Electronic signature of the tenancy agreement
To start the signing procedure, open the tenancy agreement creation or editing form, then go to the “Signature” tab and its “Signatories” section.
Before you begin, check that you have entered the email addresses and mobile numbers of every signatory correctly.
Here is how a digital signature works on Rentila, in a few simple steps:
- The landlord starts the procedure by clicking the “Start signing procedure” button. A window opens for them to draw their signature, then request and enter the verification code sent by text message. Once the landlord has started the procedure, the document is locked and marked Waiting for signature.
- An email invitation goes out to all tenants and guarantors. They click the link in the invitation and sign in their turn. They have to confirm they have read the agreement, draw their signature, then request and enter the verification code sent by text message.
- Once the document is signed, it is closed and locked. The landlord, the tenants and the guarantors can download it as a PDF. A copy of the document is saved in the “My documents” section.
The signature certificate
Once the document is signed, you can download its “Signature certificate” from the same page. It is the proof of signature, and it sets out:
- The “Signatories”: each one's “Full name”, “Email address” and “Phone number”,
- The “Authentication mode” and the “Authentication level” used,
- For each signatory, the date of signature, the “IP address” they signed from and the “Code hash (sha256)” of the verification code they received,
- A “Qualified timestamp · evidential value” and the electronic seal applied by Rentila.
Three formats are offered: “Download Adobe PDF file”, “ZIP file” (the certificate together with its XML proof) and “File XML” (the proof on its own).
Individual guarantors
If an individual guarantor is entered on the tenancy agreement and linked to a tenant, they automatically become part of the electronic signing procedure. That guarantor signs the document meant for them, the guarantor agreement.
Guarantors that are companies, or of any other non-individual type, are not included in this signing procedure.
Important!
There are three types of electronic signature: simple, advanced and qualified. All three are legally admissible, but only the qualified electronic signature carries a presumption of reliability.
The simple electronic signature is by far the most widely used today, because it is the easiest to work with and suits most documents.
The signatures we provide are simple electronic signatures within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS). We add two further identity checks:
- We check the signatory’s email address when they open a Rentila account,
- We check that the mobile number is valid by sending a verification text message at the moment of signing.
Rentila therefore verifies the identity of each signatory through a valid email address and a valid mobile number. To evidence the reliability of a simple signature, we record the signatory’s email address, their mobile number, the IP address of the device used to sign, and so on. If a dispute arises, that record lets a lawyer retrace each stage of the transaction step by step.
Once every signatory has signed, a PDF document is generated and locked.
With a simple signature, it is for the signatory and the organisation that ran the signing procedure to show that the process used is reliable.
Signing works from a computer, a tablet or a mobile. Each signatory needs an email address of their own and a personal mobile number.
For the legal effect of an electronic signature in your jurisdiction and for your particular agreement, take advice from a qualified professional.
