Sometimes a lease needs to be pulled back before it's fully signed — whether you're the landlord canceling a signature request or a resident who isn't ready to sign. Here's how each works.
Landlord Canceling a Signature Request
What does "Cancel signing" actually do?
It withdraws the current e-signature request:
Any signatures already collected are removed
Every other signer loses access to the document
The lease reverts from Awaiting signature back to Ready to sign — a draft you can edit and resend
It does not delete the lease or its filled-in answers.
Please note: A signing request can only be canceled while at least one signer hasn't signed yet. Once everyone has signed, the lease is complete and the request can't be canceled anymore.
Does canceling terminate the tenancy?
No. This only cancels a pending signature request on a lease that hasn't been fully executed. Terminating a fully signed, active lease requires a separate process.
Who can cancel a signing request?
The landlord or account owner who sent the signing request.
Where do I cancel a signing request?
Either works the same way:
From the Agreements list — click the ⋮ menu next to the lease, then Cancel signing
From inside the open document — Actions → More options → Cancel request
Will the tenant be notified if I cancel?
Yes, if you select a cancellation reason when prompted:
There was an error in the document
I changed my mind
A signer has changed their mind
Other
The other signers get an automated email explaining who canceled and why. Selecting a reason is optional but recommended.
If someone already signed before I canceled, do they need to sign again?
Yes. Any signature already captured is discarded, and that signer will need to re-sign after you resend the request.
How do I resend the lease after canceling?
Edit the document first if terms need correcting — Actions → Edit document
Use Actions → Sign now to relaunch the signer flow and send a fresh invite
Resident Declining to Sign
What happens if a resident declines to sign?
The lease isn't automatically canceled — it stays in Awaiting signature status. Both the resident and landlord are notified by email, and the landlord decides whether to follow up, edit and resend, or cancel the request.
How does a resident decline?
From the emailed "Please sign" link, open the Actions menu on the document
Click Decline to sign, confirm
Optionally select or type a reason, then click Decline request
Is declining final — can the resident change their mind?
No. The resident can still click Sign the document from their confirmation email at any time, unless the landlord cancels the signing request first.
Will I be able to tell a lease was declined just by looking at the Agreements list?
Not directly — the list still shows Awaiting signature with no separate "Declined" status. Check the notification email from Rocket Lawyer, or open the document to see the decline and any reason given.
What should I do after a resident declines?
Review the reason, if given, reply to the resident to resolve the issue, and edit the lease if changes are needed. Then either let the resident sign the existing request once it's fixed, or cancel the signing request and send a fresh one.
Is giving a reason required when declining?
No, it's optional for the resident, but providing one gives the landlord much faster context than a bare decline.