Paste a residential lease — or just the clause you're unsure about. Fine Print reads it for the clauses that commonly hurt tenants and shows you each one in plain English, with why it's a flag and what to check. It is not legal advice and never says a clause is "illegal" — tenant law varies by state. It shows you what to look at; you (and, for anything that matters, a local tenant-rights office or lawyer) decide. Runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Know your rights (in general)
The place must be livable. The "implied warranty of habitability" — heat, water, working systems, no major hazards — usually can't be waived, no matter what the lease says.
They have to give notice before entering. Most states require 24–48 hours' notice except in a real emergency.
Eviction is a court process. A landlord cannot change your locks, remove your things, or shut off utilities to force you out. That's an illegal "self-help" eviction nearly everywhere.
Your deposit is yours. Most states cap it, and require it back — with an itemized list of any deductions — within a set deadline.
You can't sign away protections the law guarantees. A lease clause that waives a non-waivable right is often unenforceable, even with your signature on it.
Get real help, free: your state attorney general, HUD tenant rights, LawHelp.org (legal aid by state), or a local tenant union.
Fine Print's whole promise: it shows you which clauses to question and why — using documented patterns. It will never tell you a lease is "safe" or a clause is "void," because that depends on your state and your facts, and no honest tool can decide it for you.