The Must-Have Lease Clauses for Your MTR

A lease agreement isn’t just another piece of paper—it’s the rulebook that protects your rental business. But if you’re using a generic lease for your furnished Mid-Term Rental (MTR), you’re likely missing some important clauses that could save you from major headaches later.

Even if your booking comes through an OTA (Online Travel Agent) like Airbnb, you should still have a lease signed before handing over access to your property. Airbnb might offer some support in disputes, but don’t assume they’ll have your back when things go sideways. A solid lease agreement really is your best protection when renting for a month or more—even Airbnb recommends it! I talk more about this in Realities & Common Misconceptions in Furnished Mid-Term Rentals if you’re still relying on Airbnb’s terms as a safety net.

Here are three must-have lease clauses that are unique to furnished rentals—make sure they’re in your lease!

1️⃣ Utility Cap

Furnished rentals often include utilities, but if you don’t have a cap, tenants may have no incentive to conserve energy. So include in your lease:

• The maximum amount of utilities covered in rent, and any overage is the tenant’s responsibility.

• How and when tenants will be billed for overages.

Setting clear expectations from the start prevents disputes and ensures you’re not absorbing excessive costs.

2️⃣ Mail & Package Delivery

Do you want to allow tenants to receive mail at your property? What happens if the mail keeps coming after they have moved out? Adding a clause for mail & package delivery helps clear up these situations from the get-go.

And if you're concerned about whether allowing tenants to receive mail establishes tenancy, check out my blog post Realities & Common Misconceptions in Furnished Mid-Term Rentals. I explain how your guest will become your tenant and have tenant rights—whether or not they receive mail at your property.

3️⃣ Ring Camera Disclosure

If you have a ring camera, it’s important that you disclose in the Lease and on your listing:

• Where it is

• Whether the voice recording is on

• And if you don’t intend for it to act as a security camera with 24/7 monitoring service by somebody, make sure you mention that as well in case something happens and there’s a claim that you should have seen it on camera and taken action. Don’t just assume it is understood that nobody will be monitoring that camera 24/7.

Want More Lease Clauses That Protect Your Rental Business?

These three clauses are just the beginning! A strong lease protects you from liabilities, misunderstandings, and unexpected costs.

📌 Grab my free guide, 17 Must-Have Lease Clauses, where I break down: 

✅ The full list of essential lease clauses for your MTR 

✅ Why they matter and how they protect you 

✅ How I created my lease agreement affordably while ensuring legal compliance

👉 Click here to download it now!