A lease is a written rental contract between a landlord and a tenant, and a rental agreement is the same kind of contract that people usually mean when the arrangement is shorter or open-ended.
In practice the two words overlap a lot. Plenty of landlords call one document a "lease" and another a "rental agreement" while meaning the same thing, and some states have their own definitions. So the label is a weak clue. What counts is what the document says about how long it lasts, how it renews and how either side can end it.
This page describes US practice and stays general on purpose. Tenant law is set mostly at the state and local level, so terms vary by state. It isn't legal advice. Your document, your state tenant agency and a local housing counselor or lawyer have the final word.
What a lease and a rental agreement are
Here's how the words are commonly used. A lease usually covers a fixed term, such as a year, with a start and end date. A rental agreement usually renews on a shorter cycle, such as month to month, until either side gives notice. Some leases turn into month-to-month arrangements when the fixed term ends, so read that clause rather than assuming.
The federal government gives one concrete example of renewal terms written into the paper. Under HUD's rules for public housing, the lease must state the term and shall have a twelve month term that automatically renews for the same period, with limited exceptions. That rule is specific to public housing, but it shows why you check the term and renewal language every time.
You'll see this paperwork again when you rent an apartment or after a move. Either way, usa.gov's advice for tenants is simple: before you seek outside help in a dispute, read your lease carefully and make sure you're following the rental rules you agreed to.
What's on it
The same sections turn up in most residential leases and rental agreements. This table is a checklist, not a template.
| Section | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Parties | Landlord and every adult tenant | Names match your ID and everyone who's signing |
| Property | The address and unit | Correct unit number; the document identifies the unit rented |
| Term | Fixed dates or open-ended | Start date, end date, and what happens at the end |
| Renewal and notice | How it renews or ends | Who must give notice, and when |
| Rent | Amount and due date | Matches what you agreed, and how to pay |
| Deposit and fees | Money held or charged | Every amount is written down; state rules may apply |
| Utilities and services | Who pays for what | HUD's public housing rule requires this to be spelled out; ask for it in writing elsewhere |
| House rules | Pets, guests, parking, repairs | Anything you'd be upset to learn later |
| Signatures and date | Proof of agreement | Signed by all parties, and you hold a copy |
What to keep and for how long
Keep the signed lease or rental agreement for as long as you live there, and keep any renewal or amendment next to it. Save the move-in paperwork, written notices you send or receive, and proof of rent payments as well. If there's ever a dispute over what you agreed to, the paper is the evidence.
After you move out, keep the lease until any deposit and final-bill questions are settled. Beyond that, we found no official federal period for keeping a lease, so it's reasonable to follow your own needs. A lease is also a record of where you lived, which can come in handy when you apply for a mortgage.
If you face an eviction notice, the CFPB advises talking with a lawyer and responding to the lawsuit rather than ignoring it, and says you have the right to file a written answer. Keep every notice and court paper together. For general storage habits, see what documents to keep and how long.