Oklahoma Residential Lease Agreement for Rental Properties

As a landlord, you want to rent your premises to earn a passive income in Oklahoma. You likely realize that a lease agreement is crucial here. This legal document sets the foundation for the term and ensures that the landlord and tenant have a good experience.

Therefore, the contract must protect your best interest as the landlord while telling prospects the important information they should know about renting your unit.

Typically, the landlord should include terms like rent amounts, security deposits, pet allowances, termination terms, and other information. That way, tenants understand what is expected of them.

This page outlines everything a lease agreement should contain. Plus, it offers tips about making everything easier with property management software.

Oklahoma Lease

Usually, the landlord starts with a rental application and can request a credit check during that time. The prospective tenant often pays the fee for this.

An Oklahoma standard lease agreement outlines the rules for inhabiting that rental unit, such as rent payments, security deposits, and ways to use the premises legally. The signed contract is there to legally bind the landlord and tenant.

Those renting property should use the document to outline ways the residential or commercial property is to be used, what business purposes may be conducted, how people can safely live, and more. Tenants aren't required to accept the terms, but they shouldn't sign the agreement.

What to Include

The residential lease agreement for your premises must abide by state laws. Typically, it includes the rules you enforce while tenants live in the unit. Here are common things the landlord provides:

Rent

The tenant must pay rent by the due date agreed upon in the rental contract. Unless otherwise stated, the rent is paid at the beginning of each month, and there are no grace periods provided by Oklahoma law.

Security Deposit

State law doesn't dictate a security deposits maximum amount the landlord can charge tenants as a security deposit.

Landlords may use the security deposit to cover unpaid rent and damages to the premises caused by the tenant for non-compliance of the lease agreement.

Tenants are required to demand, in writing, the return of the security deposit within six months of terminating the tenancy. If they don't, the landlord may keep it.

Landlords must provide an itemized list of damages as reasons for not returning the full amount to the tenants. This should be delivered by mail with the returned balance within 30 days of tenancy termination. They do not have to collect or pay accrued interest on the security deposit.

Lease Termination and Eviction

Typically, the rental agreement lists the tenancy rules, and the tenant must abide by them after signing it. The landlord isn't required to include information about eviction or reasons for termination, though they may do so. Still, they should understand this information.

Eviction and termination can happen for various reasons, including:

• Failure to pay rent (non-payment of rent)
• Violation of the lease agreement (damage to the unit, too many inhabitants, health/safety violations, smoking, having a pet when not agreed upon)
• Conducting illegal activity (drugs, violence, involvement with any controlled substance)
• Non-renewal of the lease

Landlord's Right to Enter

The rental agreement should provide information to the tenant about when and how landlords can enter the premises. Emergency situations do not require a day's notice.

However, if landlords must access the property for anything other than an emergency (hanging decorations, making repairs, or inspections), they must provide a one-day notice.

Build Your Own

Mandatory Disclosure

An Oklahoma lease agreement is required to have these disclosures for some or all contracts:

• Landlords' Name and Address - This creates a line of communication for demands and notices between the tenant and landlord. Landlords should offer contact information alongside or within the lease.
• Flooding Disclosure - This is applicable for any rental unit that's experienced flooding within the past five years. If the dwelling unit was flooded by a lake, river, creek, or stream overflow, the landlord must provide that information in the agreement and display the information prominently before tenancy. Overall, the tenant agrees to accept risk by signing the agreement. Oklahoma law requires this.
• Methamphetamine Contamination Disclosure - Disclosure of knowledge relating to meth manufacturing and the rental property must be disclosed in the agreement. If the landlord assessed contamination and levels exceed one-tenth of a microgram per one hundred square centimeters, a disclosure is required for that property.
• Lead-based Paint Disclosure - Any property built before 1978 must disclose risks of lead-based paints per federal law. Such information allows the tenant to determine if they wish to live there. Landlords must fill out a disclosure form and give the tenant a pamphlet about its dangers. Plus, landlords must provide additional reports/records about the hazards or presence of lead-based paint within that unit. Overall, the tenant must agree to the terms.

Choose DoorLoop

Most people believe they have to bring in licensed attorneys to handle their contract needs, but property management software can help you! DoorLoop lets you upload your templates, auto-fill them, and send them for signatures easily.

You can create an:

• Oklahoma rental application template
• Oklahoma sublease agreement template
• Many others

Use the free form to request a demo of the service and see how it can help you. Whether you want to screen tenants or keep all of your files together, DoorLoop is highly beneficial!

eSignature

Having an easy lease signing process in place is crucial for making tenant onboarding much more efficient.

With DoorLoop, you can have your leases eSigned by tenants in a few seconds, in addition to creating reusable lease templates that are autofilled with tenants' information.

DoorLoop also makes it extremely simple to find the best tenants in the first place by syndicating your listings on popular websites Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, Apartments.com, and more. You can also find the very best tenants by screening your prospects in seconds through DoorLoop. The best part is that paper applications and leases are a thing of the past! Your tenants can fill out their rental application online and be screened (and selected!) in seconds.

For more information about DoorLoop, learn more or schedule a free demo.

Conclusion

Every landlord needs an Oklahoma lease agreement because this contract is legally binding and ensures that everyone follows the rules. It also gives people recourse if things aren't done properly. You've learned what to include and how DoorLoop can help!