re: Rental agreement on house

Typically you do 12 month so you can either move off a tenant or increase rent. You lose flexibility if you have a lease that is longer than 12 months. If you are worried about not having a tenant after the 1st 12 month period, then you could choose to do a longer lease. Or, if you are trying to help out this family, then give them the longer lease that they want.

Since this is someone you know, it's up to you.

First and last month, yes. Pet deposit, yes.