ChatGPT for Lease Generation: Save Hours on Paperwork

Generating lease paperwork used to eat up two to three hours per new tenant. Not writing it from scratch — nobody does that — but pulling the right template, customizing it for the specific unit and lease terms, adding the applicable addenda, and formatting everything for signature. Multiply that by 20 move-ins a month and it becomes a real time sink.

ChatGPT cuts the drafting portion down to 20-30 minutes per lease packet when you give it the right inputs. The tool won’t replace your attorney’s review, and it will invent lease clauses that don’t exist in your state if you let it. But with well-structured prompts, it produces first drafts that are 80-90% there before anyone opens a redline.

The prompts below cover the document types that come up most often: standard residential leases, pet addenda, rent increase notices, lease renewals, and move-in condition acknowledgments. Each prompt includes the specific variables you need to fill in before running it.

The Prompts

Prompt 1: Standard Month-to-Month Residential Lease

When to use it: You need a month-to-month lease for a single-family rental. The tenant is moving in at the start of next month and you want a draft to send to your attorney before circulating to the tenant.

The prompt:

Draft a month-to-month residential lease agreement for a single-family home rental in [STATE].

Property details:
- Address: [FULL ADDRESS]
- Landlord / management company: [NAME AND ADDRESS]
- Tenant(s): [FULL LEGAL NAMES]
- Monthly rent: $[AMOUNT], due on the 1st of each month
- Grace period: 5 days
- Late fee: $[AMOUNT] after the grace period
- Security deposit: $[AMOUNT] (equal to 1 month's rent)
- Move-in date: [DATE]
- Utilities tenant is responsible for: [LIST, e.g., electric, gas, water]
- Utilities landlord covers: [LIST]
- Pets: not permitted without prior written approval
- Smoking: prohibited inside the unit and within 25 feet of any entrance

Include standard sections for: rent payment, security deposit terms, maintenance responsibilities (tenant vs. landlord), entry notice requirements, termination notice period (30 days), and a governing law clause citing [STATE] law.

Do not include any guarantee of habitability language beyond what [STATE] law requires — I will have my attorney verify that section separately.

Length: 600-900 words. Plain language, numbered sections.

What the output looks like: A clean, numbered lease with all the standard sections. The security deposit section correctly reflects the deposit amount and states that it will be returned within a specified number of days after move-out. ChatGPT sometimes inserts a specific day count for return (like 21 days) that may not match your state’s actual requirement — always flag that for attorney review.

Grade: Good starting draft. The state-specific disclosure section is the weakest part and requires the most attorney attention.

Prompt 2: Fixed-Term Lease (12-Month)

When to use it: A tenant is signing a 12-month lease on a multi-family unit. You need a fixed-term agreement that converts to month-to-month at the end of the term if neither party provides notice.

The prompt:

Draft a 12-month fixed-term residential lease agreement for an apartment unit in [STATE].

Property details:
- Property address: [FULL ADDRESS], Unit [UNIT NUMBER]
- Landlord: [NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS]
- Tenant(s): [FULL LEGAL NAMES]
- Lease start date: [DATE]
- Lease end date: [DATE, exactly 12 months later]
- Monthly rent: $[AMOUNT]
- Security deposit: $[AMOUNT]
- Parking: [included / $X/month additional / not available]
- Storage unit: [included / $X/month / not applicable]

At the end of the 12-month term, the lease should convert to month-to-month automatically unless either party provides 30 days' written notice of termination or the landlord provides a new lease for the tenant's signature.

Include: automatic renewal clause, early termination fee equal to 2 months' rent, subletting prohibition without written landlord consent, and standard maintenance sections.

Governing law: [STATE]. Plain language. Numbered sections. Under 1,000 words.

What the output looks like: A fixed-term lease with the automatic month-to-month conversion clause and the early termination fee structured correctly. The subletting prohibition language is standard. The early termination section occasionally generates buyout language that is too restrictive — review it against what you’ve actually agreed to verbally before sending.

Customization tip: If your property is in a city with rent control or just-cause eviction requirements (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City), add a line telling the AI to note those requirements explicitly. It won’t add them unprompted.

Grade: Solid. Watch the early termination clause carefully — it tends toward landlord-favorable language that may create tenant pushback.

Prompt 3: Pet Addendum

When to use it: A tenant has an approved pet. You need an addendum to attach to the existing lease covering the pet deposit, pet rent, damage responsibility, and specific rules.

The prompt:

Write a pet addendum to a residential lease agreement for a rental property in [STATE].

Details:
- Tenant name(s): [NAMES]
- Property address: [ADDRESS], Unit [UNIT]
- Original lease date: [DATE]
- Approved pet: [SPECIES, BREED, APPROXIMATE WEIGHT, e.g., "one dog, Labrador mix, approximately 55 lbs"]
- Pet deposit (refundable): $[AMOUNT]
- Monthly pet rent: $[AMOUNT]
- Pet deposit conditions: will be applied to actual documented pet damage, not normal wear and tear

Rules to include:
1. Pet must be licensed and vaccinated per [STATE/COUNTY] requirements
2. Tenant responsible for all damage caused by the pet
3. Pet must be leashed in common areas at all times
4. Waste must be cleaned up immediately on property grounds
5. Excessive noise (barking, etc.) is grounds for lease violation notice after one written warning

Add a line that this addendum does not limit the landlord's ability to revoke pet permission if these terms are violated, with 30 days' notice.

Format: Short addendum, under 350 words. Both parties sign.

What the output looks like: A concise addendum that covers deposit, pet rent, damage responsibility, and the specific rules. The revocation clause is usually well-drafted. One consistent issue: AI sometimes describes the pet deposit as non-refundable when your prompt says refundable — double-check that the correct term appears in the output.

Grade: One of the more reliable prompt types. Keep the species and breed specific — “a dog” produces looser language than “one dog, Labrador mix, 55 lbs.”

Prompt 4: Rent Increase Notice

When to use it: A tenant is on a month-to-month lease and you’re raising rent at the next renewal cycle. You need a written notice that meets your state’s notice period requirements.

The prompt:

Write a rent increase notice letter for a residential rental in [STATE].

Current situation:
- Tenant: [TENANT NAME]
- Property: [ADDRESS], Unit [UNIT]
- Current monthly rent: $[CURRENT AMOUNT]
- New monthly rent: $[NEW AMOUNT]
- Effective date of increase: [DATE, at least [STATE NOTICE PERIOD] days from today]
- Today's date: [DATE]

The letter should:
1. State the current rent and the new rent clearly
2. Confirm the effective date
3. Note that the tenant may terminate the tenancy with 30 days' written notice if they do not wish to continue at the new rate
4. Be professional but direct — this is not a negotiation letter

Do not include any explanation or justification for the increase. Keep it factual.
Format: Standard business letter. Under 200 words.

What the output looks like: A clean, factual notice letter that states the current rent, new rent, and effective date without editorializing. The tenant option to terminate is included. This is one of the few document types where AI produces something close to final on the first try — it’s a short, structured format that doesn’t require much customization.

Customization tip: For jurisdictions with rent control (California AB 1482, Oregon statewide rent control, etc.), add that context explicitly. AI will not apply those limits without a prompt. Always verify your state’s required notice period before setting the effective date.

Grade: Strong. Rarely needs more than a format check before sending.

Prompt 5: Lease Renewal Letter

When to use it: A tenant’s 12-month lease is ending in 60 days and you’re offering renewal. You want to send a formal renewal letter with the new terms before the automatic month-to-month conversion kicks in.

The prompt:

Write a lease renewal letter for a residential rental in [STATE].

Details:
- Tenant name(s): [NAMES]
- Property: [ADDRESS], Unit [UNIT]
- Current lease expiration: [DATE]
- Proposed renewal term: 12 months, starting [NEW START DATE] through [NEW END DATE]
- New monthly rent: $[AMOUNT] (current rent is $[CURRENT AMOUNT])
- Security deposit: no change (deposit remains $[AMOUNT] on file)
- All other lease terms remain the same

Instructions for tenant:
- Sign and return the enclosed renewal agreement by [DEADLINE, typically 30 days before expiration]
- If no response by the deadline, tenancy will convert to month-to-month at the new rent rate per the current lease terms

Tone: Warm but businesslike. Thank the tenant for continuing their tenancy. Do not be effusive.
Length: Under 300 words. Business letter format.

What the output looks like: A professional renewal letter with the rent change noted clearly and the month-to-month conversion language included. The “warm but businesslike” instruction matters — without tone guidance, AI defaults to either cold form letter or overly chatty language that sounds unprofessional from a management company.

Grade: Consistent. Add any lease modifications (new parking terms, policy changes) as bullet points in the prompt and they’ll show up correctly in the letter.

Prompt 6: Move-In Condition Acknowledgment

When to use it: A new tenant is taking possession. You need a document they sign at move-in acknowledging the condition of the unit, which protects you when returning the security deposit at move-out.

The prompt:

Write a move-in condition acknowledgment form for a residential rental unit in [STATE].

Property: [ADDRESS], Unit [UNIT]
Tenant(s): [NAMES]
Move-in date: [DATE]

The form should:
1. List each room in the unit with a blank column for "Condition at Move-In" (completed by tenant at walkthrough)
2. Include a general condition field for: appliances, flooring, walls, windows, and fixtures in each room
3. Have a section for the tenant to note any pre-existing damage in writing
4. Include a signature block for tenant(s) and landlord/manager with date
5. State that the form will be retained and compared at move-out to assess any damage beyond normal wear and tear

Rooms to include: [LIST ROOMS, e.g., living room, kitchen, bedroom 1, bedroom 2, bathroom, hallway]

Format: Table or checklist format. One page if possible. Plain language.

What the output looks like: A structured walkthrough form with the room list and condition fields. The pre-existing damage section is included. This prompt works better if you tell ChatGPT exactly which rooms to include — when you leave the room list vague, it generates a generic layout that may not match your unit.

Grade: Functional but format-dependent. The table format version requires some adjustment for whatever signing platform you use (DocuSign, DotLoop, etc.).

Common Prompt Mistakes in Lease Generation

Not specifying the state. Lease law is state-specific. Notice periods, security deposit limits, mandatory disclosures, and habitability standards all vary. If you don’t name the state, ChatGPT generates a generic lease that won’t comply with your jurisdiction’s requirements. Name the state every time.

Leaving dollar amounts blank. AI will invent plausible-sounding numbers for security deposits and late fees. If your deposit is $2,400 and AI generates $1,200, the draft looks reasonable but is wrong. Fill in every number before running the prompt.

Skipping the length constraint. Without a word limit, ChatGPT will generate a verbose lease that includes repetitive clauses and sections that are irrelevant to your property type. 600-900 words covers a standard residential lease. Anything longer is usually redundant language.

Treating the output as final. This is worth repeating: AI gets state-specific requirements wrong often enough that every AI-generated lease needs a licensed attorney review before use. The prompts above are designed to produce a useful first draft, not a finished document. The time you save is in drafting, not in review.

Not describing the property type. A lease for a single-family home is different from a lease for a condo unit in a building with HOA rules, which is different from a lease for a room in a shared house. Give AI the property type and it adjusts the relevant sections. Leave it vague and it defaults to generic apartment language.

Customizing These Prompts for Your Portfolio

Most customization comes down to adding your standard clauses. If your leases always include specific language about:

• Renters insurance requirements — add the minimum coverage amount and the requirement to name the management company as an additional interested party
• Early termination buyout — specify the exact formula (2 months’ rent, 60 days’ notice, etc.) rather than letting AI estimate
• Smoking and vaping policies — be specific about outdoor smoking areas if your property has them
• Guest policies — if you have a 14-consecutive-day guest limit, include it explicitly

One thing AI handles poorly without prompting: local addenda requirements. Many cities and counties require specific addenda be attached to leases — San Francisco’s rent control addendum, for example, or lead paint disclosure forms for pre-1978 construction. These won’t appear in AI output unless you ask for them specifically. Keep a checklist of required addenda for your markets and attach them separately.

The best use of these prompts is as a starting point for a standard template your attorney reviews once, not as a way to generate a fresh document for every tenant without any legal oversight.