How to Sign a Rental Contract Without Printing It
Your landlord emailed the lease and asked for it back signed. There's no printer at home and the office scanner is far away. Here's how to sign a rental contract without printing it, and what to check before you sign.
First: read before you sign
Signing digitally is so convenient that it's tempting to sign quickly. Don't skip the reading, especially the clauses where disputes are common: the deposit or guarantee amount and timing, who is responsible for repairs, early termination terms, extension options and rent updates. If something is unclear or unacceptable, now is the time to ask for a change, not after signing.
Is a signature like this valid?
A visible signature on a PDF, your name in a signature style with the date, is accepted in many private agreements, as long as both sides agree to work this way and each keeps a copy. It helps to put that agreement in writing, even a short email: "Attached is the signed lease, as we agreed." For large contracts or if in doubt, consult a lawyer. The guide to signature types explains the differences.
How to sign
- Save the lease from the email as a PDF. If it arrived as a Word file, convert it first with Word to PDF.
- Open Sign PDF and upload the file.
- Draw your signature with your mouse or finger, or switch to Type and enter your full name.
- Choose the page, usually the last, and the position.
- Download and open the file. Make sure the signature doesn't cover any text and the date is correct.
Contracts with several signature spots
Many contracts need a signature or initials on every page, or separate signatures on appendices. Sign the last page, download, then upload the result again to sign the first page. For a contract that needs a signature on every page, check with the landlord whether a signature on the last page is enough.
ID copy for the lease
Many landlords also ask for a copy of your ID. Add a watermark like "For the lease at ... only". The guide to sending an ID copy explains how.
After signing
- Keep a copy of the signed version, and ask the landlord to send back a copy with their signature.
- Keep the emails. They're part of the record of the agreement.
- If you send it to a third party, like a guarantor or insurer, consider locking the file with a password.