Do I need a lawyer for one tenant?

Question

I just started my duplex house hacking journey. Since I am new, there's lots of information I soak and have to filter through. Do I need to hire a lawyer to draw up a lease? I asl think software like Base Lane, can help you draw up a lease. Just curious to hear thoughts. Thank you!

Taylor Dasch · Answer

Welcome to the house hacking club! Honestly, hiring a lawyer to draft a standard residential lease from scratch is usually overkill and an unnecessary expense for your first duplex.

The software options out there are pretty solid now. Baselane, Zillow, and TurboTenant all have decent templates. But honestly, the safest and easiest route if you aren't an agent yourself is to just grab the state-specific lease agreements right here on BiggerPockets. They are reviewed by local attorneys, so you know they actually comply with your specific state's landlord-tenant laws.

Since I'm licensed down here in Texas, I just use the standard residential lease forms provided by our state association. They're bulletproof and already drafted by their legal team, which takes the liability off of me.

Benjamin Aaker · Answer

Bigger Pockets has some state-specific leases you can download I think for a fee. I don't know that you need to hire a lawyer unless you are planning to do any non-standard clauses, but you definitely should use someone with experience. My first lease was with LegalZoom and if you are doing just the basic things, that will satisfy. You still need to familiarize yourself with all the local laws and follow them.

Brandon Cormier · Answer

Depending on your state, there's a few options. You can usually find a lawyer reviewed state specific lease online for cheap or free. I've joined some local landlord associations and they provide a bunch of resources, like MA specific leases/move in forms etc. Where you can add your own lines and additional clauses. Lawyer for that is usually overkill and will cost you way more for basically the same thing

Drew Sygit · Answer

Depending on what state/city you in, you can usually find a decent lease online.

"Decent" means it covers the basics.

You'll find these basic leases don't cover everything:(

Our lease started out with 6 pages, now it's over 20!

You can also Google for leases in your area, and spend a weekend morning going over several to copy & paste sections you like.- If you do this, at some point you'll want an experienced real estate residential, landlord-tenant attorney to review it.

Do I need a lawyer for one tenant?

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