Which document serves as a legal agreement between landlord and tenant?

The lease agreement is the document that serves as a legal contract between the landlord and tenant. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions of renting the property, including rent amount, payment due dates, duration of tenancy, responsibilities of both parties, and any rules or regulations that must be followed. By signing the lease agreement, both the landlord and tenant agree to abide by the specified terms, which provides legal protection in case of disputes.

In contrast, the other documents listed serve different purposes: a notice of rent increase informs the tenant of a change in the rental amount, a property maintenance checklist is used to identify and document property conditions or required repairs, and an eviction notice is a legal document that communicates to a tenant that they must vacate the property due to lease violations or non-payment. These documents do not establish the foundational rental relationship as the lease agreement does.