An Alabama residential lease agreement is a written and oral legally binding contract between the Landlord and Tenant(s). Oral agreements are considered tenancy-at-will with no specific end date.

Rental Application – Tenant(s) should complete this form before signing lease agreement. This application will confirm the Tenants credit and employment.

By Type

Residential Lease

Commercial Lease

Short-Term (Vacation) Lease

Sublease Agreement

1-Page Lease

Most Recent US Home Facts

Population (2023): 334,914,895
Median Households (2022): 125,736,353
Median Household Income (2022): $75,149
Owner-occupied Households (2022): 64.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Law Alert ⚖️

Landlord must reference the Lease ID on all invoices.
Tenant(s) must submit a Lease Abstract to Comptroller.
Landlords must register through VVS. Landlords must be approved in order to accept rental payments.
Landlords only to receive rental payments through STAARS.
Must submit the State of Alabama Disclosure Statement PDF.

What to Include in the Agreement Form

Disclosures (2)

Landlord’s Contact Details
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

Security Deposit

Maximum Amount – Landlords may not charge Tenants a security deposit equal to more than one month’s rent. The security deposit must be placed in an escrow account with a bank or lending institution.

Returning to Tenant – A security deposit must be returned to the Tenant within 60 days after the lease end date.

Source: §35-9A-201

Landlord Access

To enter a property for repairs, maintenance, pest control, or service relating to health and safety, the Landlord must notify Tenants at least two days before entering the renal property.

Source: § 35-9A-303

Breach of Agreement

Landlords are required to give Tenants a notice of seven (7) business days’ to fix any breach of contract. If the Tenant fails to fix the violation within the seven day period, the Landlord can terminate the lease.

Source: §35-9A-421

Repairs and Maintenance

It is the Landlord’s responsibility to ensure that their property is habitable and pay the cost of any repairs in order to maintain a habitable condition of the rental property.

Source: § 35-9A-204

Tenant Improvements

Must include an itemized list, costs, fees and calculations.

Early Termination Penalty

Unamortized Tenant Improvements and Tenant Broker Commissions.

Federal Laws

Fair Housing Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form

Frequently Asked Questions

How binding is a lease agreement in Alabama?

The agreement becomes legally binding once the Landlord and Tenant have signed the form.

How to evict someone without a lease agreement in Alabama?

The Landlord must notify the Tenant in writing to vacate the property after seven days of no rent payments in a rental without a lease (tenancy-at-will).

When does a guest become a Tenant in Alabama?

A guest becomes a Tenant when staying on the rental property for an extended period of time.

What are Tenant rights in Alabama?

The right to rental a dwelling that is habitable, privacy, non-discrimination, and the right of security deposit returns.

What time zone is it in Alabama?

Alabama is mostly in the Central Time Zone (CT) but there are a few locations in eastern Alabama that are in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).

Is Alabama a community property state?

No. Alabama follows the equitable distribution principles when the division of property takes place.

Alabama Residential Lease Agreement Form Example

Alabama 1 Page Residential Rental Lease Agreement