Can a lease be signed electronically?

Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, electronic signatures are legally valid when parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and record retention capability.

When is notarization required for a lease?

Notarization is not uniformly required for most leases but may be necessary for specific recording or witness requirements, long-term leases, or local statutes; verify with state or county rules before recording.

What if names or dates are incorrect?

Minor clerical errors should be corrected with a signed amendment; material discrepancies in party names or dates can create enforceability issues, so obtain a corrected, re-signed agreement whenever possible.

Are witness signatures usually required?

Witness requirements vary by state and document type. Most residential leases do not require witnesses, but certain jurisdictions or deed-like filings may require one or more witnesses.

How should completed leases be stored?

Retain signed originals or secured electronic copies with audit trails. Follow IRS, HIPAA, and state retention rules relevant to your records and retain evidence of signature attribution and authentication.

Is a digital signature stronger than a simple e-signature?

Yes. A PKI-based digital signature provides certificate-backed non-repudiation and tamper evidence; simple electronic signatures rely on audit trail metadata and are accepted under ESIGN/UETA for most lease transactions.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Real estate
Lease Terms Agreement

Lease Terms Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

LEASE TERMS AGREEMENT

This Lease Terms Agreement is made between Landlord Name: and Tenant Name: . Effective Date: .

1. Parties and Contact Information

Landlord — Full Legal Name Landlord — Mailing Address for Notices

Landlord — Phone

Landlord — Email

Tenant — Full Legal Name Tenant — Mailing Address for Notices

Tenant — Phone

Tenant — Email

2. Property Identification

Premises Address Parcel / APN Number (if applicable) Legal Description

3. Term of Lease

Lease Commencement Date: Lease Term (months): Lease Expiration Date: .

Possession: Tenant shall be entitled to possession on the Commencement Date and shall surrender possession to Landlord on the Expiration Date, subject to any lawful holdover provisions contained herein.

4. Rent and Payment Terms

Monthly Rent

Rent Due Date Each Month: day . Payments shall be made to Landlord at:

Remittance Address or Payment Instructions

Late Fee: If rent is not received within days after the Due Date, Tenant shall pay a late fee of $ and additional interest at the maximum lawful rate.

Returned Check Fee: $ for each returned payment.

5. Security Deposit and Fees

Security Deposit Amount

Security Deposit shall be held by Landlord as security for Tenant’s performance. Landlord may apply deposit to unpaid rent, damages, cleaning, and other amounts permitted by law. Within the time allowed by law after termination, Landlord will provide an itemized statement and return any remaining deposit to Tenant at the Tenant’s forwarding address.

Pet Deposit (if applicable)

6. Utilities and Services

Tenant Responsible For (check applicable): Electricity Gas Water Trash Internet/Cable

Additional Utilities or Special Arrangements

7. Maintenance, Repairs and Alterations

Landlord shall maintain structural components, major systems, and common areas. Tenant shall keep premises in clean condition and promptly notify Landlord of needed repairs. Tenant shall be responsible for repair costs of damage caused by Tenant’s negligence or intentional acts.

Minor repairs up to $ may be performed by Tenant without prior written consent; otherwise Tenant shall obtain Landlord’s written consent prior to making alterations. Tenant shall not paint, alter, or install fixtures without prior written approval from Landlord.

8. Pets and Smoking

Pets Allowed: Yes No

If Pets Allowed — Pet Policy / Breed / Size Restrictions

Smoking Permitted Inside Premises: Yes No

9. Insurance

Tenant Required To Maintain Renters Insurance: Yes No

Minimum Liability Coverage: $

10. Disclosures

Lead-Based Paint Known: Yes No

Known Mold or Moisture Issues: Yes No

Previous Structural or Water Damage: Yes No

Additional Disclosures or Explanations

11. Default, Remedies and Termination

If Tenant fails to pay rent or otherwise breaches a material term of this Agreement, Landlord may provide such notices as required by law and may terminate the tenancy, pursue rent and damages, and exercise all other remedies available under law. Tenant shall be liable for reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by Landlord in enforcing this Agreement to the extent permitted by law.

Holdover: Any holding over by Tenant after the expiration of this Agreement without Landlord’s written consent shall subject Tenant to liability for double rent or other remedies permitted by law.

12. Entry by Landlord and Inspections

Landlord may enter the Premises for inspections, repairs, safety checks, or to show the Premises to prospective tenants or purchasers in accordance with applicable law. Except in emergencies, Landlord will provide prior notice as required by law.

13. Subletting and Assignment

Tenant shall not assign this Agreement or sublet the Premises, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Landlord, which shall not be unreasonably withheld where required by applicable law.

14. Governing Law; Entire Agreement

Governing Law State: . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the governing state identified above.

Entire Agreement: This document contains the full agreement of the parties concerning the lease of the Premises and supersedes all prior discussions, representations, and agreements, whether written or oral. Any modification must be in writing and signed by both parties.

15. Notices

Notices to Landlord Notices to Tenant

16. Additional Terms

Certification: Each party certifies that the information provided is true and correct and that the person signing below has the authority to enter into this Agreement. Failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement may result in termination and recovery of damages and costs.

Landlord Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Tenant Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Lease Terms Agreement Covers

A Lease Terms Agreement is a written contract that sets out the principal rights and obligations between a landlord and tenant for the use and occupancy of real property. Typical content includes parties’ legal names, premises description, lease term and renewal options, rent amount and payment schedule, security deposit terms, permitted uses, maintenance responsibilities, utilities allocation, default remedies, and applicable governing law. For leases longer than one year the statute of frauds requires a written agreement; some jurisdictions also require specific disclosures. Properly drafted lease terms reduce disputes and clarify performance expectations for both parties.

Why precise lease terms matter

Clear, complete lease terms limit ambiguity, protect legal rights, and reduce eviction or breach disputes. They establish payment schedules, notice periods, and repair responsibilities to support enforceability under state law.

Typical users and where this agreement fits

Use this template as a baseline and tailor clauses to the property type, lease duration, and applicable state or local landlord-tenant rules.

Independent landlords managing single properties who need consistent, enforceable terms across tenants.
Property management firms standardizing lease clauses for multi-unit portfolios and compliance.
Commercial tenants and landlords negotiating rent, CAM charges, and subletting rights.

Core sections every professional Lease Terms Agreement should include

A complete lease organizes rights and duties into standard sections so parties can find and enforce provisions quickly. The following components form the backbone of enforceable leases.

Identification

Full legal names for landlord and tenant, business entity types, and contact information for notices and payment.

Premises

Precise address, unit or suite number, and any exclusive or shared areas (parking, storage), plus property condition attachments.

Term and Renewal

Start and end dates, renewal options, notice requirements, and whether early termination fees apply.

Rent and Charges

Rent amount, due date, accepted payment methods, late fees, security deposit handling, and CAM or utility allocations.

Use and Alterations

Permitted uses, signage rules, subletting permissions, and requirements for landlord approval of alterations.

Default and Remedies

Events of default, cure periods, landlord remedies, and any agreed limitations on liability or indemnities.

Step-by-step: completing the Lease Terms Agreement

Follow these steps in order to prepare, review, and sign the lease to help ensure enforceability and regulatory compliance.

01

Prepare: Gather IDs, entity documents, and property description.
02

Draft: Populate fields, attach exhibits, and set dates.
03

Review: Have counsel or experienced staff review key clauses.
04

Sign: Execute signatures and retain final signed copies.

Configuring a digital signing workflow

A repeatable workflow reduces errors and speeds execution; configure fields, signer order, and authentication before sending.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Set landlord first or tenant first depending on negotiation practice
Authentication	Use email link or add SMS code for higher assurance
Required Attachments	Attach exhibits: property condition, insurance requirements, parking addendum
Retention	Enable automatic copy delivery to all parties and secure storage

Typical electronic signing flow for a lease

Digital signing follows a predictable sequence: prepare the document, assign fields, notify signers, and capture the completion package and audit trail.

Upload: Upload the lease document into the e-sign platform.
Tag Fields: Place signature, initial, and date fields for each party.
Send: Send by email or shared link to signers in order.
Complete: System captures signatures, timestamps, and audit data.

Distribution and technical requirements for e-signature use

Choose a platform that preserves an audit trail, supports export to standard formats, and integrates with your document management or accounting systems for retention and traceability.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: Works with CRM and cloud storage
Authentication: Email, SMS, or advanced methods

Supporting documents and optional lease attachments

Attach these documents when appropriate to create a complete record and avoid later disputes about condition, services, or obligations.

Move-in Checklist

Itemize property condition at move-in with dated photographs and signatures to establish baseline condition for security deposit disputes and repairs.

Insurance Requirements

Specify required commercial or renter’s insurance, named insured clauses, liability limits, and proof-of-insurance delivery timing.

Pet Addendum

Add specific permissions, security deposit adjustments, and rules for pets to avoid informal agreements that lack enforceability.

Parking and Access

Define assigned parking spaces, access rights, and any additional fees or permits associated with vehicle storage on premises.

Tips for accurate and efficient lease completion

Use consistent templates, version control, and prefilled fields to minimize errors and speed processing while maintaining legal certainty.

Use standardized clauses

Adopt template clauses vetted by counsel for common scenarios; this reduces review time and ensures consistent interpretation across leases.

Confirm identity early

Verify signers’ identities before executing to prevent fraud and ensure the signature is attributable to the correct party.

Record modifications

Document any negotiated changes in writing and attach them as exhibits so the final signed package reflects all agreed amendments.

Keep an accessible audit trail

Retain the signed PDF, signatures’ metadata, email notices, and any authentication logs for dispute resolution and regulatory compliance.

Common risks and legal consequences of flawed lease terms

Statute-of-Frauds: May invalidate unwritten long-term leases

Late Rent Clauses: Unenforceable if unreasonable

Security Deposit Errors: State penalties possible

Ambiguous Defaults: Leads to litigation

Improper Notices: May void termination

Incorrect Names: Enforcement complications

Electronic vs digital signatures in lease workflows

Understand the technical and legal differences: electronic signatures are broad legal methods, while digital signatures use PKI cryptography for stronger non-repudiation.

Criteria	Electronic Signature	Digital Signature
Definition	broad legal method	cryptographic pki method
Non-repudiation	audit trail evidence	certificate-based proof
Use cases	general leases	high-assurance or regulated records
Legal basis	esign/ueta	may be required by specific regs

Vendor pricing and capability snapshot for lease signing

Compare common e-sign providers for core costs and capabilities relevant to executing Lease Terms Agreements electronically.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Leaving blanks in key fields (names, dates, rent) causes ambiguity and may invalidate notices.
Using inconsistent party names across documents complicates bank deposits, enforcement, and title checks.
Failing to attach condition reports or exhibits leads to later disputes over deposit deductions.
Overlooking local rent control or habitability statutes can render clauses unenforceable or subject to penalties.

Who signs the Lease Terms Agreement

Individual Tenant

An individual tenant signs in their full legal name and should provide identification and contact information. If a joint tenancy exists each tenant must sign separately to assume individual liability for rent and damages.

Entity Landlord

A business entity signs through an authorized representative; include printed name and title and confirm authority to bind the entity by checking formation documents or a corporate resolution.

Use-case examples

These real-world examples illustrate how Lease Terms Agreements are adapted for different needs and volumes.

Residential Landlord

A small landlord used a standardized lease template to process tenancies quickly

Bulk send reduces manual steps when onboarding multiple units
The landlord retained signed PDFs and audit trails to resolve a security deposit dispute without court intervention.

Commercial Property Manager

A property manager integrated lease templates with an accounting system

Conditional fields populated CAM charges automatically
The firm cut approval time and ensured consistent billing across tenants.

Frequently asked questions about Lease Terms Agreements

Answers address common points of confusion about validity, signatures, notarization, and recordkeeping for leases executed in the United States.

Need help? Contact support

Can a lease be signed electronically?
Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, electronic signatures are legally valid when parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and record retention capability.
When is notarization required for a lease?
Notarization is not uniformly required for most leases but may be necessary for specific recording or witness requirements, long-term leases, or local statutes; verify with state or county rules before recording.
What if names or dates are incorrect?
Minor clerical errors should be corrected with a signed amendment; material discrepancies in party names or dates can create enforceability issues, so obtain a corrected, re-signed agreement whenever possible.
Are witness signatures usually required?
Witness requirements vary by state and document type. Most residential leases do not require witnesses, but certain jurisdictions or deed-like filings may require one or more witnesses.
How should completed leases be stored?
Retain signed originals or secured electronic copies with audit trails. Follow IRS, HIPAA, and state retention rules relevant to your records and retain evidence of signature attribution and authentication.
Is a digital signature stronger than a simple e-signature?
Yes. A PKI-based digital signature provides certificate-backed non-repudiation and tamper evidence; simple electronic signatures rely on audit trail metadata and are accepted under ESIGN/UETA for most lease transactions.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now