Do you need a Notarized Lease in NYC?

Real estate laws are constantly changing in New York City, leading to a source of confusion for would-be tenants as well as property owners. Do you need a New York State apostille or not?

Before we discuss whether you should get your lease notarized in New York City, let’s discuss the basics of leases.

New York City Leases

A lease is a signed contract between a property owner or their agent, and a prospective tenant. A lease is often a long, multi-page document outlining the expected rent and what amenities are included.  Checkout here to solve all of your issues related to Mobile Notary Service In Bronx New York.

A good lease will also provide legal protection to the leasing agent or property owner by outlining what they are, and are not, responsible for. Some leases explore worst-case scenarios, outlining what the property owner will do in the case of fire, insect infestation, flooding, appliance damage, and more.

In return for acknowledging what the property owner provides, a tenant signing a lease legally agrees to pay the amount described in rent and uphold any of the conduct listed in the lease.

Since it’s such an important document, do you need a notarized lease in NYC? It depends.

Lease Notarization in New York City

In most cases, you do not need a notarized lease in NYC. New York considers a lease to be a contract, and most contracts do not need to be notarized.

After all, a notarization by a New York State notary does not prove that the contract is legally binding. It simply proves that the people who signed the contract were who they said they were.

Other states, such as Ohio, do require leases over three years to be notarized. It is possible that New York will require a notarized lease in NYC in the future, but in the present, standard leases do not need to be notarized.

Special Lease Cases that Benefit from Notarization

Keep in mind that a lease does not have to be notarized to be legally binding. However, there are circumstances where notarization can benefit your peace of mind.

1) If your tenant has an ambiguous background check

If you’ve run a background check on your tenant and are not completely satisfied as to their identity, or their name has changed over the years, you may request notarization from an NYC notary as an additional measure of confidence in your tenant. However, regardless of their identity, if they have signed the lease, it is legally binding.

2) If you, as a tenant, want to modify the terms of the lease

If you wish to have the lease modified, first contact a lawyer to ensure that the modification would be legally binding. After that, having it notarized will establish to the property owner or agent that the lease modification was made under your own power. Click here to know about Traveling Notary Services In Bronx New York.

3) For forms related to a lease that aren’t the lease itself

If you are applying to a university and want to obtain residential rates, some universities require that their additional forms surrounding your lease or living situation need to be notarized. contact us for your free quote today.

Still have questions about what needs notarized? Don’t wait. Bronx Mobile Notary will be happy to answer your questions, and provides quick, courteous mobile notarization. Call (917) 468-6308 now!