How to Sign a Lease Agreement Online (Landlord & Tenant Guide)

Gone are the days of printing a lease, signing it in person, and scanning it back. You can now sign a lease agreement online in under 60 seconds — and it's just as legally binding as pen and paper.

Are Electronic Lease Signatures Legal?

Yes. In the United States, electronic signatures on lease agreements are legally binding under the ESIGN Act and UETA. Both federal and state laws recognise electronic signatures for residential and commercial leases.

In Australia, the Electronic Transactions Act provides the same legal standing. In the EU, the eIDAS Regulation covers lease agreements.

Important exception: In some US states (like New York for leases longer than one year), specific formalities may apply. For standard residential leases (1 year or less), electronic signatures are accepted in all 50 states.

Step 1: Prepare Your Lease Agreement

Before signing, make sure your lease agreement includes all required elements:

• Full legal names of landlord and tenant(s)
• Property address and unit number
• Lease term (start and end dates)
• Monthly rent amount and due date
• Security deposit amount and terms
• Utilities and maintenance responsibilities
• Rules about pets, guests, and modifications
• Early termination and renewal clauses

Save the completed lease as a PDF. If you have a Word document, most word processors can export to PDF.

Step 2: Upload and Sign with SignBolt

1. Go to signbolt.store/sign
2. Upload your lease agreement PDF
3. Create your signature (draw it, type your name, or upload a signature image)
4. Click on the signature line to place your signature
5. Add the date if there's a date field
6. Click “Finalize & Download”

The entire process takes about 30-60 seconds.

Step 3: Get the Other Party to Sign

After you sign, send the partially-signed PDF to the other party (landlord or tenant). They can sign it the same way using SignBolt — no account required.

For landlords managing multiple properties, the Pro plan ($8/month) gives you 50 documents per month — enough for most property managers.

For Landlords: Why Sign Leases Online?

• Faster tenant onboarding — New tenants can sign from their phone before move-in day. No scheduling in-person signings.
• Better record-keeping — Every signature includes a timestamp and audit trail. No more lost paperwork.
• Remote management — Manage properties anywhere. Tenants in another city can sign without mailing documents back and forth.
• Cost savings — Printing, scanning, and mailing leases costs money. E-signing is free or $8/month with SignBolt.

For Tenants: What to Know Before Signing

• Read the entire lease— Don't rush because it's electronic. Read every clause, especially about deposits, fees, and early termination.
• Keep a copy — Download the fully-signed lease immediately after both parties sign. Store it somewhere safe (cloud storage, email attachment).
• Check the audit trail— SignBolt adds timestamp and signature verification data to the signed PDF. This protects you if there's ever a dispute.
• Note the move-in condition— The lease signing is a good time to document the property's condition. Take photos and email them to your landlord.

Common Lease Signing Mistakes

1. Not reading addendums — Lease addendums (pet agreements, parking addendums, etc.) are just as binding as the main lease. Read and sign them all.
2. Signing before the inspection— Always inspect the property before signing. Once you sign, you're committed to the terms.
3. Not getting both signatures — A lease is only valid when both parties sign. Make sure you have a copy with both signatures.
4. Missing the renewal deadline — Many leases auto-renew. Know your notice period for non-renewal (typically 30-60 days).

SignBolt vs DocuSign for Leases

Many landlords use DocuSign for lease signings, but it costs $25/month minimum. SignBolt offers the same core functionality — upload, sign, download — starting at $0/month.

For a detailed comparison, see our SignBolt vs DocuSign page.

For more on e-signatures in real estate, check our Real Estate E-Signature Guide.