A rent agreement is usually signed in a hurry, often on a template that neither party has read. The disputes that follow almost always trace back to a handful of clauses that were left vague or copied without thought.
Term, lock-in and notice
State the term clearly and decide whether either side is bound by a lock-in period. Specify the notice period for termination and what happens to the deposit if notice is short. An agreement of eleven months is common, but a longer term generally attracts a requirement of registration.
Deposit, maintenance and repairs
Record the deposit amount, the conditions for deduction and the timeline for refund. Distinguish routine maintenance from structural repairs and say who pays for each. List fixtures and fittings in an annexure with their condition at handover.
Finally, register the document where the law requires it and keep a signed original with each party. An unregistered agreement that should have been registered is a weak document when you need it most.