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How a simple rental agreement form saved me $800 last month

I had a tenant move out suddenly in December and thought I was out of luck getting their deposit back. But I found this standard lease template from the Alberta government website that I never bothered to use before. It had a whole section on cleaning expectations and damage repairs that my old handshake deals never covered. The tenant had left stains on the carpet and a hole in the drywall, and the form let me deduct $250 for repairs legally. I also added a late fee clause on the new one that got me $50 back from another renter who pays slow. Has anyone else had trouble with informal rental agreements around Edmonton?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee73329d ago

That $250 carpet deduction would've saved me from a similar headache with my last tenant out in Spruce Grove.

kai_bennett29d ago

Start documenting everything from day one. Photos, emails, texts, the works. I lost $400 on a carpet claim last year because my tenant said I never told them about the scratch and I had no proof. Now I write everything into the lease and take a video walkthrough with the tenant signing off. Saves a ton of headache when they try to blame you for old damage. Also helps with the cleaners, they know exactly what they're responsible for.