A short-term rental agreement is a written contract between a landlord and tenant that specifies each party’s rights and obligations as well as dates, rates, house rules, late fees, and other important information related to the rental.
Short-Term Rental Agreement Template
Use this template to set terms for vacation or temporary rentals of your property. Customize the clauses to protect your rights and interests as a landlord.
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About This Template
This template is for properties rented for a fixed, limited period, which is usually under or around 30 days.
- Suitable for vacation and short-term stays.
- Specifies exact move-in and move-out dates and times.
- Includes rent, security deposit, and late fee terms tailored to short stays.
- Sets house rules, including noise, property modifications, and usage restrictions.
The short-term rental agreement template is free to customize and use in Word or PDF format before signing, with registration required.
Who it’s for
The short-term rental agreement is particularly useful for property owners and landlords who want to protect their property while offering it for a short time in accordance with local and state law.
The template works for both direct and managed rentals, as long as it is short-term and not an open-ended lease.
- In a direct rental, the owner rents the property with no assistance from a third party and communicates with potential tenants through personal contacts or local advertising.
- Managed rentals mean a realtor, property manager, or third-party service lists and manages the property on the owner’s behalf. In such situations, the tenant would not be the one preparing and entering the lease agreement on behalf of the landlord, but instead, the third party typically would.
For long-term lease agreements, or rental agreements with an indefinite termination date, consider using a standard residential lease agreement template.
When to use this template
Basic short-term rental agreements are mainly used when a tenant is moving into a rental unit for under 30 days.
Use case scenarios include:
- vacation rentals
- transitional housing while moving
- short-term job assignments
- seasonal rentals
- extended stays for travel or medical purposes
You can use this template when renting a house, a townhouse, or a single room. It does not refer to a specific type of property, so you can easily indicate your property type.
Still, if you are renting a room in an occupied house or managing shared accommodation, a room rental agreement template is more applicable.
What’s included in the template
This short-term rental agreement template contains the common clauses to cover terms and conditions for vacation rentals:
- The full legal names and addresses of the landlord and tenant
- Type of property
- Furniture and amenities
- Arrival and departure dates
- Rent amount, due date, payment timing, and method
- Deposit and conditions under which it is returned or forfeited
- The number of guests allowed
- House rules (smoking, pets, extra guests, property changes)
- Landlords' and tenants' responsibilities for repairs and damage
- Conditions under which either party may terminate the agreement
All sections are fully customizable, so make sure to adjust the template to fit your property and rental situation.
How to write your short-term rental agreement
This short-term rental agreement template serves as a reliable starting point for landlords who want to clearly define rental terms without drafting a contract from scratch. Choose the Word or PDF format depending on how you plan to edit, customize, and share the agreement with your tenant.
1. State names
Include both parties' full names and addresses, as well as the address of the rented property.
2. Fill in the rental time
Specify the start and end dates, and if applicable, handover dates during key times.
3. Include rent
For each month, enter the rent amount, due date, security deposit, and any late fees.
4. Write your house rules
The house rules may include guest allowance, smoking, and pet policies.
5. Review maintenance, terms, and conditions clauses.
For short-term rental agreements, it’s usually the landlord who provides maintenance to the property. You can leave these clauses as they are or adjust them if needed.
6. Sign the Agreement
Once complete, both the landlord and tenant should sign the lease and keep a copy afterward. Legal review before signing may be wise for valuable rental agreements or in jurisdictions with statutory requirements.
FAQ
Use a short term rental agreement when renting for a relatively short period of time, such as renting for vacation, housing temporarily, or renting seasonally. If the rental has clear start and end dates and the tenant is staying for under 30 days, it’s an ideal choice to formalize the agreement.
A short-term rental agreement is used for apartments, houses, vacation homes, townhouses, or rooms and can also include amenities, furniture, parking, appliances, and other features pertaining to the property.
A typical short-term rental agreement includes the parties’ details, property description, rental period, rent and payment terms, security deposit, occupancy limits, house rules, maintenance responsibilities, and termination conditions.
You can create a short-term rental agreement by starting with a ready-made template, filling in the property details, rental dates, rent amount, and rules, and then having both parties review and sign it before the rental begins.
While a properly completed and signed short-term rental agreement is legally enforceable in all U.S. states, local laws may influence the level of enforceability. As such, states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina are generally more favorable to short-term rental hosts. However, landlords must still follow local rules, including licensing, taxes, and zoning requirements. Make sure to inquire about rental laws in your location.