For renters
Understand your lease in plain English
A lease is one of the biggest things most people sign — and one of the least read. The clauses that matter most are rarely the ones in bold. Paste your lease into Plainly and get a plain-English summary of what you're agreeing to, plus a clear list of the terms worth questioning before you sign.
Explain my leaseWhat Plainly looks for
- Rent and increases — How much, when it's due, and whether the lease lets the landlord raise it mid-term.
- Notice periods — How much warning you must give to leave — and whether it's longer than the law requires.
- Your deposit — Whether the deposit amount and conditions are even legal where you live.
- Repairs and maintenance — Who's responsible when something breaks — and what the lease conveniently leaves unsaid.
- Pets, guests and subletting — The quiet restrictions that catch tenants out later.
- Automatic renewal — Whether the lease rolls over on its own unless you cancel by a buried deadline.
How it works
Step 1 — Paste the section you don't understand.
Step 2 — Answer a few quick questions so the analysis fits your situation.
Step 3 — Get a plain-English summary plus a list of things to watch out for.
Check it before you sign
It takes about a minute. Plainly never stores your lease, and there's no signup.
Explain my leasePlainly is a reading aid, not legal or financial advice. For high-stakes documents, have a qualified professional review the full document alongside your situation.