SingleKey’s eLease tool offers a fast, secure, and legally compliant way to sign rental agreements online. While it simplifies the process, there are a few important things to know about how eLease works—especially when it comes to time limits, making updates, and legal restrictions.
Here are the top questions we receive from landlords and property managers using SingleKey’s eLease feature:
1. How long is the eLease link active for?
Once you send out a lease agreement for e-signature through SingleKey, the recipient has 7 days to complete the signing process. After 7 days, the link expires automatically.
Why this matters:
This expiry period ensures security and prevents unsigned leases from lingering in your system indefinitely. If the lease isn’t signed within the 7-day window, you’ll need to re-initiate the process by creating a new lease and sending a fresh signature request.
Tip: Let your tenant know in advance that they’ll receive a digital lease via email and encourage them to sign within the 7-day timeframe to avoid delays.
2. Can I backdate a lease?
No. For compliance and legal validity, backdating a lease is not possible using SingleKey’s eLease tool.
The lease start date must be set to today or a future date—never in the past.
Why this matters:
Backdating can create legal conflicts and invalidate agreements in some jurisdictions. To ensure fairness and transparency for both parties, SingleKey enforces this rule within the eLeasing system.
Best Practice: If your tenant has already moved in before signing, set the lease start date to the date the agreement is officially signed. If needed, you can document prior arrangements in a separate written note or addendum—but the lease itself must reflect the signing timeline accurately.
3. Can I edit a lease after it’s been signed?
Once a lease has been fully signed and executed through SingleKey, you cannot make further edits to the document.
Why this matters:
Signed leases are legally binding documents. To protect the integrity of the agreement and all parties involved, SingleKey does not permit post-signature modifications.
What to do instead:
If changes are needed (e.g., updating rent amount, adding a new clause, correcting an error), you’ll need to:
-
Void or disregard the signed lease
-
Create a new lease with the updated information
-
Send it out again for signature
This ensures the document remains legally valid and enforceable.
Final Thoughts
SingleKey’s eLeasing is built for speed, compliance, and professionalism. By understanding a few key limitations—like the 7-day signature window, the inability to backdate leases, and the finality of signed agreements—you can make the most of this powerful tool.
For landlords and property managers who value accuracy, clarity, and legal protection, these safeguards are here to help—not hinder—your leasing process.
Have more questions about eLease or want support drafting your next lease? Our team is always here to help.
Explore eLeasing today at singlekey.com
