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Draft a lease — or know exactly what one commits you to.
Need a lease? Describe it in plain English and Initialed drafts one. Been handed a lease? Upload it and Initialed flags the costly clauses — the sentence buried on page nine that quietly moves risk onto you — in plain English, in about two minutes. Ask it anything along the way.
Explain the agreement you need in plain English.
Don't worry — you'll get a chance to add more details, or even edit the document afterward.
Review a contract
Drag a PDF or Word file here, or browse. See your top risks free.
Illustrative results with suggested redlines — your review reflects your actual contract.
where tenants most often lose money
to see which clauses could cost you
understand your lease without the legalese
Draft, review, or ask questions — on any contract
Initialed is one place for the whole contract: write a new one from a plain-English description, pressure-test one you’ve been sent, and ask it anything in between.
Draft it
Describe what you need in plain English and Initialed writes a first draft — with placeholders where your details go, and the clauses your jurisdiction expects.
Review it
Upload one you’ve been sent and get risk-scored findings with suggested redlines you can accept in a click — in about two minutes.
Ask about it
Chat with the contract in plain English — “what am I agreeing to?”, “what’s missing?”, “is this clause normal?” — and get grounded answers.
What Initialed checks in your lease
These are the five clauses that catch tenants out most often — in plain English, with what to look for and what to ask for instead.
Repairs & report deadline
We flag leases that put big-ticket maintenance on you, plus short windows to report defects that make later problems yours.
We flag: “accepts the premises as-is” · notify of defects within 30 days
Auto-renewal & notice
We flag clauses that roll you into another full term unless you give written notice by a specific date — often 60–120 days out.
We flag: auto-renews unless notice ___ days prior
Rent escalation cap
We flag uncapped increases tied to an index or “market rate” that can jump far faster than you budgeted.
We flag: “greater of 5% or CPI” · no stated maximum
Personal guaranty
We flag guaranties that make you individually liable even if you signed as an LLC — the landlord can reach your personal savings.
We flag: “personally and unconditionally guarantees” · “jointly and severally”
Early termination & assignment
We flag one-sided terms that charge steep penalties to leave while giving the landlord sole discretion to block any transfer.
We flag: consent that isn’t “not unreasonably withheld” · large exit fees
Walk into any negotiation — or lawyer call — prepared.
Every flag comes with what to ask for instead — so you can negotiate with specifics, not a hunch.
You signed the lease. Now there’s a problem.
A deposit’s being withheld, you’re charged for repairs you didn’t agree to, or you need to break the lease. Upload the signed lease and Initialed explains — in plain English — exactly what you agreed to, which clauses can still bite, and whether this is worth taking to a lawyer.
We’re not a law firm and we don’t give legal advice. We’re the fast first step that tells you where you stand — so if you do call a tenant attorney, you arrive knowing what to ask.
When it’s worth calling a lawyer
- Your landlord is withholding your security deposit
- You’re being charged for repairs you didn’t agree to
- You need to break the lease and face a large penalty
- You received an eviction notice or a demand for back rent
Initialed helps you recognize these fast and organize the facts — then you decide whether to bring in counsel.
How it works
Upload your contract
Drop in the PDF or Word file — one you’re about to sign, or one you already did. Tell us which side you’re on.
We review it, side-aware
Initialed reads the whole document and checks it against a protection checklist — the same rigorous pass every time.
Get ranked red flags
See the clauses working against you, ranked by impact — with what to ask for, or what to raise with a lawyer.
Frequently asked
I already signed my lease — can this still help?
Yes. Upload the signed lease and Initialed explains, in plain English, exactly what you agreed to and which clauses can still affect you — so you know where you stand and whether it’s worth taking to a lawyer.
Can I get out of a lease clause I already signed?
Sometimes. Some terms are negotiable at renewal, some may be unenforceable depending on your jurisdiction, and a landlord may amend a clause in writing. Reviewing the exact language and your local law is the first step — and for high-stakes leases, a qualified attorney.
Do I need a lawyer to review a lease?
For a major commercial lease or a personal guaranty, qualified counsel is worth it. Initialed is the fast first pass: it flags the risky clauses in a couple of minutes so you walk into any lawyer conversation prepared.
Before you sign — or after you already did.
Upload your lease and see which clauses could cost you — auto-renewal, repairs, rent hikes, guaranties — in about two minutes. Your first credit is free.
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