Apartment rental agreement online
Download a free apartment rental agreement template and sign it online with legal validity under eIDAS Art. 26. Covers rent terms, deposit, and tenant rights.
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Pakto is a mobile app for signing contracts with cryptographic protection, Telegram-based verification, and legal validity under EU eIDAS Art. 26. Secure Enclave signature, RFC 3161 timestamp, ready PDF — in less than 60 seconds. The other party does not need to register.
What is this document?
An apartment rental agreement is a legally binding written contract between a landlord (property owner) and a tenant, which clearly defines all conditions of occupancy. The document sets out the rent amount, payment dates and procedures, lease term, security deposit amount and return conditions, and the rights and obligations of each party.
Without a signed rental agreement, neither party has real legal protection in the event of a dispute. The landlord cannot officially demand payment of rent arrears, and the tenant cannot defend themselves against unjustified eviction or claims for damages they did not cause.
An apartment rental agreement is the foundational document for any landlord–tenant relationship — from a short-term rental of a few months to long-term residence over years. It is the primary evidence in court if a conflict arises between the parties.
When do you need it?
An apartment rental agreement is needed in the following situations:
You are renting out an apartment. Without an agreement you cannot officially claim rent through court, cannot prove the deposit amount and conditions for withholding it, and have no legal grounds to evict a bad-faith tenant.
You are renting an apartment. Without an agreement you can be evicted at any time without notice, charged a retroactive rent increase, or accused of damages you did not cause.
You are formalising an existing verbal arrangement. If you are already living in or renting out an apartment without documents — the best time to sign an agreement is now, while there is no conflict between the parties.
A tenant is moving in and you are recording the apartment's condition. A rental agreement together with a handover act is the only way to document the state of the apartment before move-in.
For receiving a subsidy or registering a place of residence. In many countries an official rental agreement is a mandatory document for confirming your address.
Common mistakes
Most common mistakes when drafting an apartment rental agreement:
Using a random template found online. Most free templates on the internet are outdated, incomplete, or do not comply with the legislation of your country. They may lack mandatory clauses, and such an agreement may be declared invalid.
No clear deposit return conditions. This is the most frequent cause of court disputes between landlords and tenants. Specify concretely: under what conditions the deposit is returned in full, what portion may be withheld and for what reason, and within how many days after move-out the return takes place.
No handover act. A rental agreement without a handover act offers incomplete protection. Without photos and a description of the apartment's condition at move-in, either party can later claim anything about damages.
Not specifying who pays utilities. This clause gets skipped and leads to years of arguments.
Verbal agreements about changes to the terms. Any change to the agreement (new rent amount, extended term, new rules) must be formalised in writing as an addendum.
What must be included?
- Full names, dates of birth, and contact details of both landlord and tenant (passport details for individuals)
- Exact address of the apartment and its description: floor, area, number of rooms
- Monthly rent amount in a specific currency and exact payment date (e.g. by the 5th of each month)
- Payment method: cash, bank transfer, account details
- Security deposit amount (usually 1–2 months' rent) and clear conditions for its return or retention
- Lease start date and term (fixed term or open-ended with termination conditions)
- Who pays utilities: electricity, water, gas, internet, heating
- Rules on pets, smoking, subletting, and renovations
- Notice period and procedure for early termination
- List of furniture and appliances included with the apartment
- Signatures of both parties with date — mandatory
Frequently used for
- Apartment rental
- Property lease
- Security deposit
- Tenant onboarding
- Move-in inspection
Sign this document right now — for free
Pakto is a mobile app for signing contracts with cryptographic protection, Telegram-based verification, and legal validity under EU eIDAS Art. 26. Secure Enclave signature, RFC 3161 timestamp, ready PDF — in less than 60 seconds. The other party does not need to register.
Download Pakto — contracts for freeFrequently asked questions
Is a digital apartment rental agreement legally valid?
Yes. Under EU Regulation eIDAS Art. 26, an advanced electronic signature has the same legal force as a handwritten signature on paper. The Pakto signature uses ECDSA P-256 from the device's Secure Enclave, receives an RFC 3161 TSA timestamp, and fully meets the requirements for all EU countries.
Does an apartment rental agreement need to be notarised?
In most EU countries, a rental agreement between private individuals for a term of up to 5 years does not require notarisation. The signatures of both parties are sufficient. A digital signature under eIDAS fully replaces a handwritten signature and is admissible as evidence in court.
Do both parties need to be in the same place to sign?
No. Pakto allows remote signing. The landlord sends the document via the app, and the tenant signs from their phone — wherever they are. No in-person meeting is required.
What happens to the document after signing?
The signed PDF is stored on each party's device. Pakto does not store a copy on its servers — your data stays with you. Each signature contains an RFC 3161 TSA timestamp that cryptographically confirms the exact moment of signing.
Can photos of the apartment be attached to the agreement?
Yes. Pakto allows photos to be attached during the signing process. The SHA-256 hash of each photo is embedded in the signature — the photo cannot be substituted after signing. This is the most reliable way to record the condition of the apartment.
How many copies of the agreement need to be signed?
With paper signing — usually 2 copies (one for each party). With digital signing via Pakto, each party automatically receives an identical signed copy on their device — no additional copies needed.
What to do if the tenant does not pay?
A signed rental agreement is the basis for going to court to claim the debt. Without an agreement it is practically impossible to prove the fact of tenancy and the rent amount. A digital agreement with an RFC 3161 timestamp is irrefutable evidence.