For tenants Read your lease before you sign it.
We read the whole lease from your side and show you what it lets the landlord do, with the words that say so.
One sample lease, read
A sample lease written by BeforeJD, then read by BeforeJD.
Tenant shall pay the first two hundred fifty dollars ($250) of any repair Landlord makes.
What the read found
Tenant Pays First $250 of Every Landlord Repair
Every time the Landlord fixes something, the Tenant pays the first $250 of that repair, even for items that are the Landlord's legal responsibility.
Landlord may increase the rent for any renewal term by giving Tenant notice at least thirty (30) days before the renewal term begins, and the increased rent applies without further agreement of Tenant.
What the read found
Unilateral Rent Increase at Renewal With No Cap
At each renewal the Landlord can raise the rent by any amount with just 30 days' notice, and the Tenant is bound to it automatically. But the Tenant must give 60 days' notice to not renew, so the Tenant may have to decide to stay before learning the new rent.
Landlord may apply the deposit to unpaid rent, fees, cleaning, carpet replacement, repainting and any other cost Landlord incurs in preparing the Premises for a new tenant, whether or not caused by Tenant.
What the read found
Security Deposit Applied to Costs Not Caused by Tenant
The Landlord can keep part or all of the deposit for routine turnover costs like repainting and new carpet even if the Tenant did nothing wrong, which normally the Landlord cannot charge for.
If Tenant moves out before the end of the term, Tenant shall pay an early termination fee equal to two (2) months' rent, and Tenant remains responsible for rent until the Premises are re-rented.
What the read found
Early Termination Fee Plus Continued Rent Liability
If the Tenant leaves early, the Tenant pays two months' rent as a fee and still owes rent until a new tenant is found, which can mean paying twice for the same period.
What we look for
What you pay beyond the rent: fees, utilities and repairs.
How the lease ends, renews or lets the rent go up.
When the landlord may enter, and what happens to your deposit.
Everything that comes next
After the read, BeforeJD returns a marked-up copy with tracked changes and an email that asks for them. It also drafts new agreements, keeps your contracts and their dates in one place, and teams and organizations can collect signatures.
Common questions
- Can BeforeJD read a lease I was sent as a photo?
- Yes. Upload a PDF, a Word file or photos of the pages. We read the text and tell you if any page could not be read.
- Will the landlord know I used BeforeJD?
- No. Your read is private to you. You decide what to ask for and whether to share the marked-up copy.
- Does BeforeJD know my state's tenant law?
- We read what the lease says and flag terms that often work against a tenant. Tenant law differs by state and city, so for a serious dispute, talk to a local tenant attorney or legal aid office.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. BeforeJD is not a law firm and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
What it costs
Your first read is free. Then $4.99 a contract. No subscription.