Model leases are available in a number of countries. They are sometimes drafted by the government as officially recognized forms of agreement. In other cases, they are drafted by associations of land owners or tenants. Model leases are also often available from lawyers and others involved in drafting lease agreements. Using the essential elements of a lease outlined in these guidelines, the simplest form of contract may be one or two pages. For more complex agreements, the lease may be several pages.
The land owner and tenant should each have a copy of the lease agreement. It is an important document and should be kept safely. In addition, over time the land owner and tenant may agree to make modifications to the lease. These should be properly documented, and all parties should have a copy of them.
Making the process “transparent” can help to avoid possible disputes in the future. The ways that transparency takes place can vary - it could be, for example, a witness being present, the witness actually signing the agreement, or the agreement being signed before a notary.
