Your landlord sends a tenancy agreement as a PDF and asks for a signed copy back by Friday. Printing, signing, scanning and emailing back is twenty minutes of fuss. An e-signature is two minutes. In the UK, it's also legally binding.
The UK legal position
Under the Electronic Communications Act 2000 and UK eIDAS (the Electronic Identification and Trust Services for Electronic Transactions Regulations 2016), an electronic signature has the same legal effect as a wet-ink one in most contexts. The Law Commission's 2019 report explicitly confirmed this for contracts.
There are three tiers under eIDAS: simple electronic signature (SES), advanced electronic signature (AES), and qualified electronic signature (QES). For most everyday commercial and consumer contracts, SES is enough. QES is needed for very specific cases (some property dealings, certain financial instruments) — for most documents, you don't need it.
Signing in Flint
Open Flint's signing tool, drop in the PDF, draw or type your signature, place it on the page, and download. The signed PDF goes back to your landlord as a normal email attachment.
Flint applies the signature and records the action with a date and time stamp. For documents requiring more than one signatory, you can request signatures from multiple people in sequence.
When you need more than a basic signature
If you're acting for someone else, transferring registered land, executing a deed, or in a few other specific cases, you may need a witness, an attestation, or a QES. Take advice — this isn't legal counsel, it's a starting point.
For commercial contracts, NDAs, employment paperwork, consent forms, and the vast majority of routine business, a basic e-signature is legally fine and what every counterparty expects.
FAQ
Is a typed name a valid e-signature in the UK?
Yes, provided it's intended as a signature. Courts have repeatedly upheld typed names, drawn signatures and clicked checkboxes as valid electronic signatures.
Do UK e-signatures need a witness?
Not for most contracts. Deeds traditionally need a witness — the Law Commission has clarified this can be done electronically too, with the witness physically present at the signing.
Is HMRC happy with e-signed documents?
Generally yes, for accounts, tax returns and most filings. Specific forms (some inheritance tax declarations) still require wet ink — check the form's notes.
Can I sign on a phone?
Yes. Flint runs in any modern browser, including mobile Safari and Chrome. Draw the signature with your finger and place it on the page.
Stop printing things you don't need to print. Sign the PDF in your browser and send it back.