Below please find Pahl & McCay's 2010 Lease Packet prepared in conjunction with the Law Offices of Todd Rothbard (408/244-4200). These forms have been prepared to help owners and managers comply with applicable California and Federal Laws as of January 2010. Please consult with an attorney if you require assistance in completing the forms or to determine whether changes to the form are necessary for your particular situation. Because of the frequent changes and developments in laws relating to residential rental housing, it is the responsibility of anyone using these forms to keep informed of developments in the law. You should not make any changes to these forms without consulting an attorney.
There are four different forms: two fixed term leases -- one with an attorneys' fees provision and one without, as well as two month-to-month rental agreements; again, one with an attorneys' fees provision and one without. Both Todd Rothbard and Pahl & McCay recommend owners do not include attorneys' fee provisions in rental agreements. For more information on this issue, please review the "Should I Include an Attorneys' Fee Provision in My Lease" pamphlet below. Also, we have posted an explanatory notes of the lease provisions for those of you who want to know the reasoning behind the specific provisions. The 2010 changes to our previous forms are highlighted in bold in the explanation document.