Rent Receipt

A rent receipt is a form that helps landlords and tenants prove the tenant paid the rent and that the landlord received the payment.

This form is beneficial to both landlords and tenants to document the payment of rent, primarily when tenants use cash.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Rent Receipt?
• Why Use a Rent Receipt?
• What Goes in a Rent Receipt?
• How to Write a Rent Receipt
• Rent Receipt Sample
• Rent Receipt Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is a Rent Receipt?

A rent receipt is a simple document that acknowledges the payment of rent by a tenant to a landlord. It can document payments by cash, physical checks, or electronic transfer (i.e., Venmo).

Rent receipts prove the date and rent amount paid in case a dispute arises later.

Sometimes landlords and tenants refer to a rent receipt as a:

• Proof of rent payment
• Rent receipt form
• Rental receipt
• Receipt for rent

Why Use a Rent Receipt?

There are several important reasons landlords and tenants should require a rent receipt.

Landlord Benefits

Landlords receive benefits such as:

• Maintaining a professional appearance with tenants
• Abiding by state laws that may require proof of payment to a tenant
• Making tenants feel comfortable
• Staying organized and avoiding disputes about payments

Tenant Benefits

Tenants benefit from rent receipts as well. These benefits include:

• Securing proof that they paid on time
• Tracking rent payments and creating a paper trail
• Backing up any tax deduction claims
• Helping with renter’s tax credit

What Goes in a Rent Receipt?

A rent receipt contains key information that proves rent was paid, such as the amount paid and when.

It is a document between the tenant and the landlord so that both have proof of payment.

There are many elements you should include in a rent receipt. Among them are:

• A date and receipt number
• The tenant’s name and property address
• The amount of rent paid and the period it covers
• How the tenant made the payment (cash, check, etc.)
• Whether any remaining balance is due
• Signature lines for the landlord

You can use Legal Template’s rent receipt form builder to create your own document.

Can You Write Your Own Rent Receipt?

You can write your own rent receipt, but it is best to do it in a consistent and enforceable way.

A fillable rent receipt template can help you create a quality document.

How Do I Get a Rent Receipt Template Online?

You can get a rent receipt template online in various formats.

Legal Templates provides rent receipts in formats like:

• Rent receipt PDF
• Rent receipt generated through our builder
• Rent receipt templateWord document

How to Write a Rent Receipt

Follow the steps below to write a rent receipt.

Step 1 – Fill Out Basic Information

Write the date and the receipt number of the Rent Receipt.

Step 2 – Enter Tenant’s Information

Provide the full name of the tenant. If there is more than one tenant, enter the name of each additional tenant.

Step 3 – Enter Property Address

Provide the full street address of the rental property including the unit number, if applicable.

Step 4 – Enter Rent Information

Write the dollar amount of the rent that was paid, the rental period the payment applies to, and the payment method. If there is any balance, enter the amount due.

Step 5 – Signature

The landlord will sign the Rent Receipt. 

Rent Receipt Sample

Below is an example of what a typical rent receipt looks like.

Rent Receipt Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)