On this page
- Is an e-signed lease agreement legally binding?
- Two rules that make an online lease agreement hold up
- What you should not e-sign: eviction and default notices
- How to e-sign a lease agreement template
- Landlord software that includes e-signatures
- Esign residential lease agreement template checklist
- Frequently asked questions
An e-signed lease is as binding as one signed on paper in the United States, as long as both sides agree to sign electronically and each keeps a copy they can save and print. This page explains the law in plain terms, shows how to e-sign a lease agreement template step by step, and lists which landlord tools include e-signatures on which plan. The lease itself is our free lease agreement template.
Is an e-signed lease agreement legally binding?
Yes. The federal E-SIGN Act says a contract "may not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form," and a contract may not be denied effect "solely because an electronic signature or electronic record was used in its formation" (15 U.S.C. 7001(a)). An electronic signature is "an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record" (15 U.S.C. 7006(5)). A typed name, a drawn signature or a click-to-sign box all qualify when made with intent to sign.
State law can apply too. Washington, for example, has enacted the uniform electronic transactions act as chapter 1.80 RCW, and it says: "If a law requires a signature, an electronic signature satisfies the law." (RCW 1.80.060). It applies only between parties that "each of which has agreed to conduct transactions by electronic means" (RCW 1.80.040), so get the tenant's agreement in writing before you send the lease.
Two rules that make an online lease agreement hold up
Consent for consumer records
Where a law requires information to be given to a consumer in writing, an electronic copy works only if "the consumer has affirmatively consented to such use and has not withdrawn such consent" (15 U.S.C. 7001(c)). Ask the tenant to confirm, in the signing email or a checkbox, that they agree to receive the lease and notices electronically.
A copy everyone can keep
An electronic record can lose its effect if it "is not in a form that is capable of being retained and accurately reproduced for later reference by all parties" (15 U.S.C. 7001(e)). Send each signer the completed PDF, not just a link to a dashboard that may close.
What you should not e-sign: eviction and default notices
The E-SIGN Act does not cover notices of "default, acceleration, repossession, foreclosure, or eviction, or the right to cure, under a credit agreement secured by, or a rental agreement for, a primary residence of an individual" (15 U.S.C. 7003(b)(2)(B)), or notices that utility services will be shut off (7003(b)(2)(A)). Deliver a late rent notice or an eviction notice the way your state's statute says, usually in person, by mail or by posting, even if the lease itself was signed online.
How to e-sign a lease agreement template
- Build the lease with our lease agreement template or a state version, and print it to PDF.
- Get the tenant's written agreement to sign and receive records electronically.
- Upload the PDF to an e-sign tool (a landlord app below or a general e-signature service) and add signature and date fields for every adult tenant and the landlord.
- Send it; each person signs. Save any signing record or certificate the tool provides with the lease.
- Download the signed PDF, send a copy to every signer, and store your own copy with the move-in checklist.
Signing addenda later works the same way: a pet addendum or a lease extension can be e-signed and attached to the original.
Landlord software that includes e-signatures
| Tool | Plan with e-signing (price) | What the vendor states |
|---|---|---|
| TurboTenant | Essentials, from $12.42/mo | Create and sign leases online; plan comparison lists unlimited e-signatures |
| Avail | Free plan ($0/unit) | State-specific leases with digital signing; Unlimited Plus is $9/unit |
| Innago | Free | Sign and store any number of leases and documents online |
| Landlord Studio | Go free; Pro $15/mo | E-sign and document storage included; 3 units, then $1.20 each |
| Stessa | Manage, $12/mo billed yearly | 1 eSignature a month on Manage, 7 on Pro ($28/mo yearly) |
| Hemlane | Basic, $30/mo for one unit | Document storage and e-sign ($2 a unit plus a $28 platform fee) |
| Buildium | Essential from $65/mo | Per-document fee on Essential, lower on Growth, free on Premium |
| DoorLoop | One, $2.50/unit billed yearly ($199 min); $3.00 monthly ($239 min) | Unlimited eSignatures and templates |
| RentRedi | One plan, $12 to $29.95/mo | Same features on every plan; e-sign not itemized on its pricing page |
From each company's pricing or feature page, read November 2, 2026. Buildium's per-document e-signature fee is listed on its pricing page. Prices change; confirm before you sign up.
If you only sign a few leases a year, a free plan that already includes signing (Avail's free plan or Innago) is enough. TurboTenant also offers a free AI lease audit that it says "analyzes your lease for legal compliance within 15 seconds" (TurboTenant); treat that as a check, not legal advice. For the full cost picture of each tool, see landlord software pricing and our free property management software guide.
Esign residential lease agreement template checklist
- Every adult occupant who signs is named in the Parties section.
- State-required disclosures (lead paint for homes built before 1978, plus any state forms) are part of the PDF that is signed, not sent separately.
- Blank lines are filled in or marked "none" before sending.
- Each signer receives the final signed copy by email.
- The tenant's agreement to electronic records is saved with the lease.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronically signed lease legally binding?
Yes. Under the federal E-SIGN Act, a contract cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic or was signed with an electronic signature, and Washington's Uniform Electronic Transactions Act says the same.
Do both landlord and tenant have to agree to e-sign?
Yes. UETA applies only when both parties have agreed to transact electronically, and E-SIGN requires a consumer's affirmative consent before required written information is given electronically.
Can I send an eviction notice by e-signature or email?
The E-SIGN Act does not apply to eviction or default notices under a rental agreement for a primary residence, so deliver those the way your state's statute requires.
Which landlord apps include free e-signatures?
Avail's free plan includes state-specific leases with digital signing, and Innago lets you sign and store leases online. Landlord Studio says e-sign and document storage are included.
What counts as an electronic signature?
An electronic sound, symbol or process attached to or associated with the record and adopted with the intent to sign, such as a typed name or click-to-sign box.