· Adventure · Renting
Lease Fine Print: free game to read a rental contract
The flat is perfect, the contract isn't. Flag the unfair clauses before you sign.
What is Lease Fine Print?
A flat you love, a one-page lease to sign by tonight. Read it clause by clause and flag the ones to question: a huge deposit, a landlord who can walk in any time, repairs dumped on you, fees that never come back. Each clause is then shown as fair, unfair or negotiable, with the general rule behind it.
Lease Fine Print is a free game about reading a rental contract. Each round is a one-page lease for a flat you'd love to live in, with the usual clauses mixed with a few that deserve a second look.
Tap the clauses you'd question, then review the lease: every clause is shown as fair, unfair or negotiable, with the general rule behind it. Rules differ by country, so the game sticks to common principles, not legal advice.
At a glance
- Category
- Adventure
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Play time
- 4–6 min
- Price
- Free, in your browser, sign-up optional
How to play
- Flag
- Tap every clause you'd question before signing. Tap again to unflag.
- Review
- Each clause is shown as fair, unfair or negotiable, with a short explanation.
- Score
- 100 per unfair or negotiable clause flagged, minus 50 per fair clause flagged.
- Three levels
- Beginner: two leases, the clear traps and a reading hint. Expert: every subtle clause and 90 seconds per lease. Each level keeps its own best score.
Scoring
Each unfair or negotiable clause you flag scores 100 points. Flagging a fair clause costs 50.
Two or three leases depending on the level, with a 90-second clock per lease in Expert. Your best score is kept in this browser.
What it trains
- Reading contracts
- Going clause by clause instead of skimming to the signature line.
- Spotting one-sided terms
- Deposits, fees, entry rights, repairs and notice periods.
- Negotiating
- Knowing which terms you can ask to change before signing.
Strategy and tips
- Follow the money
- Deposits, fees at signing, cleaning charges and rent rises are where most traps hide.
- Who can come in?
- A landlord generally needs to give notice before entering, except in an emergency.
- Who repairs what?
- Big repairs like the roof or the boiler are usually the landlord's job.
- Negotiable isn't unfair
- Odd terms can often be changed with a polite question before you sign.
Why play Lease Fine Print?
A lease is one of the biggest contracts most people sign, and it's often read in a hurry. Spotting the clauses worth questioning saves money and stress later, and asking about them before signing is normal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lease Fine Print free?
Yes. It is free and runs in your browser, with no download. Signing up is optional.
Is this legal advice?
No. The game uses general rules that hold in many places. Tenancy law differs by country, so check your local rules or ask an adviser.
What's the difference between unfair and negotiable?
Unfair clauses are worth refusing. Negotiable ones are unusual or one-sided, and worth a polite question.
Are the leases real?
No. They're made up, written to look like ordinary leases.