I don't know where do you live, but I'm happy that "you over there" do things with a handshake. Over "here" without a contract only a court of law can determine who is at fault when two sides (owner - tenant) have a fall-out. And a (proper) piece of paper protects both sides by stating the rights and obligations.
Verbal contracts do exist. But hey, a piece of paper with signatures looks sooooooo much better in a court of law :)
> But hey, a piece of paper with signatures looks sooooooo much better in a court of law :)
It does. But the parent post suggested that if there is no signed lease, tenant laws should not apply, and I tried to point out that it does not work that way.
Verbal contracts do exist. But hey, a piece of paper with signatures looks sooooooo much better in a court of law :)