How Long Can a Residential Lease Be in Kansas?

Depending on circumstances, in Kansas it’s usually possible to have a lease of any length of time, as long as the length of the lease term is specific and agreed in writing by the landlord and tenant. Oral leases can almost never be for a term of more than one year.

Is a Contract to Lease Binding in Kansas?

Yes, a contract to lease is legally binding in Kansas. To be valid, a contract to lease may have to be written, especially for a fixed term over one year. Oral leases may be valid in some cases (especially when both parties later behave as though there’s an enforceable oral lease), but often have strict limitations on enforceability for things like length of the lease term.

Do Lease Agreements Need to Be Notarized in Kansas?

No, lease agreements do not need to be notarized in Kansas. A notary helps establish the identity of the people signing the lease, if there’s a claim of fraud, but a notary isn’t necessary for a lease to be valid.

Can a Lease Automatically Renew in Kansas?

Yes, a lease can automatically renew in Kansas. Most rental agreements will automatically renew when the initial tenancy period is over, if neither party takes action. Past this point, the lease typically becomes a month-to-month rental agreement, with the same basic terms and conditions otherwise as the original lease. If the tenant has been on the property for a year or more, the renewal is for a year-to-year lease.

Kansas Lease Agreement (Free) | 2024 Official

A Kansas residential lease agreement (“rental agreement”) is a legal contract between a landlord overseeing a residential property and a tenant who wishes to rent it. A residential lease may, on or before move-in, additionally require a security deposit from the tenant as assurance against future property damage.

Kansas Residential Lease Agreement Disclosures

These disclosures are required for some or all residential lease agreements in Kansas:

Disclosure	Applicable To
Landlord’s Name and Address	All Units
Move-In Checklist	All Units
Lead Paint	All Units Built Before 1978

Landlord’s Name and Address

Applicable to all Kansas rentals.

Kansas leases must contain the name and address of the landlord or authorized agent. This enables smooth communication of any important legal notice. This contact information is most often written in the lease agreement, for maximum convenience. The landlord has an obligation to notify the tenant in the event of a change in contact information.

Move-In Checklist

Applicable to all Kansas rentals.

Kansas landlords must provide a move-in checklist to inventory existing property damage, when the tenant takes possession of the rental property. The checklist should be completed within five days of move-in. This enables accurate deductions from the security deposit upon move-out. Each party must keep a copy of the completed checklist.

Download: Kansas Move-In Checklist Disclosure Form (PDF)

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

Applicable to any Kansas rentals built before 1978.

Kansas residential leases for property built before 1978 must, by federal law, contain a lead-based paint disclosure. This requires landlords to do the following:

Fill out and attach this lead-based paint disclosure form to the lease agreement
Provide the tenant with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved pamphlet about the dangers of lead-based paint
Provide any additional records or reports about the presence or hazards of lead-based paint in the unit (for multi-unit buildings with common areas, this includes information from building-wide evaluations)

Download: Kansas Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form (PDF)

Optional Disclosures and Addenda (Recommended)

The following lease agreement disclosures and addenda are not required by Kansas law in residential lease agreements, but assist with tenant management and help limit landlord liability.

Optional Disclosure	Purpose
Asbestos	Informs tenants about any asbestos hazards related to the property. Tenants can take precautions to reduce asbestos hazards by avoiding any disturbance of asbestos fibers.
Bed Bugs	Informs tenants whether the property or an adjacent unit has a history of suspected bed bug infestation, and reminds the tenant of the obligation to report suspected infestation immediately.
Late/Returned Check Fees	Specifies late fees or returned check fees related to the lease. Kansas has no cap on late fees and caps returned check fees at $30 per check.
Medical Marijuana Use	Informs tenants about policy related to medical marijuana use on the rental property. Some state laws allow landlords to restrict marijuana usage to non-smoking methods only, or allow use only in designated smoking areas.
Mold Disclosure	Informs tenants about actual or suspected mold contamination on the property, along with any remediation efforts, to help limit landlord liability.
Non-Refundable Fees	Charges not agreed by the tenant in the lease may be refundable upon lease termination. For Kansas landlords to charge a non-refundable fee, it must be disclosed and agreed as such in the lease.
Shared Utilities Arrangements	Discloses how charges are billed to individual tenants, when multiple rental units share a utility meter for the whole building or property. This ensures tenants receive fair charges and understand what uses contribute to their bill.
Smoking	Informs tenants of designated smoking areas that do not interfere with the quiet enjoyment of other tenants.

Consequences of Not Including Mandatory Disclosures

Mandatory disclosures outline important health, safety, and property information for the benefit of both landlord and tenant. A landlord who fails to provide federally or state-mandated disclosures could face legal consequences or monetary penalties, either from a tenant lawsuit or from state officials. Many lease provisions may be unenforceable without legally required disclosures.

Failure to comply with the federal lead-based paint hazard disclosure risks fines of tens of thousands of dollars per violation.

Sources

1 KS Stat § 58-2551 (2018): …(a) The landlord or any person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on the landlord’s behalf shall disclose to the tenant in writing, at or before the commencement of the tenancy, the name and address of:

(1) The person authorized to manage the premises; and

(2) an owner of the premises or a person authorized to act for and on behalf of the owner for the purpose of service of process and for the purpose of receiving and receipting for notices and demands.

(b) The information required to be furnished by this section shall be kept current and this section extends to and is enforceable against any successor landlord, owner or manager…
2 KS Stat § 58-2548 (2018): …Within five (5) days of the initial date of occupancy or upon delivery of possession, the landlord, or such landlord’s designated representative, and the tenant shall jointly inventory the premises. A written record detailing the condition of the premises and any furnishings or appliances provided shall be completed. Duplicate copies of the record shall be signed by the landlord and the tenant as an indication the inventory was completed. The tenant shall be given a copy of the inventory…
3 Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-2610(g): The service charge on a check which is dishonored by the drawee because the maker or drawer had no deposits in or credits with the drawee or has not sufficient funds in, or credits with, the drawee for the payment of each check, order or draft in full upon its presentation, shall not exceed $30.
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