Rent Extension Addendum
Lease almost up and both sides want to stay the course? A rent extension addendum, also called a lease extension addendum, pushes the end date out and keeps the current lease in force. Free in all 50 states.
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A rent extension addendum is a short document that extends an existing lease past its original end date. It attaches to the current lease and moves the end date to a new one. Every other term stays in place unless you change it on purpose. Both the landlord and the tenant sign. Because it keeps the original lease alive, it is simpler than writing a whole new agreement.
Key Takeaways
- It moves one date: the end date, and nothing else unless you say so.
- The original lease lives on: its terms carry straight into the extended period.
- Both parties sign: an extension is a mutual agreement, not a notice.
- Rent can stay or change: set the figure for the extended term in the addendum.
- Writing matters: an extension past a year must be in writing to be enforceable.
How to write a rent extension addendum
The whole job, start to done.
- 1
Identify the original lease
Name the lease you are extending by its signing date and the property address, so the addendum clearly attaches to it.
- 2
State the new end date
Give the date the extended term runs to. This single date is the heart of the addendum.
- 3
Set the rent for the extended term
State the rent that applies during the extension, whether it is unchanged or higher, and say when the new figure starts.
- 4
Note any other change, or none
Keep it to the dates and rent if you can. For anything else, use a separate lease amendment so each change is clear.
- 5
Confirm the rest carries over
State that all other terms of the original lease stay in full force, so nothing is left in doubt.
- 6
Both sign before the term ends
Have the landlord and tenant sign and date the addendum before the current term expires, and keep a copy each.
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Most popularWhat if it's not that simple?
The situations that actually trip people up.
Can I just write the new end date on the original lease by hand?
You can, if both parties initial and date the change. A separate signed addendum is cleaner and far harder to dispute later.
What if we already went month-to-month after the lease ended. Do we still need this?
If you are happy staying month to month, no. But if you both want a fixed term again, a holdover will not give you that. Sign an extension addendum, or a new lease, to lock in a set end date and rent.
The extension pushes our total term past a year. Does it have to be in writing?
Yes. Under the Statute of Frauds, a lease or an extension that runs longer than one year must be in writing to be enforceable. It must also be signed by the party being held to it. The addendum is that writing.
What if our lease has an option to renew or an auto-renewal clause. Do we need an addendum at all?
Maybe not, but it rarely hurts. If the clause already extends the lease on set terms, you may only need to exercise it in writing. Still, several states require advance notice before an automatic renewal takes effect, and some cap the renewal length. A signed addendum removes the guesswork about what the new term and rent actually are.
Does the security deposit carry over, or do we collect a new one?
It carries over. The original deposit stays in place through the extended term unless the addendum says otherwise.
How a rent extension addendum works
A rent extension addendum does one job well. It takes the lease you already have and runs it longer, from the current end date to a new one you both pick. It does not rewrite the deal. The rent, the rules, and the responsibilities in your original standard lease keep applying through the extended term.
That is the whole point of using an addendum instead of a fresh lease. An addendum incorporates the original lease by reference, so you do not retype pages of terms that are not changing. You change the end date, confirm the rent, and sign. Everything else stays exactly as it was.
An extension is a two-way agreement. Both the landlord and the tenant sign, which is what separates it from a notice one side serves on the other. If either party does not want to continue, there is no extension, and the lease simply ends on its original date. To end things on purpose instead, use a lease termination.
Rent is the one number worth settling up front. You can hold it flat to keep a good arrangement going. You can also set a higher figure for the extended term and write it right into the addendum. If rent is the only thing changing and the dates are not, a rent amendment or a rent increase letter fits better.
Keep other changes out of it, or use the right tool. An extension is for time, not for reworking the rules. Changing a pet policy, adding an occupant, or adjusting parking on a lease you are not extending belongs in a lease amendment. Bundling unrelated changes into an extension is how the two parties end up remembering the deal differently.
Sign before the current term ends. If the term lapses and the tenant stays on with the landlord's consent, most states treat the tenancy as month-to-month by default. That default runs on the old terms. That is a rollover, not a fixed extension. If you both wanted a set term, sign the addendum while the lease is still live.
Mind the Statute of Frauds. A lease, or an extension that carries the total term past one year, generally must be in writing and signed to be enforceable. A handshake extension of a long lease is the kind of promise a court may not enforce. A signed addendum is that writing, which is the simplest reason to put it on paper.
Know the difference from a renewal. People use the words loosely, but they differ. An extension keeps the same lease running, while a lease renewal often starts a fresh agreement. If you want to keep the current paper and just buy more time, the extension addendum is the lighter choice.
What a rent extension addendum includes
· A reference to the original lease: by its date and the property address.
· The parties and property: the landlord, the tenant, and the unit.
· The new end date: the date the extended term runs to.
· The rent for the extended term: the same figure or a new one.
· Any terms that change: kept to a minimum, if any at all.
· What carries over: the rest of the original lease, unchanged.
· Signatures: both parties sign and date.
Extend, renew, or amend? Pick the right document
These documents get mixed up constantly. The question that sorts them is simple: does your original lease stay in force, or get replaced? An extension and a month-to-month rollover both continue the tenancy, but only the signed extension locks in a fixed term. A lease or extension running past one year generally must be in writing under the Statute of Frauds.
| Document | What it changes | Original lease stays in force? | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent extension addendum | The end date, and rent if you choose | Yes, carried forward by reference | You both want more time on the same deal |
| Lease renewal | Starts a new term, often fresh terms | Usually replaced by the new one | You want a clean new term or bigger changes |
| Lease amendment | A specific term, such as pets or occupants | Yes, only the named term changes | You need to change a rule now, not the dates |
| Rent amendment | The rent amount only | Yes, rent changes, dates do not | Rent is the only thing moving |
| New standard lease | Everything; a full standalone contract | No, it supersedes the old lease | Terms change a lot or you want a fresh start |
| Month-to-month rollover | Nothing; the term just lapses | Converts to a periodic tenancy | Neither side signs and the tenant stays on |
Rent extension addendum FAQ
Is a rent extension addendum the same as a lease renewal?+
Do both the landlord and tenant have to sign?+
How long can we extend the lease for?+
Do the original lease terms still apply during the extension?+
Can we raise the rent in an extension addendum?+
Is an addendum better than signing a brand-new lease?+
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