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Real estate

Industry solution

Contract and document management in the real estate sector has been made simple.

The use of electronic signatures in the real estate sector has made significant progress in recent years and offers numerous advantages. In particular, using electronic signatures enables processes to be optimized, time and costs to be saved, and work to be made more accessible. Swisscom Trust Services offers a broad portfolio of signature levels that can be individually adapted to customers' needs.

The different signature levels vary according to requirements and needs. For example, a qualified electronic signature (QES) is required to terminate a tenancy agreement. In contrast, a simple electronic signature (EES) is sufficient for the service charge statement or tenant self-disclosure.

Swisscom Trust Services offers various signature levels and advanced security functions for identification and authentication. Our experts will happily advise you and work with you to find the right solution for your requirements.

Regulation in the real estate sector

In Europe, the European General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) has been in force since 2018 and sets out a uniform data protection framework for all EU member states. The EU GDPR applies to all companies and organizations that process the personal data of EU citizens, including real estate companies.

Real estate companies that process personal data in digital form must ensure that they comply with the requirements of the EU GDPR. These include, among others:

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Compliance with the principles of personal data processing

Personal data must be processed lawfully, transparently, and precisely. In addition, the data must be kept up to date and adequately protected.

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Obligation to respect the data protection rights of data subjects

Real estate companies must ensure that data subjects are informed and can exercise their data protection rights.

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Ensuring data security

Real estate companies must take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data adequately.

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Data breach notification

Real estate companies must notify the competent supervisory authority within 72 hours of discovery in case of data breaches that pose a risk to data subjects.

Applications for tenancy agreements

Electronic signatures are a critical digitization that significantly benefits the real estate industry. Here are the most important use cases:

  • Rentals: The electronic signature is often used for rental agreements, contract renewals, terminations, and reservations. It also facilitates the transfer of powers of attorney and change of ownership of contracts for water supply, electricity, telephone, internet connection, and natural gas.

  • Purchase/sale: The electronic signature plays a crucial role in signing contracts for the purchase and sale of real estate, including sales orders and arrangements for publishing advertisements on real estate portals and real estate inventories.

  • Internal documents: Real estate offices use electronic signatures for various internal documents, including financial, commercial, personnel, and legal records.

  • Residential property management: Management companies use electronic signatures to efficiently handle tenancy agreements, repair and maintenance contracts, and minutes of owners' meetings.

  • Mortgages and financing: Electronic signatures enable quick and secure mortgage and other financial documents exchange between buyers, sellers, and lenders. This speeds up the process and reduces the risk of errors.

  • Insurance: Both buyers and renters require various insurance policies, and electronic signatures can significantly simplify applying for and approving these policies.

  • Inspection reports: During property inspections, agents often produce reports or minutes that need to be signed by potential buyers or tenants. The electronic signature makes it possible to digitize this process, resulting in a faster and more efficient transaction.

  • Exclusivity agreements: In many real estate transactions, exclusivity agreements are signed stating that a particular agent has the exclusive right to sell or rent a property. Electronic signatures can significantly simplify the process of signing and managing these agreements.

  • Deposits: Rental agreements often require a security deposit. Electronic signatures can simplify signing deposit agreements and managing the related documentation.

  • Condominium management: Condominium management companies, which often need to process a variety of documents such as tenancy agreements, repair and maintenance contracts, and minutes of owners' meetings, can benefit from the use of QES. Using QES can improve document management efficiency while ensuring all necessary documents are correctly signed and stored.

  • Mortgages and financing: Mortgages and financing are other areas where electronic signatures can be helpful. Using QES, lenders and borrowers can sign and exchange mortgage contracts and other financial documents quickly and securely, making the real estate financing process more efficient and convenient.

  • Real estate development and construction: Real estate developers and construction companies often need to manage various contracts and documents, such as land purchase agreements, construction contracts, permits, and licenses. QES can help streamline these processes and ensure all necessary documents are correctly signed and stored.

  • Legal advice and disputes: Real estate professionals must often manage various legal documents, such as powers of attorney, letters of claim, and settlement agreements. QES can help streamline these processes and ensure all necessary documents are correctly signed and stored.

Products and solutions

Electronic signature

  • Embedded remote signature software through easy standardized API's
  • Enables partner applications to implement electronic signature processes on digital documents
  • eIDAS- and ZertES-compliant qualified and advanced electronic signatures

Electronic seal

  • Easily integratable white-label sealing solution
  • Enables partner applications to implement electronic sealing processes
  • Qualified resp. regulated and advanced e-seals compliant with eIDAS & ZertES for public institutions and companies

Identification

  • Largest selection of identification methods for electronic signature registration solutions (compliant with eIDAS and ZertEs)
  • Enables seamless integration into partner applications, offering a digital signature experience tailored to the customer’s needs

Authentication

  • Wide range of authentication solutions available as approval methods for electronic signatures.
  • Allows partner applications to implement a signature process where signatories can register for their preferred approval method.

Competent support in all phases

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The industry experts at Swisscom Trust Services analyze the needs, problems, and previous processes of interested parties in detail before preparing an offer. Depending on the use case, this can consist of integrating a standardized (partner) solution or development tailored to the use case.

 

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