Renewing with tenant
Does a lease have to be notarized? My tenant has been living in the apartment for 3 years, and we are about to sign a lease renewal for the 2nd time. Is it acceptable for both tenants to sign and initial each page? I realize I do not have a notarized lease and am wondering…
Does a lease have to be notarized? My tenant has been living in the apartment for 3 years, and we are about to sign a lease renewal for the 2nd time. Is it acceptable for both tenants to sign and initial each page? I realize I do not have a notarized lease and am wondering if that could turn out to be a problem in the future. Thanks for any advice.
I believe that the standard printed leases have a line for a witness that any third party can sign.
Wrong, ysabelle…how the hell would the notary KNOW whether ‘its true’ or not? The notary verifies that the signatories are who they say they are (based on ID). Most notaries barely glance at the actual document.
I’ve rented a dozen different apartments and never had to notarize a lease, nor have I heard of anyone else doing it.
Ok, consensus seems to be not to sign lease in front of a notary.
notarizing a document is not for verifying who you are. Its for your statement being true.
I doubt the above, since notarizing something is mostly an added proof of identity of the signatures, but the answer is it does not have to be.
Don’t ever notarize a lease. I have heard that any time a document is notarized, a tenant can file it with the property records and use it as an “encumbrance” on your property. Signing it is good enough.