Is it reliable to only sign an electronic contract when renting a house?

It depends on whether the electronic contract you signed is legally binding.

There are many forms of electronic contracts, but there are very few electronic contracts that are truly legally binding. The electronic contracts we often see include the following:

Use watermarks, visual stamps or even PS electronic signatures to sign contracts.

One party stamps the seal and scans it (via fax, QQ, WeChat, email, etc.) to the other party, print the sealed contract and then send it back.

For the electronic agreement generated by the website platform, the user only needs to click "Confirm".

In fact, these electronic contracts are not considered valid electronic contracts. They have no legal effect and can easily be tampered with during transmission or storage.

Whether an electronic contract is valid depends on whether it meets the following two conditions:

1. All parties signing the contract have undergone real-name authentication,

2. Yes Reliable electronic signature recognized under the Electronic Signature Act.

If the above two conditions are met, this electronic contract will have the same legal effect as a handwritten signature on a paper contract.

According to Articles 5 to 8 of the Electronic Signature Law, only electronic contracts that lock the true identity of the contracting party, effectively prevent document tampering, and accurately record the signing time are recognized by law.

General Internet platforms do not have information security authentication technology and reliable electronic signature technology. They cannot identify whether the identities of the signing parties are authentic, and cannot prevent electronic contracts from being tampered with during the signing, transmission and storage process. Therefore, the legal validity of electronic contracts cannot be ensured.

Therefore, electronic contracts signed with reliable electronic signatures through third-party electronic contract platforms are legal and valid.

We really need to be careful when renting a house. If the "electronic" contract we sign has low legal validity and is easy to be tampered with, we will be in a very passive and vulnerable position. Therefore, if you want to sign an electronic contract, you must sign an electronic contract signed with a reliable electronic signature that meets the requirements of laws and regulations.