Read for the clauses that actually bite: the term and renewal (watch auto-renew), rent and late fees, the security-deposit rules, repair and entry rights, early-termination and subletting, and any joint-and-several liability. Check each against your state’s law, get every promise in writing, and don’t sign until unclear terms are fixed. For high-stakes or unusual leases, still get a lawyer.
You can do a competent first review of a standard residential lease yourself if you know where the risk actually lives — it’s rarely in the bold headings. Work through the lease section by section with a short checklist. The term and renewal: is it fixed or month-to-month, and does it auto-renew unless you cancel inside a narrow window? Rent and late fees: the amount, the due date, the grace period, and whether the late fee is a flat amount or a daily-compounding charge that many states would treat as an unenforceable penalty. The security deposit: the amount, and — critically — your state’s deadline and rules for its return, since that’s where most disputes end up. Maintenance and entry: who fixes what, and how much notice the landlord must give before entering. Exit terms: early-termination penalties, subletting and assignment rules, and holdover charges if you stay past the end. And joint-and-several liability, which means a landlord can pursue you for a roommate’s entire unpaid share, not just your half. The method is simple: for each clause, ask “what does this cost me if things go wrong?”, check the specific number against your state’s statute, and get any verbal promise written into the document — an entire-agreement clause usually means side promises don’t count. Reviewing it yourself is a strong first pass, not legal advice; for a high-value, commercial, or unusual lease, still have a lawyer look.
Term and renewal (especially auto-renewal), rent and late fees, the security-deposit rules, repair and entry rights, early-termination and subletting, and joint-and-several liability. Those are where a routine-looking lease can cost you.
Check the specific number — deposit deadline, late-fee cap, notice period — against your state’s statute. Many are set by law and a lease term that violates them may be unenforceable. Our state law library links the verified statutes.
Yes — for a commercial lease, a high-value or long-term commitment, or anything unusual or heavily one-sided. A self-review is a solid first pass, not a substitute for advice when the stakes are high.
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