Does tenant needs a signed lease or a copy w/o signatures will suffice?

[katie45]

There was a new employee in our apartment office and when I handed her my signed lease renewal she said, "Thanks" and tossed it to the side of her desk.

I advised that I need the lease signed by the manager and a copy given to me.

Her reply was, "No, that's not necessary."

She finally gave up and in a huff walked into the manager's office to get it signed off and make a copy for my files.

Thankfully she isn't working there anymore.

[ddrhazy]

Any lease that you sign is going to have terms that protects the landlord. From a functional standpoint, a lot of leases don't require the landlord's signature.

What are you going to do? Enforce a clause about non payment of rent as the tenant? That makes no sense.

The only terms of the lease that might benefit the tenant is the term length. Tenant's can negotiate a longer lease and lock in a rental rate, but that's about it.

Anyways, you can ask the landlord to put wet ink on a lease that you will keep, I doubt he will object.

[Electrician4you]

1. I bring two leases. Everyone signs and we each get a copy.

2. In a case where I didn’t get two leases with me i get it signed by them then I sign it right there then I send them a copy and scan it and email one file as a pdf.

3. Or such case as they are out of state/town I send them the lease, they sign it I get it back then i sign it. Then see number 2

I never understood why LLs keep the leases away from the tenants. I guess this way they can make up whatever rules they want....?

[Rowan123]

Getting a signed lease is always a good idea. It makes it clear what the terms are that govern your tenancy.