I have just signed a lease agreement that was handwritten and not notarized. I would like to know if it is legal. Thank you in advance.
FDVN’s opinion:
Regarding your request, after studying the legal provisions, FDVN Law Firm offers the following advice:
According to Clause 2, Article 122 of Law on housing 2014, “Regarding transactions in giving houses of gratitude; sale or lease-purchase of state-owned housing; sale or lease-purchase of social housing, housing serving the relocation; contributed housing which one entity of contracting parties is an organization; housing lease, lending, permission for stay, or authorization of housing management, it is not required to notarize or authenticate the agreement, unless contracting parties wish to notarize or authenticate the agreement”.
Notwithstanding the lease agreement is authenticated and/or notarized or not, as long as it meets the conditions of leasing transaction and complies with the regulations on the content and the form of the agreement under Article 121, Law on housing 2014, it is legal.
The lease agreement comes into effect at the time agreed by the parties. Otherwise, it takes effect on the date of signing. Please note that due to being not notarized and/or authenticated, the lessor should pay attention to the identification papers of the lessee to avoid risks.
On the other hand, the lessee should take a look at the lessor’s identification and other documents related to the house to check the legal status of the house. In case the lessor is authorized by the landlord, the power of attorney must be checked carefully.
Above is FDVN Law Firm's opinion regarding your request on the basis of studying legal regulations. Hopefully, FDVN's opinion will be helpful to you.
Legal expert: Nguyen Thi Lan Anh
FDVN Law Firm
CONTACT US
Lawyers in Da Nang:
99 Nguyen Huu Tho, Quan Hai Chau, Da Nang city
Lawyers in Hue:
336 Phan Chu Trinh, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue
Lawyers in Phu Quoc:
65 Hung Vuong, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc island district
Lawyers in Quang Ngai:
359 Nguyen Du, Quang Ngai City, Quang Ngai Province.
Lawyers in Ha Noi
45C Tran Quoc Toan, Tran Hung Dạo, Hoang Kiem, Ha Noi
Website: www.fdvn.vn www.fdvnlawfirm.vn www.diendanngheluat.vn www.tuvanphapluatdanang.com
Email: fdvnlawfirm@gmail.com luatsulecao@gmail.com
Phone: 0935 643 666 – 0906 499 446
Fanpage LUẬT SƯ FDVN: https://www.facebook.com/fdvnlawfirm/
Legal Service For Expat: https://www.facebook.com/fdvnlawfirmvietnam/
TỦ SÁCH NGHỀ LUẬT: https://www.facebook.com/SayMeNgheLuat/
DIỄN ĐÀN NGHỀ LUẬT: https://www.facebook.com/groups/saymengheluat/
Other Articles
- BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY (ABRIDGED TENTH EDITION) BY BRYAN A.GARNER
- CẤU TRÚC “NOT ONLY … BUT ALSO …”
- THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE DEAL: THE STRUCTURES THAT DEFINES A DECADE OF GLOBAL M&A BY HERMAN, HENRY & DOMINIC
- ACADEMIC LEGAL WRITING: LAW REVIEW ARTICLES, STUDENT NOTES, SEMINAR PAPERS, AND GETTING ON LAW REVIEW BY EUGENE VOLOKH
- THE CONTRACT COMPASS BASIS PRINCIPLES FOR DRAFTING AND READING EVERY AGREEMENT BY HERMAN, HENRY & DOMINIC
- CÔNG VĂN 7751/BNG-LS CỦA BỘ NGOẠI GIAO NGÀY 03 THÁNG 09 NĂM 2026 VỀ VIỆC TRIỂN KHAI THỰC HIỆN CÔNG ƯỚC APOSTILLE
- PRIVATE M&A NEGOTIATION A PRACTITIONER'S COMPANION TO THE SHARE PURCHASE, SUBSCRIPTION & SHAREHOLDER'S AGREEMENT BY HERMAN, HENRY & DOMINIC
- LITIGATION IN TWO WORLDS CIVIL AND CORMMERCIAL COURT PROCEDURE IN VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES: A PRACTITIONER'S COMPARATIVE GUIDE BY HERMAN, HENRY & DOMINIC
- HƯỚNG DẪN THỰC HIỆN LUẬT THƯƠNG MẠI ĐIỆN TỬ VÀ NGHỊ ĐỊNH 248/2026/NĐ-CP
- THE M&A DICTIONARY BY HERMAN, HENRY & DOMINIC
- THE CAMBRIDGE HANDBOOK OF PRIVATE LAW AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EDITED BY ERNEST LIM AND PHILLIP MORGAN
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY EDITED BY JYH-AN LEE, RETO M HILTY, AND KUNG-CHUNG LIU
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE LAW CYBERCRIME AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY EDITED BY DENNIS J. BAKER AND PAUL H. ROBINSON
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN LEGAL SYSTEMS (BRIDGING LAW AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGH AI) EDITED BY ERIONA CELA, NARASIMHA RAO VAJJHALA AND BEHROUZ ASLANI
- NGHỊ ĐỊNH 342/2026/NĐ-CP QUY ĐỊNH CHI TIẾT LUẬT THƯƠNG MẠI VÀ LUẬT QUẢN LÝ NGOẠI THƯƠNG VỀ HOẠT ĐỘNG MUA BÁN HÀNG HOÁ VÀ HOẠT ĐỘNG LIÊN QUAN TRỰC TIẾP ĐẾN MUA BÁN HÀNG HOÁ CỦA NHÀ ĐẦU TƯ NƯỚC NGOÀI, TỔ CHỨC KINH TẾ CÓ VỐN ĐẦU TƯ NƯỚC NGOÀI TẠI VIỆT NAM
- THE LAW OF INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS BY WOUTER WERNER, MARIEKE DE HOON AND ALEXIS GALÁN



