A rental contract template is often used as a first step to producing a specific rental contract. Landlords may use contract templates as examples or guidelines when creating their own custom rental contracts. Rental contract templates can also be used with no alterations, providing all the necessary items are covered in the template. The specific names, addresses, amounts, and other information are entered into the template to create a rental contract that a landlord may print out and have a tenant sign. Some landlords prefer to use a template contract, especially those unfamiliar with the process of writing a contract. Rental contract templates can also save time, as most of the work is already done. State specific contract templates can be obtained, though anyone thinking of using a contract template should take care to ensure that the contract complies with the specific legal requirements of their state and/or county before use.