There are many pre-printed lease forms, but both landlord and tenant have the right to change any of these particular terms and conditions as they try to reach an agreement. State laws and locals laws further govern a lease. For example, most states require the landlord to provide an “implied warranty of habitability.” Local jurisdictions may also have laws regarding rent-control and other specifics.  

Finally, there is a difference between a lease and a rental agreement. A rental agreement is commonly monthly, and the terms of agreement can therefore be changed quite easily. A written lease, however, gives the renter the right to live in a unit for a much longer period of time (6 months, a year), provided that rent is paid and the provisions of the lease are met. Consequently, the landlord cannot change the rent or provisions of tenancy without the agreement of the tenant. Furthermore, unlike a rental agreement, a lease does not renew itself automatically when it expires. Typically, tenants who remain on the premises after the expiration of the lease become month to month tenants, subject to the terms of a rental agreement.