Arkansas Lease Agreement

An Arkansas lease agreement is a legally binding contract between a landlord (or property manager) and tenant that outlines the key details of a rental arrangement — including rent amount, lease duration, maintenance responsibilities, and both parties’ rights and obligations.

To be legally valid, it must follow the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ark. Code Ann. §18-17-101 et seq.), which governs rental housing rights and protections.

• Fixed-Term Lease: Runs for a specific period (for example, 12 months). Rent and terms stay the same until the lease ends.
• Month-to-Month Rental Agreement: Automatically renews every month until either party gives at least 30 days’ written notice to end it.
• Sublease Agreement: Allows an existing tenant to rent out the property to another person (a “subtenant”) — but only with the landlord’s written approval.
• Commercial Lease: Used for business properties like offices or storefronts (governed by separate commercial leasing laws).

• Tenant and Landlord Names: Full legal names of everyone involved.
• Property Address: Full legal address and unit details.
• Lease Term: Start and end dates, along with renewal or termination terms.
• Rent Details: Monthly rent amount, due date, payment methods, and late fee policies.
• Security Deposit Terms: Deposit amount, refund policy, deductions.

Arkansas can charge a security deposit of up to two months’ rent. The landlord must return the deposit within 60 days of the tenant moving out (Ark. Code Ann. §18-16-305).

• Alabama Required Disclosures:
• Lead-based paint disclosures (for properties built before 1978)
• Landlord or Manager disclose: The lease must clearly identify the property owner or management company and provide their contact information. This helps tenants know who to reach out to for repairs, maintenance, or emergencies.
• Non-Refundable Fees: In Arkansas, fees like cleaning or pet fees must be clearly marked as “non-refundable” in the lease; otherwise, they’re legally considered refundable. (Ark. Code Ann. §33-1321(b))
• Signatures of both parties: Both landlord and tenant must sign and date the lease.

• Lease Agreement: Usually covers a fixed term (for example, one year). Rent and terms can’t change until the lease ends, unless both sides agree in writing.
• Rental Agreement (Month-to-Month): Typically runs month-to-month and renews automatically. Either party can end it with 30 days’ written notice, and landlords can adjust terms for the next month if they give proper notice.

No. Under Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord cannot increase rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease agreement specifically allows it or both parties agree in writing to the change.

For month-to-month rentals, landlords can increase rent — but only after giving at least 30 days’ written notice before the new rent takes effect (Ark. Code Ann. §18-17-401).

If a tenant ends their lease early in Arkansas, they may still be responsible for paying rent until the lease term ends or until the landlord finds a new tenant.

Under Arkansas landlord-tenant law (A.C.A. § 18-17-701), landlords must make reasonable efforts to re-rent the property to reduce financial loss—this is called “mitigating damages.”

If your lease includes an early termination clause, you can end the lease by following the notice rules and paying any required fee.

How you renew or terminate a lease depends on the type of rental agreement you have:

• Fixed-Term Lease: This lease ends automatically when the term expires unless both parties sign a renewal or new agreement. It’s best to give written notice about 30 days before the lease ends if you plan to renew or move out.
• Month-to-Month Lease: Either party may terminate a month-to-month lease by giving at least 30 days' written notice before the end of the rental period, in accordance with Arkansas Code § 18-16-101 et seq.

Yes — but only if both the landlord and tenant agree in writing.
Any changes should be added as a lease addendum that clearly describes what’s being modified (for example, a rent change, pet policy, or added occupant). Both parties must sign and date the addendum to make it legally binding.