How do I create or upload a lease agreement with e-signing on Baselane?

Baselane allows you to create state-specific lease agreements, upload your lease documents, and add e-signing when needed — all in one place. Whether you're starting from scratch or finalizing signatures on a lease you’ve already prepared, Baselane helps you stay organized and compliant.

Included in this article:

• How to create a state-specific lease and send for e-signature ($10 per lease)

• How to upload a lease and send for e-signature ($5 per lease)

• How to upload a signed lease to your Baselane account (free)

• Frequently Asked Questions

How to create a state-specific lease and send for e-signature ($10)

1. Go to the Lease Agreements tab
   Navigate to the Lease Agreements tab in your Baselane dashboard.

2. Click New Lease Agreement and select Draft and E-Sign
   This option allows you to generate a state-specific lease powered by Rocket Lawyer.
   

3. Select the property
   You can choose an existing property or click Add Property to create a new one. Then click Continue to begin the lease setup

4. Add lease details

   • Choose lease type: Fixed term or Month-to-month

   • Enter the monthly rent amount

   • Select the rent due date

5. Enter tenant information

   • Manually enter the tenant’s first name, last name, email, and phone number, or

   • Select an existing tenant already in your account

   • Click Continue to proceed.

6. Click Customize and E-Sign to launch Rocket Lawyer
   A pop-up will prompt you to:

   • Enter your billing address

   • Add your payment method (debit or credit card only)

   • Optionally save your payment method for future use

7. Customize your lease to begin creating your state-specific lease. This will launch the Rocket Lawyer lease builder.

   • Landlord and tenant information: Enter both parties' full names, contact details, and addresses.

   • Lease terms
     Choose lease type, start/end dates, automatic renewal, and early termination clauses (e.g. if the property is sold).

   • Rent and payment policies
     Define the rent amount, due date, payment frequency, grace period, late fee type and amount, first month prorate or prepay, security deposit, and any other fees due upon signing.

   • Guest policy
     Enter the number of guests allowed and how long they may stay consecutively.

   • Renter’s insurance
     Indicate whether insurance is required and specify the coverage amount if applicable.

   • Smoking policy
     Note if smoking is prohibited.

   • Keys and access
     Record how many keys are provided, mailbox keys, and any fees for lost keys or lockout services.

   • Furnishings and amenities
     List any furnishings and note if tenants have access to parking, pool, or storage.

   • Utilities
     Specify who is responsible for which utilities.

   • Pet policy
     Indicate whether pets are allowed.

   • Dispute resolution clause
     Choose whether to include one.

   • Custom clauses and state-specific disclosures
     Depending on the state, required disclosures will be available as add-ons to include in your lease. You can add custom clauses to your state-specific lease once you've completed the initial setup.
     

   

8. Finalize and sign

   • Set the effective date (when the landlord and the tenant sign the lease)

   • Enter the legal name of the landlord 

   • Choose who will sign first

   • Add the names and emails of all parties (legal names of signatories and signing order) 

   • Add your signature (typed or drawn)

   • Click Sign Now, then Save, and send the lease with an optional message to your tenant(s)

     Important Note About Sending for Signature

     Once you've completed customizing your lease and selected "Send for signature," you will no longer be able to make edits to it. At this stage, the lease enters a "Signing in progress" status and is locked for changes to ensure document integrity. To avoid needing to void and recreate the lease, we strongly recommend the following workflow before initiating signatures:

     • • Within the lease document created or uploaded, click Actions on the draft lease
         
         

       • Select Export to download the lease as a PDF
         

       • Review the lease or send it to your tenant for review and feedback

       • If any updates are needed, make changes directly within the lease builder (step #7)

       • Once everything looks good, proceed to send for a signature

       • This ensures that both parties agree on the lease terms before signing and helps you avoid any disruption or additional costs, as once you are in the signing stag,e the lease can not be edited

9. Track completion status in the "Lease Agreements" tab
   
   
   • The lease will display as Signing in progress until all parties sign. Once completed, the status will update to Signing complete and be stored in your Baselane account under the Lease Agreements tab
     
     
   •  After completion, you can choose to set up rent collection for this lease or link it to an existing rent collection under View lease

How to upload a lease and send for e-signature ($5)

1. Go to the Lease Agreements tab
   Click New Lease Agreement, then select Upload (e-sign optional)

2. Upload your lease agreement
   Choose your lease file (PDF or DOC format). When prompted, answer No to “Is the lease already signed?”

3. Enter property and lease terms

   • Select the appropriate property

   • Choose lease type

   • Enter lease start and end dates

   • Click Save
     

4. Start the signature process

   • The lease will show as Ready to sign under 'your Lease agreements'

   • Select Start signing.
     
     

5. Add payment method and accept terms
   Before signing, a pop-up will ask you to:

   • Add a debit or credit card to pay the $5.00 e-sign fee per lease

   • Enter your billing address

   • Accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

   • Select Pay $5.00 & subscribe

    

6. Sign and send for signatures
   

   • Once paid, select Start Signing

   • Choose who signs first

   • Add your signature if selected to sign first (typed or drawn)

   • Click Sign Now, then Save
     

7. Track completion status in the "Lease Agreements" tab

   • Once the initial signer has signed the lease document, it will be available to review. The lease will display as Signing in progress until all parties sign.
   • Once completed, the status will update to Signing complete and be stored in your Baselane account under the Lease Agreements tab
   • After completion, you can choose to set up rent collection for this lease or link it to an existing rent collection from the Lease view

How to upload a signed lease for storage only (free)

1. Go to the Lease Agreements tab
   Click New Lease Agreement, then select Upload – E-sign optional.

2. Upload your signed lease
   Select the signed PDF or DOC lease file. When prompted, answer Yes to “Is the lease agreement already signed?”
   

3. Enter property and lease terms

   • Select the property and unit (if applicable)

   • Choose lease type

   • Enter lease start and end dates

   • Click Save to upload
     

4. View your lease
   From the lease agreement details, you can view the lease and set up rent collection or link it to an existing rent collection.
   
   

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to leases I created using the beta lease flow?

Leases created and drafted before April 8, 2025, will be automatically moved to the new Lease Agreements tab. These leases will not be linked to any existing rent collection; you will need to manually connect them if needed. Please note that leases from the beta experience cannot be edited once they’ve reached the signing step.

Can I edit or add a new email address once the lease is in signing in progress?

You can edit lease details and signatory emails before signing has started but not once the lease status is “Signing in progress.” Once a lease is in the signing process, the lease terms and email addresses cannot be edited. However, you may add additional signers to the lease after signing is in progress but before signing is complete.

Can collaborators create leases?
Yes, collaborators can fully create and manage leases. Banking access does not affect lease functionality.

Can multiple tenants sign the same lease?

Yes, you can invite multiple tenants to sign the lease. This is included in the e-signing fee. If you’re using Baselane’s state-specific lease powered by Rocket Lawyer, the fee is $10 per lease. If you’re uploading your lease and using e-signature only, the fee is $5 per lease.