⚡ Promptolis Original · Professional
🏠 Tenant Rights + Lease Analyzer
Paste your lease. Get: what's negotiable, what's illegal in your state, your rights. US-focused. Doesn't replace tenant-rights hotline for active disputes.
Why this is epic
Tenant law is highly state-specific. AI can flag common landlord-favoring provisions + point to local tenant resources.
Critical: for active disputes (eviction, habitability, discrimination) → local tenant-rights hotline is mandatory.
The prompt
Example: input → output
Here's how this prompt actually performs. Real input below, real output from Claude Opus 4.
<state>California</state> <lease-type>12-month annual lease</lease-type> <lease-text>[Standard landlord lease with: $3500 rent, $8000 security deposit, 24hr entry 'as needed', tenant responsible for ALL repairs including plumbing, no pets ever, early termination = forfeit all rent remaining]</lease-text> <specific-concerns>Deposit seems high. Repair clause feels unfair.</specific-concerns>
Lease Red Flags 🚩
1. Security Deposit TOO HIGH
Lease says: $8000 (over 2x rent)
California law: Unfurnished = max 2 months rent ($7000). Furnished = max 3 months ($10,500).
Your situation: Unfurnished? $8000 is ILLEGAL — $1000 over limit.
Action: Require deposit reduced to $7000 OR cite CA Civil Code § 1950.5 in writing.
2. Entry 'As Needed' — ILLEGAL
Lease says: Landlord can enter 'as needed' with 24hr notice
California law: CA Civil Code § 1954 — 24hr written notice required, entry only for specific reasons (repairs, showing, emergency). 'As needed' is NOT a valid reason.
Action: This clause is unenforceable. Note in writing before signing.
3. Tenant Responsible for ALL Repairs — Unenforceable
Lease says: Tenant responsible for all repairs including plumbing
California law: CA Civil Code § 1941 — landlord must maintain 'habitable' condition. Tenant CANNOT waive habitability rights. Plumbing = habitability issue.
Action: Provision is void. Repair responsibility stays with landlord for habitability items.
4. No Pets Ever — Legal BUT Limited
Lease says: No pets ever
California law: Landlord can ban pets BUT cannot refuse:
- Service animals (federal ADA)
- Emotional Support Animals (Fair Housing Act) with proper documentation
Action: Legal otherwise. If you have ESA, get documentation BEFORE signing.
5. Early Termination Penalty 🚩
Lease says: Forfeit all remaining rent if breaking lease
California law: Landlord has duty to mitigate (try to re-rent) under CA Civil Code § 1951.2. You're liable only for rent until unit is re-rented + reasonable costs.
Action: 'Forfeit all remaining rent' is unenforceable. Real liability is much less if landlord re-rents promptly.
What's Likely Unenforceable in Your State
- Excessive deposit (over 2 months unfurnished)
- 'As needed' entry
- Waiving habitability responsibility
- Automatic forfeit of all remaining rent
- Any provision waiving statutory tenant rights
Your Fundamental Rights (California)
1. Habitable premises: Landlord must provide heat, hot water, working plumbing, weather protection, electrical, pest-free.
2. 24hr written notice for entry: Except emergencies or agreed showings.
3. Security deposit return: Within 21 days of move-out with itemized deductions.
4. Retaliation protection: Landlord cannot raise rent, evict, or reduce services in response to your exercising tenant rights.
5. Privacy + quiet enjoyment: Fundamental right.
Negotiation Opportunities
Before signing, request:
1. Deposit reduced to legal maximum ($7000 unfurnished)
2. Entry clause changed to '24hr written notice for repairs, showings, or inspections'
3. Habitability repairs explicitly stated as landlord responsibility
4. Early termination clause: 'liable for rent until re-rented, plus reasonable re-letting costs, capped at 2 months'
If landlord refuses #1 (it's illegal anyway), that's a red flag about how they'll treat you during tenancy.
Resources for Your State (California)
- Tenant Rights Hotline: Tenants Together (tenantstogether.org)
- Legal Aid: LawHelpCA.org — free legal help if income-qualified
- Tenant Handbook: California Department of Real Estate publishes free guide
- Active disputes: Contact local legal aid before escalating
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Reminder: This is educational. For active disputes, tenant rights hotline and/or legal aid are essential. California has strong tenant protections — use them.
Common use cases
- Before signing new lease
- Lease renewal evaluation
- Understanding rights during tenancy
- Pre-conflict lease review
Best AI model for this
Opus 4 for state law nuance.
Pro tips
- Most states have tenant rights that OVERRIDE lease provisions. 'This lease says X' doesn't mean X is enforceable.
- Security deposit limits vary wildly by state.
- Entry notice requirements are nearly universal.
- Retaliation protections are strong in most states.
Customization tips
- For red states with weaker tenant law: focus on federal Fair Housing + what negotiation is possible.
- For NYC / SF / LA: check for rent stabilization separately — major additional protections.
- For college students: know that dorm leases are sometimes different contracts.
Variants
Pre-Signing Review
Before commit
Mid-Tenancy Rights
Active issues
Move-Out Rights
Deposit disputes
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the Tenant Rights + Lease Analyzer prompt?
Open the prompt page, click 'Copy prompt', paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, and replace the placeholders in curly braces with your real input. The prompt is also launchable directly in each model with one click.
Which AI model works best with Tenant Rights + Lease Analyzer?
Opus 4 for state law nuance.
Can I customize the Tenant Rights + Lease Analyzer prompt for my use case?
Yes — every Promptolis Original is designed to be customized. Key levers: Most states have tenant rights that OVERRIDE lease provisions. 'This lease says X' doesn't mean X is enforceable.; Security deposit limits vary wildly by state.
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