The most important source of information about the rights and responsibilities of residential landlords and tenants is the written lease agreement. Some landlords prefer oral agreements, but it is more common for them to require the tenant's signature on a written lease—and a written lease protects the tenant more than an oral agreement. Be sure to read the lease carefully before you sign it.

If a tenant wants to change part of the lease, the tenant should discuss it with the landlord. If the landlord agrees, the landlord and tenant should decide how they want to word the change and then write it into the agreement. Both the tenant and the landlord should then initial the change. For example, many standard leases prohibit pets, but the landlord may be willing to accept a pet if the tenant puts down extra money as security (a pet deposit) to protect against any damage the pet might do.

A state’s landlord-tenant laws may provide additional rights and responsibilities and further define the rights and responsibilities identified in the lease agreement. These laws vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Alaska, the primary source of information regarding the rights and responsibilities of residential landlords and tenants is indeed the written lease agreement. Alaska law recognizes both written and oral rental agreements, but written leases are preferable as they provide a clear record of the terms agreed upon by both parties. Before signing, tenants should thoroughly review the lease and negotiate any desired changes with the landlord. Any amendments should be written into the lease and initialed by both parties to ensure they are legally binding. For instance, if a tenant wishes to have a pet and the landlord agrees, despite a standard no-pet policy, this should be documented in the lease, potentially with an additional pet deposit to cover potential damages. It's important to note that Alaska's landlord-tenant laws, which can be found in the Alaska Statutes, may supplement or even override lease provisions. These laws establish baseline rights and responsibilities that cannot be waived, even by a written lease agreement. Therefore, tenants and landlords should be aware of these statutory provisions in addition to the specifics of their lease.