recover the debt.
Lease Agreement Duration.
Fixed or Indeterminate Duration: A lease agreement can have a fixed duration (e.g., one year) or an indeterminate duration. In the case of a fixed-term lease, it can be renewed by mutual agreement.
Tacit Relocation.
The Civil Code regulates tacit relocation, which automatically applies to lease agreements. According to this rule, a lease agreement continues to be valid after the initial agreed term if neither party expressly notifies the other of their intention to terminate the agreement. Essentially, tacit relocation means that the contractual relationship between the landlord and tenant continues on an indeterminate basis under the same terms as the initial contract.
Tacit relocation applies to a lease agreement if the following conditions are met:
the lease agreement is for a fixed duration and has expired.
the tenant continues to occupy the property and pay the rent, and the landlord accepts the rent payment without objection.
neither the landlord nor the tenant sends a termination notice at the end of the term.
As consequences of tacit relocation, the lease agreement continues for an undermined period of time, until one of the parties notifies the other of their intention to terminate the lease agreement. All clauses and conditions in the initial lease contract template remain valid and will continue to apply between the parties. The rent amount remains unchanged, and the allocation of responsibilities will be the same.
Generally, the party wishing to terminate the lease after tacit relocation operates must give a 30-day notice, unless otherwise specified in the lease contract.
Non-Payment of Rent.
Landlord's Remedies: If the tenant does not pay the rent on time, the landlord has several remedies: (i) including clauses in the contract that provide penalties for late payment, (ii) enforcing the tenant for payment of overdue rent, (iii) terminating the lease agreement. The availability of these remedies depends on the clauses agreed upon in the lease agreement, so ensure you use a professional contract template!
Responsibility for Repairs.
Landlord's Responsibilities: Major and structural repairs (e.g., repairs to plumbing or electrical systems).
Tenant's Responsibilities: Daily maintenance and minor repairs (e.g., changing light bulbs, maintaining used equipment).
The parties can agree on different allocations of repair obligations depending on their agreement. For example, a landlord might agree to a reduced rent in consideration of the tenant's profile but not assume repairs resulting from floods or damages caused by neighbors during the lease term.
Subleasing
Permission for Subleasing: Subleasing the apartment is only allowed if specified in the lease agreement or approved in writing by the landlord. In the absence of such a clause, subleasing is generally prohibited. It is advisable for the lease agreement template to contain clauses regarding subleasing to avoid misunderstandings, especially if the tenant manages to sublease the apartment at a higher price than the rent paid to the landlord.
Termination by the Landlord
The landlord must follow the termination procedures specified in the contract. Generally, this involves sending a written notice to the tenant with a specified notice period if unilateral termination is allowed. If the tenant does not comply with the contractual clauses, the landlord can terminate the contract and initiate legal proceedings for eviction.
End of Lease / Expiry of Contract Term
At the end of the lease, the tenant must vacate the apartment, return the keys, and hand over the accessories inside the property in the condition they were received. The landlord will inspect the apartment, and if there are no damages, return the security deposit according to the conditions stipulated in the contract.
Well-drafted lease agreement templates typically include an inventory and condition report both at the time the landlord hands over the apartment to the tenant and when the tenant returns it. This report can include an inventory of the property's contents and their condition at both relevant times.
Efficient Use of a Lease Agreement Template
Do you want your lease agreement ready in a few minutes? Follow these steps:
Download the professional template from Docs & Deeds.
Personalize it: fill in the template with specific information about your lease, such as the parties' names, property description, and payment terms.
Review it: check all details to ensure there are no errors. You can also seek a lawyer's opinion for additional review.
Sign the Agreement: once all details are correct, both parties must sign the contract to make it valid.
Conclusion
Using a lease agreement professional template is essential for protecting both the landlord and the tenant. By using a contract template, you can save time and money while ensuring that all legal aspects are covered. Whether you are renting for a short term, renting a furnished apartment, or need to terminate the lease early, a well-drafted contract will provide clarity and legal protection.
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