AI Rental Agreement & Lease Risk Scanner
Don't Lose Your Security Deposit. Scan Your Lease in 10 Seconds.
Upload your rental agreement PDF and KnowMyContract reads every clause in about 10 seconds. It flags lock-in periods, deposit forfeiture rules, notice requirements, escalation caps, and unfair exit terms — so you know what you're signing and where to push back before you commit.
Top 5 hidden traps we detect in a rental agreement
- 1Automatic rent escalation clauses with no annual cap
- 2Unreasonable maintenance charges shifted onto the tenant
- 3Toxic lock-in penalties longer than the notice period
- 4Vague 'restoration to original condition' deposit forfeitures
- 5One-sided termination rights favouring only the landlord
What else KnowMyContract checks
- Lock-in longer than notice period (you pay for months you can't occupy)
- Deposit forfeiture without itemized deductions
- Restoration clauses covering normal wear and tear
- Rent escalation with no cap
- One-sided termination (landlord can exit, tenant cannot)
"The scanner flagged a 24-month lock-in and a 15% annual escalation I'd have missed. Sent the negotiator email — landlord dropped both in an hour."
What red flags should I look for in a rental lease?
Watch for lock-in periods over 11 months, notice periods above 2 months, deposit forfeitures without cause, rent escalations above 10% per year, restoration clauses that shift normal wear-and-tear onto you, and one-sided termination rights that let only the landlord exit early.
These clauses quietly convert a routine tenancy into a financial trap. A 12-month lock-in with 2 months notice means you owe rent for 14 months minimum. A vague 'restoration to original condition' clause is often used to withhold deposits for normal wear. KnowMyContract extracts each clause verbatim so you see the exact wording, not a summary.
Can I break a lock-in period without paying?
Usually no, unless the landlord materially breaches the agreement (unsafe premises, failure to provide utilities, illegal entry). Some jurisdictions allow early exit on job relocation or medical grounds. Your specific clause and applicable rent-control laws decide — KnowMyContract highlights the exit conditions written into your lease.
Lock-in enforceability varies by state and by whether the agreement is stamped and registered. Even where lock-in is enforceable, courts have limited penalties to actual loss (usually rent until re-let). KnowMyContract's negotiator drafts suggest replacement clauses like a 30-day notice-based exit or a lock-in that expires after the first 3 months.
How much security deposit is reasonable?
In most Indian metros, 1–3 months' rent is standard; in the US and UK, 1–2 months is typical and often capped by law. Anything above 6 months rent is unusual and worth negotiating down. The refund timeline, deduction categories, and interest terms matter as much as the amount.
Ask for the deposit refund clause to specify a return timeline (30–45 days), an itemized deduction requirement, and interest on the deposit where local law allows. KnowMyContract flags deposits with no return timeline as high risk because those are the most common source of dispute.
Do I need to register my rental agreement?
In India, agreements over 11 months typically require registration and stamp duty; unregistered long leases have limited enforceability in court. In the US and UK, written leases are enforceable without formal registration but should be signed by all parties. Check your local rules before assuming an unregistered lease protects you.
Registration protects both sides and creates a public record admissible as evidence. If your landlord insists on an 11-month unregistered agreement that auto-renews indefinitely, that's a common way to avoid stamp duty while denying tenants long-term protections. KnowMyContract flags this pattern.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my rental agreement uploaded to a server?
- Text extraction runs in your browser. Only anonymized text (with emails, phone numbers, and IDs stripped) is sent to the AI for analysis. Documents are not stored unless you explicitly save them to your Vault.
- How much does a full rental analysis cost?
- The risk teaser is free. The full clause-by-clause breakdown starts at ₹149 in India or $5 globally, and the Complete Negotiator Pass with ready-to-send messages is ₹249 / $9.
- Does KnowMyContract replace a lawyer?
- No. KnowMyContract is automated analysis for informational and negotiation preparation. For disputes, litigation, or high-stakes leases, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
Ready to scan your rental agreement?
Free risk teaser in 10 seconds. Full report from ₹149 / $5.
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