Check a lease agreement online — AI rental contract review
Most lease agreements are landlord templates, and the unfair clauses are usually the unenforceable ones — but you'll only know which ones if you read them carefully. Green Flagged scans your lease against a checklist of common landlord-favorable patterns in minutes.
8 red flags we look for in lease agreements
Deposit above local legal maximum
Most jurisdictions cap deposits at 2-3 months. Anything higher is unenforceable but worth challenging upfront.
Rent-increase formula with no cap
CPI-linked is fine; "at landlord's discretion" is not. Some jurisdictions cap annual increases.
Repair responsibility shifted entirely to tenant
Structural repairs and major systems (heating, plumbing) are usually the landlord's responsibility — clauses shifting them to you are often unenforceable.
No-pet / no-overnight-guest absolutes
Increasingly unenforceable; flag for negotiation rather than acceptance.
Excessive break-lease penalties
Liquidated damages exceeding actual relet cost are often struck down in court.
Right to enter without notice
Most jurisdictions require 24-48 hours notice except in emergencies.
Automatic renewal with short opt-out window
Designed to be missed. Calendar the opt-out date the moment you sign.
Withholding deposit for vague 'cleaning' or 'wear-and-tear'
Normal wear-and-tear is not a tenant cost. Itemized check-in/check-out inventory is your protection.
What to read in this lease agreement
Rent, deposit, and increases
Monthly rent, deposit amount, escalation formula. Watch for hidden "administrative" or "key handover" fees.
Term and renewal
Initial term, renewal terms, notice periods. Auto-renewal should be flagged and dated.
Repairs and maintenance
Tenant: minor repairs, day-to-day upkeep. Landlord: structural, systems, appliances they supplied.
Use and quiet enjoyment
Subletting, guests, business use. Should be reasonable, not absolute.
Termination and break-lease
Notice required, conditions for early termination, penalty cap.
Inventory and condition
Detailed check-in inventory with dated photos is your strongest protection at move-out.
Frequently asked about lease agreement
How much can a landlord legally charge for deposit?
In most EU jurisdictions, 2-3 months' rent is the cap. In the US, it varies by state — many cap at 1-2 months. Anything higher is usually unenforceable, but you'd have to litigate to recover it.
Can my landlord raise rent any time?
No — most leases fix rent for the initial term. Increases mid-term need explicit contractual basis (e.g., CPI-linked). Some jurisdictions impose annual increase caps.
Who pays for repairs?
Generally: landlord pays for structural and major-system repairs; tenant pays for minor day-to-day items and damage they caused. Lease language attempting to shift major repairs to you is often unenforceable.
Can the landlord withhold my deposit for normal wear-and-tear?
No. Normal wear-and-tear (faded paint, minor carpet wear) is the landlord's cost of doing business. Damage beyond that — yes. Photographic inventory at move-in and move-out is decisive.
Does Green Flagged understand German Mietvertrag specifics?
Yes — Mietkaution caps, Staffelmiete vs Indexmiete, Eigenbedarf grounds, and Kündigungsfristen are all flagged where relevant.
Ready to check this lease agreement?
Drop a PDF, DOCX, or paste plain text. Free first scan. No account required.