Last Updated: November 2023
Rental property documents are important tools of the trade for rental real estate professionals. From buying and selling, to managing rental properties, the entire landlord and tenant relationship relies on what is put in writing. Furthermore, signing these documents no longer needs to be done in-person with pen and paper. New technologies such as digital signatures allow for more efficient and even remote agreements to be executed. Below we take a deep dive into the different types of documents and tools used to execute them.
Agreements and Contracts
Whether you are a Landlord, Property Manager, or Tenant, being familiar with the various contracts used throughout the rental process provides you with the confidence and assurance to successfully navigate the rental process. There are countless types of agreements for rental properties, however, some are more frequently used than others such as a residential lease agreement.
Notices and Letters
In the world of rental real estate law, important communications need to always be put in writing. This is true for both property owners and also tenants. Some of these notices can be legal in nature; such as a rent increase letter. Others can simply be informational and helpful information such as a Tenant Welcome Letter.
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Online Rental Property Documents
Since most Landlords are not savvy Lawyers, there are thankfully many prewritten forms available as templates for property owners and property managers to use without the need to draft one from scratch. These online form templates range from free downloadable PDFs to paid services where you can login to fill them out.
Digital Signatures for Rental Property Documents
Signing agreements with a pen and paper is still commonplace and actually legally required in some situations, but most agreements can be done electronically now. Digital signatures (or e-singing) is a new way of providing a legally binding signature via your computer or smartphone. Below are a few of the most popular digital signature services.
About the Author
Ryan Nelson
I’m an investor, real estate developer, and property manager with hands-on experience in all types of real estate from single family homes up to hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial real estate. RentalRealEstate is my mission to create the ultimate real estate investor platform for expert resources, reviews and tools. Learn more about my story.
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