Do you want to rent a house but are not real excited about the possibility of signing a lease that will tie you to the property for a fixed period of time? If this is your attitude, think again.

Many renters never think of the lease as something advantageous for them. They think it just benefits the landlord. Nothing could be further from the truth. The lease is your first line of protection against all sorts of things that could happen. For example if there is no lease then the landlord can raise the rent on no notice whatsoever. In fact they could raise the rent so frequently that you would be forced to move because you can no longer afford to pay the rent.

Another protection a lease provides you is a clear indication of who's resonsible for what. The lease should make it clear that the landlord is responsible for all structural maintenance to the rental unit. Without that protection the landlord could charge you for repairs and you may be forced to move out because you can't pay.

Leases provide protection for both owners and renters. So keep in mind that the lease is as much protection for you as for the owner.