Alabama Residential Lease Agreement
A free Alabama lease template, plus what Alabama law requires a lease to include, attach or leave out — each with the statute. Use it as a starting point; landlords with unusual situations should have a lawyer review the final lease.
Disclosures Alabama requires
| Owner and manager name and address | At or before the start of the tenancy, the landlord (or anyone authorized to sign leases for the landlord) must tell the tenant in writing the name and business address of (1) the person authorized to manage the premises and (2) an owner, or a person authorized to accept legal papers, notices and demands for the owner. The information must be kept current and binds any later landlord, owner or manager. Anyone who fails to disclose becomes the landlord's agent for receiving legal papers and for performing the landlord's duties. Applies to: all residential rental agreements covered by the Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-202 |
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Terms Alabama law requires or controls
| Default rent terms | A lease may include any terms not prohibited by law, such as rent and length of term. If the lease is silent: the tenant pays fair rental value; rent is due without demand at the dwelling unit, at the start of each term of one month or less (otherwise in equal monthly installments at the start of each month); and the tenancy is week-to-week for weekly rent and month-to-month in all other cases. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-161 |
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| Security deposit limit | A lease may not require a security deposit of more than one month's periodic rent, except additional deposits for pets, changes to the premises, or increased liability risks to the landlord or premises. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a) |
| Tenant repair or maintenance duties | For a single-family home, the landlord and tenant may agree in writing that the tenant handles garbage removal, water/hot water/heat supply, and specified repairs, maintenance, alterations and remodeling. For any other unit, the tenant may take on specified repairs or maintenance only in a separate signed writing supported by adequate consideration; the work may not be needed to bring the unit up to health and safety codes, and the landlord may not make that side agreement a condition of the lease. Applies to: all leases; separate-writing rule applies to units other than single-family homes Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-204(c)-(e) |
| House rules | Landlord rules about common areas or tenant conduct are enforceable only if they serve tenant convenience, safety or welfare or protect the property, are reasonably related to that purpose, apply fairly to all tenants, are clear, are not meant to evade the landlord's duties, and the tenant had notice of them when signing or when adopted. A later rule that substantially changes the tenant's use of the unit needs the tenant's written consent. If a rule conflicts with the lease, the lease controls. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-302 |
| Showing the unit near lease end | To enter without the tenant's consent to show the unit to prospective tenants or buyers in the last four months of the lease, the landlord must give the tenant a general access notice, signed by the tenant and separate from the lease; entry must still be at reasonable times, with prior notice, and only with the prospective tenant or buyer present. Ordinary entry otherwise requires at least two days' notice. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-303(b)(4), (c) |
| Extended-absence notice | A lease may require the tenant to notify the landlord of an absence longer than 14 days; if it does and the tenant willfully fails to give notice, the landlord may recover actual damages. Applies to: leases that include an absence-notice clause Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-423(a) |
Clauses that are void in Alabama
| Waiving repair, habitability and remedy rights | A lease may not make the tenant waive the landlord's duty to maintain the premises (§ 35-9A-204), the tenant's remedies for landlord noncompliance (§§ 35-9A-401, 35-9A-404), the security deposit rules, or rights under unlawful detainer (eviction) law. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-163(a)(1) |
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| Confession of judgment | A lease may not authorize anyone to confess judgment against the tenant on a claim arising from the lease. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-163(a)(2) |
| Landlord's attorney fees or collection costs | A lease may not require the tenant to pay the landlord's attorney's fees or costs of collection. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-163(a)(3) |
| Landlord liability waivers and indemnity | A lease may not excuse or limit the landlord's legal liability, or require the tenant to indemnify the landlord for that liability or related costs. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-163(a)(4) |
| Penalty for knowingly using prohibited clauses | Any prohibited clause is unenforceable. If a landlord tries to enforce a lease the landlord knows contains prohibited clauses, the tenant may recover actual damages plus up to one month's periodic rent and reasonable attorney's fees. Applies to: all leases Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-163(b) |
Format and delivery rules
| Unsigned lease still binding | Alabama law does not require the landlord to hand the tenant a copy of the signed lease. If the landlord does not sign a written lease the tenant signed, accepting rent without reservation makes it binding on the landlord; if the tenant does not sign, accepting possession and paying rent without reservation makes it binding on the tenant. A lease made binding this way is effective for no more than one year. Applies to: written leases not signed by both parties Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-162 |
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| No local lease rules | The state Act is the exclusive law on residential lease rights and duties; counties and cities may not adopt their own landlord-tenant ordinances (building and health codes that apply equally to owner-occupied housing are still allowed). Applies to: all leases statewide Source: Ala. Code § 35-9A-121 |
Fill in the lease
Nothing you type leaves your browser. Bracketed items are yours to complete; clauses marked as required by Alabama law must be written to meet the rule shown above.
1. Parties. This lease is between [landlord name] ("Landlord") and [tenant name(s)] ("Tenant"). Landlord's address for notices: [landlord notice address].
2. Property. Landlord rents to Tenant the home at [rental address], including [parking, storage, appliances included].
3. Term. The lease begins on [start date] and ends on [end date]. [If month-to-month instead: the tenancy continues month to month until either side gives the written notice Alabama law requires.]
4. Rent. Rent is $[monthly rent] per month, due on the [due day] day of each month, paid by [payment method] to [where to pay].
5. Late fee. If rent is not received by [late day], a late fee of $[late fee] is due. This fee must comply with Alabama law (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)).
6. Security deposit. Tenant pays a security deposit of $[deposit amount], within the Alabama limit (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a)). Landlord will return it, minus lawful deductions with any required itemized list, within the time Alabama law sets (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(b)-(e)).
7. Utilities. Tenant pays: [utilities tenant pays]. Landlord pays: [utilities landlord pays].
8. Occupants and guests. Only these people may live in the home: [names of all occupants]. Guests may stay up to [guest limit] unless Landlord agrees in writing.
9. Pets. [No pets allowed / Pets allowed: describe, plus any pet deposit or fee]. Assistance animals for people with disabilities are not pets and are handled under fair housing law.
10. Repairs and maintenance. Landlord keeps the home safe and fit to live in and makes repairs required by law. Tenant keeps the home clean, reports problems promptly in writing, and pays for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
11. Landlord entry. Landlord may enter for repairs, inspections or showings after giving the notice Alabama law requires (Ala. Code § 35-9A-303), except in an emergency.
12. Subletting. Tenant may not sublet or assign this lease without Landlord's written consent, which [will / will not] be unreasonably withheld.
13. Ending the lease. At the end of the term, [the lease ends / the lease renews month to month] unless either side gives written notice at least [notice days] days before the end date, and never less than Alabama law requires.
14. Default rent terms. (Write this clause to meet Alabama law: see "Default rent terms" above (Ala. Code § 35-9A-161).)
15. Security deposit limit. (Write this clause to meet Alabama law: see "Security deposit limit" above (Ala. Code § 35-9A-201(a)).)
16. Tenant repair or maintenance duties. (Write this clause to meet Alabama law: see "Tenant repair or maintenance duties" above (Ala. Code § 35-9A-204(c)-(e)).)
17. House rules. (Write this clause to meet Alabama law: see "House rules" above (Ala. Code § 35-9A-302).)
18. Showing the unit near lease end. (Write this clause to meet Alabama law: see "Showing the unit near lease end" above (Ala. Code § 35-9A-303(b)(4), (c)).)
19. Extended-absence notice. (Write this clause to meet Alabama law: see "Extended-absence notice" above (Ala. Code § 35-9A-423(a)).)
20. Disclosures attached. Landlord has given Tenant these disclosures required by Alabama law: Owner and manager name and address. [Attach each one.]
21. Lead paint (homes built before 1978). If the home was built before 1978, Landlord has given Tenant the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home."
22. Whole agreement. This lease and its attachments are the whole agreement. If any part is not allowed by law, the rest still applies. Changes must be in writing and signed by both sides.
Landlord: [landlord name] Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]
Tenant: [tenant name(s)] Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]
Lease agreement templates for other states · Alabama landlord-tenant law · More templates
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.