Handwritten contracts are legally binding if they meet the necessary conditions that apply to all contracts: mutual agreement, capacity, consideration, and legal validity. There are no legal differences between typed and handwritten agreements when it comes to enforceability.
A rental agreement is a short-term contract between the owner of a property or landlord and a tenant. Generally, the contract is on a month-to-month basis and automatically renews unless written notice is given by either party to end the contract.
Once a lease is signed by both the tenant and the landlord, it becomes a legally binding contract. The terms of the lease for whatsoever reason should not be unilaterally changed by the landlord or property manager without the tenant's consent. Doing so would constitute a breach of the lease agreement.
Often, the terms “lease agreement” and “rental agreement” are used interchangeably to mean the same thing.
A contract is an agreement, but an agreement is not always a contract. An agreement can be informal or it may be written; a contract may be verbal or written, but a contract will always be enforceable if it contains certain requirements.