Rental agreement analyzer
Don't sign blind.
Renting month-to-month, week-to-week, or signing a short-term rental agreement instead of a fixed-term lease? Dang reads it and flags rent-increase notice rules, termination-notice timing, late-fee handling, and what each state requires when the agreement is open-ended.
No account requiredFile deleted after analysisNot legal advice
What Dang checks for
Month-to-month and short-term rentals have different state rules than fixed-term leases. Dang surfaces the differences:
- Termination notice from landlord. Flagged when notice is shorter than your state requires for the rental period (most states: 30 days for month-to-month; 60+ days for tenancies over one year).
- Rent-increase notice. Flagged when increase notice is shorter than your state requires; some states cap notice for large percentage increases.
- Termination notice from tenant. Flagged when notice is unreasonably long for a short-term arrangement.
- Late fee and grace period. Same statutory checks as long-term leases. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a caps at $50 or 5%.
- Deposit handling. State caps and return deadlines apply. Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5.
- Holdover language. Flagged when penalties exceed 150% of regular rent.
- Entry rights. Same state-by-state notice rules. Cal. Civ. Code § 1954, Fla. Stat. § 83.53.
State variation matters
Month-to-month termination notice is the highest-variation rule:
- California requires 30 days' notice from tenant; landlord must give 30 days for tenancies under 1 year, 60 days otherwise (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1).
- New York rent-increase notice depends on tenancy length. N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108.
- Texas month-to-month termination is the longer of one month or stated lease notice (Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92).
Sample preview
90-day notice from tenant required to terminate month-to-month. Above the 30-day standard pattern in most states.
Late fee appears to exceed New York's 5%-or-$50 cap.
Source: N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-aSubletting requires landlord written approval. Standard for short-term rentals.
What to ask before signing
- How much notice does landlord need to give to terminate the rental?
- How much notice do I need to give to terminate?
- What is the rent-increase notice window?
- Are deposit handling and return rules same as a fixed-term lease?
- Is there a holdover penalty if I overstay after notice?
Frequently asked questions
How is a rental agreement different from a lease?
A lease is for a fixed term (often 12 months); a rental agreement is open-ended (often month-to-month). Termination notice rules differ; many other rules are identical.
Can my landlord raise rent month-to-month?
Yes, with proper notice. Most states require 30 days' written notice; some require longer notice for increases above a set percentage.
Is a rental agreement legally binding?
Yes. State landlord-tenant statutes apply equally to month-to-month tenancies and fixed-term leases.
What does this analyzer cost?
Preview is free. Full report is $6.99, one-time, no subscription.
Sources & further reading
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 · California deposit cap
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1 · California month-to-month termination notice
- N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 · New York deposit cap
- N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a · New York late fee
- Tex. Prop. Code Ch. 92 · Texas Property Code Ch. 92
No account required · File deleted after analysis · Not legal advice. Dang reports contract findings in plain English. For consequential decisions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.