24 CFR § 884.215 - Lease requirements.
The Lease shall contain all required provisions specified in paragraph (b) of this section and none of the prohibited provisions listed in paragraph (c) of this section.
(a) Term of lease. The term of the Lease shall be for not less than one year. The Lease may (or, in the case of a Lease for a term of more than one year, shall) contain a provision permitting termination upon 30 days advance written notice by either party.
(b) Required provisions. The Lease between the Owner (Lessor) and the Family (Lessee) shall contain the following provisions:
The following additional Lease provisions are incorporated in full in the Lease between ____________________ (Lessor) and ____________________ (Lessee) for the following dwelling unit: ____________________. In case of any conflict between these and any other provisions of the Lease, these provisions shall prevail.
a. The total rent shall be $____________ per month.
b. Of the total rent, $____________ shall be payable by or at the direction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) as housing assistance payments on behalf of the Lessee and $____________ shall be payable by the Lessee. These amounts shall be subject to change by reason of changes in the Lessee's family income, family composition, or extent of exceptional medical or other unusual expenses, in accordance with HUD-established schedules and criteria; or by reason of adjustment by HUD, or the PHA, if appropriate, of any applicable Allowance for Utilities and Other Services. Any such change shall be effective as of the date stated in a notification to the Lessee.
c. The Lessor shall not discriminate against the Lessee in the provision of services, or in any other manner, on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin.
d. The Lessor shall provide the following services and maintenance:
(c) Prohibited provisions. Lease clauses which fall within the classifications listed below shall not be included in any Lease.
(1) Confession of judgment. Prior consent by tenant to any lawsuit the landlord may bring against him in connection with the Lease and to a judgment in favor of the landlord.
(2) Distraint for rent or other charges. Authorization to the landlord to take property of the tenant and hold it as a pledge until the tenant performs any obligation which the landlord has determined the tenant has failed to perform.
(3) Exculpatory clause. Agreement by tenant not to hold the landlord or landlord's agents liable for any acts or omissions whether intentional or negligent on the part of the landlord or the landlord's authorized representative or agents.
(4) Waiver of legal notice to tenant prior to actions for eviction or money judgments. Agreement by tenant that the landlord may institute suit without any notice to the tenant that the suit has been filed.
(5) Waiver of legal proceedings. Authorization to the landlord to evict the tenant or hold or sell the tenant's possessions whenever the landlord determines that a breach or default has occurred, without notice to the tenant or any determination by a court of the rights and liabilities of the parties.
(6) Waiver of jury trial. Authorization to the landlord's lawyer to appear in court for the tenant and to waive the tenant's right to a trial by jury.
(7) Waiver of right to appeal judicial error in legal proceedings. Authorization to the landlord's lawyer to waive the tenant's right to appeal on the ground of judicial error in any suit or the tenant's right to file a suit in equity to prevent the execution of a judgment.
(8) Tenant chargeable with costs of legal actions regardless of outcome. Agreement by the tenant to pay attorney's fees or other legal costs whenever the landlord decides to take action against the tenant even though the court finds in favor of the tenant. (Omission of such clause does not mean that the tenant as a party to a lawsuit may not be obligated to pay attorney's fee or other costs if he loses the suit.)