Creating Leases
How automatic lease creation works in Rentigo
Unlike traditional property management software, Rentigo doesn't have a manual "Create Lease" form. Instead, leases are automatically created through the tenant invitation process, ensuring data integrity and proper tenant-property linking.
This approach ensures every lease in your system is connected to a verified tenant with portal access — no orphaned records or manual data entry errors.
The Automatic Process
Invite a Tenant
From any property, click Invite Tenant and fill in:
- Tenant's email address
- Lease start date
- Lease end date (optional for month-to-month)
- Monthly rent amount
Tenant Receives Invitation
The tenant receives an email with a link to register (or log in if they already have an account).
Tenant Accepts
When the tenant clicks the link and completes registration, the lease is automatically created using the dates and rent amount you specified.
Lease Activates
The lease becomes active and:
- Monthly rent records are generated automatically
- Tenant gains portal access to that property
- Deposit tracking becomes available
- Meter submission is enabled (if configured)
Why Automatic Creation?
This design prevents common issues:
| Issue | How Automatic Creation Prevents It |
|---|---|
| Orphaned leases | Every lease has a verified tenant |
| Data entry errors | Tenant info comes from registration |
| Missing portal access | Tenants automatically get access |
| Duplicate records | System prevents overlapping leases |
Lease Configuration Options
When sending the invitation, you can configure:
Required Fields
- Email Address — Where to send the invitation
- Start Date — When occupancy begins
- Rent Amount — Monthly payment amount
Optional Fields
- End Date — Leave blank for month-to-month agreements
- Personal Message — Custom note included in the invitation email
You can backdate the start date if you're adding an existing tenant to Rentigo. The lease will be created with the historical start date.
Month-to-Month Leases
For flexible arrangements without a fixed end date:
- Leave the End Date field empty when inviting
- The lease will remain "Active" indefinitely
- Terminate manually when the tenant moves out
Existing Tenants
If you manage multiple properties and want to assign an existing tenant to a new property:
- Navigate to the new property
- Click Invite Tenant
- Enter the tenant's existing email address
- They'll receive an invitation to accept the new lease
- No new account needed — they use their existing login
A single tenant can have leases for multiple properties simultaneously.
After Lease Creation
Once the lease is active:
Automatic Features
- Rent Generation — Monthly rent entries created on the 1st (or configured date)
- Status Tracking — Lease status updates automatically based on dates
- Expiration Alerts — Notifications sent 30 days before end date
Available Actions
- Upload Documents — Attach signed lease PDFs
- Track Deposits — Record security deposit payments and deductions
- Renew — Send a renewal invitation when approaching expiration
- Terminate — End the lease early if needed
Document Management
After the lease is created, you can attach important documents:
Navigate to Lease
Go to Leases and select the active lease.
Upload Documents
Click Add Document and select your PDF file (signed lease agreement, addendums, etc.).
OCR Scanning (Optional)
For Pro users, click Scan Document to automatically extract:
- Lease dates
- Rent amount
- Tenant information
- Property address
Rentigo will alert you to any discrepancies between the document and your records.
Tenants can view uploaded documents from their portal, so you don't need to email copies separately.
Renewals
When a lease is approaching expiration:
- Go to the lease details page
- Click Renew Lease
- Adjust dates and rent amount for the new term
- Send the renewal invitation
The tenant accepts through the same process, and a new lease record is created with the updated terms. The old lease is marked as "Ended."
Common Questions
Can I create a lease without a tenant?
No. Leases require a tenant to exist. Use the invitation process to create both simultaneously.
What if the tenant never accepts?
The invitation expires after 7 days. You can resend it or cancel and invite someone else. No lease is created until acceptance.
Can I edit lease terms after creation?
You can upload documents and manage deposits, but core terms (dates, rent) cannot be changed after creation. For changes, terminate the current lease and create a new one.
What about existing tenants I'm migrating to Rentigo?
Invite them with backdated start dates. When they accept, the lease is created with the historical dates, preserving your records.
Next Steps
- Status Tracking — Monitor lease lifecycle
- Deposits — Tracking security deposits
- Rent Tracking — Managing rent payments