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title: How to activate contracts
description: How to activate contracts | Chekin Help Center
---

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# How to activate contracts

## In this brief guide we will explain how you can activate contracts in your Chekin account.

Chekin can send each guest a rental contract during online check-in, which they sign digitally. You can use Chekin's **standard contract**, already adapted to your property's country, or create your own **custom contract** with your clauses and automatic booking and guest data.

This article covers:

1. Creating a custom contract template
2. Turning on contracts for a property and assigning your template
3. Finding signed contracts

**Before you start**

- You need access to **Account Settings** in the Chekin dashboard.
- Have your contract text ready (for example, in a Word doc or HTML cod) so you can paste it in.

### **Activating contracts**

**Step 1:** You must first log in to your Chekin account from the web platform and navigate to ´Properties´. Select the property you would like to activate Contracts on.

![props](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/props.png?width=670&height=171&name=props.png)

**Step 2:** Navigate to ´Legal´

![legal](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/legal.png?width=670&height=189&name=legal.png)

**Step 3:** Scroll down to ´Contracts´ and activate the toggle.

![activate contracts](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/activate%20contracts.png?width=670&height=226&name=activate%20contracts.png)

**Step 4:** You can choose Standard or Custom

![type of contract](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/type%20of%20contract.png?width=670&height=162&name=type%20of%20contract.png)

**Step 5:** If you choose Standard you will need to fill out this form:

![form](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/form.png?width=670&height=502&name=form.png)

**Step 6:** If you choose Standard, you can also choose to add an extra clause (For example, rules of behaviour, entry rules, exit rules, etc.) or your signature here:

![sig](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sig.png?width=670&height=512&name=sig.png)

**Step 7:** If you choose Custom, you need to click on Configuration-contracts-Create New Template, it will bring you to Settings where you will need to create the template.

![create new template](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/create%20new%20template.png?width=670&height=503&name=create%20new%20template.png)

### Enter the contract details

Fill in the fields under **1. Enter contract details**:

| **Field** | **What to enter** | **Example** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Template name** | Internal name, only you see it. Use a clear name if you'll have several templates. | *Rental Agreement – Spain* |
| **Contract title** | The title guests see at the top of the contract. | *Short-Term Rental Agreement* |
| **Country** | The country the contract applies to. The variables list only appears after you choose a country. | *Spain* |

**Step 8:** Once in settings you will need to give the template a name under the field ´Template name´ (this name is for your reference so that in Step 14 you can choose the template you wish) and set a ´Contract title´ (your guests will see this title on the contract).

**![template](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/template.png?width=670&height=417&name=template.png)**

**Step 9a:** You will need to select the country where your property is located and then the variables will appear in the box on the right. 

![title](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/title.png?width=670&height=370&name=title.png)

**Step 9b:** The variables will now appear:

![variables](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/variables.png?width=670&height=413&name=variables.png)

Variables are placeholders that Chekin replaces with the real booking, guest and property details when it generates each contract. For example, {leader\_name} becomes the guest's first name.

To add a variable, either:

- **click it** in the **Variables to include on your contract** column on the right, or
- **type it** in the text between curly brackets, spelled exactly as it appears in the list, for example {check\_in\_date}.

**\*Available variables will depend on the Country selected**

**Example contract body**

*This agreement is made between {manager\_name}, manager of {housing\_name}*

*({housing\_address}, {housing\_city}, tourism registration no. {housing\_trn}),*

*and {leader\_name} {leader\_surname}, holder of {leader\_doc\_type} no. {leader\_doc\_number}.*

*Stay: from {check\_in\_date} to {check\_out\_date} for {number\_of\_guests} guests.*

*Booking reference: {booking\_reference}.*

*Total price: {price}. Security deposit: {deposit\_amount}.*

*The guest agrees to respect the house rules and to leave the property*

*in the same condition as on arrival.*

*Guest signature: {leader\_signature}*

*Manager signature: {manager\_signature}*

**Step 10:** You can add a variable to the Body of the contract by clicking on it from the Variables list on the right:

In **Body of the contract**, type or paste your contract text and clauses.

You can write it in two formats. Switch between them at the top right of the box:

 

- **Text** – plain text. The easiest option for most users.
- **HTML** – for custom formatting (bold, headings, tables, and so on). If you use HTML, remember to add the variables from the right-hand column to your HTML code as well.

![leader name](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/leader%20name.png?width=670&height=412&name=leader%20name.png)

**Step 11a:** Once you finish writing the body of the contract, you will need to select the properties that you would like to apply the contract to:

![select props](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/select%20props.png?width=670&height=407&name=select%20props.png)

 

**Step 11b:** Tick the properties you would like to apply the contract to:

![select props 2](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/select%20props%202.png?width=670&height=424&name=select%20props%202.png)

**Step 12:** Click ´Select´:

![select 2](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/select%202.png?width=670&height=354&name=select%202.png)

**Step 13:** Once you finish creating the template, make sure to save it at the bottom of the page:

![save-1](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/save-1.png?width=670&height=447&name=save-1.png)

**Step 14:** Once you finish creating the template in Settings, go back to Legal\>Contracts and choose it from the dropdown menu.

![dropdown](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dropdown.png?width=670&height=508&name=dropdown.png)

**Step 15:**  If you wish, you may use the same contract settings in different properties. You can do this by clicking on the button "**export settings to other properties**" and selecting the property you want to copy it to.

![export custom](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/export%20custom.png?width=670&height=523&name=export%20custom.png)

 

![standard export](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/standard%20export.png?width=670&height=518&name=standard%20export.png)

 

 

**Note:** Once the tool is activated, it will be automatically signed by your guests when they click ´sign form´

![sign form](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sign%20form.png?width=670&height=296&name=sign%20form.png)

**Note:** The guest can request a copy of the signed contract be sent to their email by clicking the ´send copy of contract via Email´ option. They will not be able to see a signed version until they click that box and then the ´sign form´ box.

![send contract](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/send%20contract.png?width=670&height=289&name=send%20contract.png)

If a guest would like to view the unsigned contract before they sign the form they can do so here:

![contract](https://support.chekin.com/hs-fs/hubfs/contract.png?width=670&height=277&name=contract.png)

 

**Note:** Once signed, the contract will appear in the **documents** tab in the "**contracts**" section.

[![](https://support.chekin.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/EpqjX2RsAo_5YH6oDLumYk3q0_SxshIYfo1784CiJ1H3vMBhUKX5muIBEpEAgKN71mhapvoFgBDTURt7axhyT_qar_sgk9uLSrxWbMpfa0Km5etb9GK1Ojy8KbMxGXykjs2dc_u9ZuP-i1SBJE7bW-2.png)](https://chekin-bc9fa61335b7.intercom-attachments-7.com/i/o/625695097/ed04697578886d0e178c7c04/EpqjX2RsAo_5YH6oDLumYk3q0_SxshIYfo1784CiJ1H3vMBhUKX5muIBEpEAgKN71mhapvoFgBDTURt7axhyT_qar_sgk9uLSrxWbMpfa0Km5etb9GK1Ojy8KbMxGXykjs2dc_u9ZuP-i1SBJE7bWjMuc6FmmSDVJZ6ZNRI9BZtEN0pwbqm8xFSBgICBrQ?expires=1756713600&signature=4d2bab90b653bb20f0e6f67b268969076fb2e0dcbb55b0d30a140398bd3ad2df&req=ciIiEMB7nYhYFb4f3HP0gCeMiTyc9wnxxpPnxCoN2yHQx636w55b%2B4XcaH24%0AVgns%2B0NLLMG0hlgshA%3D%3D%0A)

 

 

 FAQs

**The variables list is empty. Why?** Select a **Country** first. The variables load once a country is chosen.

 

**My property doesn't appear in "Select Properties".** Contracts aren't turned on for that property yet. Go to *Properties › \[your property\] › Legal › Contracts* and switch on **Activate contracts** (Part 2).

 

**A field shows up empty in the signed contract.** You probably used an optional variable (marked **(!)**), such as second surname, email or phone, and the guest didn't fill it in. Replace it with a mandatory field or rephrase the clause.

 

**Can I have different contracts for different properties?** Yes. Create one template per contract and assign each one to the right properties.

 

**Can I skip the contract for some bookings?** Yes. In the property's Contracts settings, add those channels under **Booking sources › Exempted booking sources**.

 

**I typed a variable and it isn't replaced.** Check the spelling and the curly brackets. The variable must match the list exactly, for example {check\_in\_date}, not {Check-in date} or \[check\_in\_date\].

 

Need help? Contact our support team from the chat in your dashboard.

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