Rent Abatement Agreement

If the circumstances warrant it, a tenant may request a free rent period from the landlord by executing a Rent Abatement Agreement.

The abatement period traditionally takes place during the first few months of the lease term. Rent Abatement Agreements are also used in situations when the rental premises are temporarily unavailable. Landlords may even agree to rent abatement if tenants run into financial hardship through no fault of their own.

What Is a Rent Abatement Agreement?

A landlord and a tenant can execute a Rent Abatement Agreement whereby the landlord nullifies rent for a predefined period. After that period, the tenant will continue to pay the rent as prescribed in the lease agreement unless the abatement agreement is extended.

Other Names for Rent Abatement Agreement

Depending on your state, a Rent Abatement Agreement may also be known as:

• Free Rent Agreement

• Rent Free Period Agreement

Who Needs a Rent Abatement Agreement

A Rent Abatement Agreement may be in order if a tenant encounters unforeseen circumstances that result in an inability to meet rent payments. These may include the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, or other hardship events usually not brought upon by the tenant’s fault.

Landlords and tenants can agree about the period of rent abatement, which usually spans several months and protracts in a new agreement.

Why Use Swyft Forms for Your Rent Abatement Agreement

Customized for you, by you

Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your Rent Abatement Agreement.

Specific to Your Jurisdiction

Laws vary by location. Each document on Swyft Forms is customized for your state.

How to Create a Rent Abatement Agreement with Swyft Forms

Creating a Rent Abatement Agreement on your own can be a time-consuming process at the outset. The extension of any essential items in the document may result in a dispute or even legal entanglement.

Let Swyft Forms help with our extensive library of attorney-vetted legal forms. The process is fast and easy. All you have to do is fill out our easy-to-understand questionnaire. Once complete, simply download your form as a PDF or Word document from your secure online account.

What Information Will I Need to Create My Rent Abatement Agreement?

To create your document, please provide:

• Date: The date when the Rent Abatement Agreement is to be executed.

• Personal information: Full names and addresses of both parties in the agreement (the landlord and the tenant).

• Leasing property information: The address and description of the property in the lease agreement.

• Rent Abatement Period: Define when the rent-free period begins and ends.

• Monthly rental rate: Rental rate to resume after the end of the rent abatement period.

Rent Abatement Agreement Terms

• Landlord: In the context of a Rent Abatement Agreement, this is the property owner in the lease agreement for which the rent is to be abated.

• Tenant: In the context of a Rent Abatement Agreement, this is the party who leases the property in the lease agreement for a rental rate specified within.

• Residential Lease Agreement: The contract defining the landlord-tenant relationship for a residential property, as opposed to a commercial lease agreement for a commercial (business) property.

Rent Abatement Agreement Signing Requirements

The Rent Abatement Agreement needs to be signed by both the landlord and the tenant, who are the same individuals described in the lease agreement.

What to Do with Your Rent Abatement Agreement

Once the document is printed and signed, both the tenant and landlord should keep a copy in their archives. The landlord may ask for additional documents, including the financials of the tenant. For example, a business tenant may be forced to temporarily close his business premises by the franchise, the governor, or the local city council. In this case, the landlord may be amenable to a Rent Abatement Agreement if the tenant could supply proof of closure enforcement and if they had been a good tenant before the hardship event.