May be used for residential and commercial property.
How to Renew a Lease (4 steps)
1. Write Notice
Depending on the landlord’s preference, a simple lease renewal may be sent to the tenant or the landlord may decide to re-write an entirely new lease agreement to the tenant. If the landlord decides on the latter, a letter should be sent to the tenant stating the following:
LETTER OF INTENT TO RENEW LEASE
[Landlord’s Name]
[Landlord’s Address]
[Landlord’s City, State]
[Landlord’s Zip][Date]
Dear [Tenant’s Name],
It is our intention to renew your lease dated [Original Lease Date] that will end on [End Date of Lease]. You have shown to be a model tenant and would offering to renew your lease for an additional [Enter Term] at the monthly rental rate of [Enter Rent ($) Amount]
If you accept this offer, please contact our office by [Enter Date].
Sincerely,
[Landlord’s Signature]
2. Send Notice
It’s recommended to send the letter at least 30 days before the expiration date. The landlord may send the letter themselves or use websites like MailaLetter.com ($1.99 for 1-page).
3. Wait for the Tenant to Respond
The tenant will be required to respond within the timeframe outlined in the letter. Depending on circumstances, the tenant may decide to make a counter-offer to the landlord. If so, it may be better to schedule a meeting with the tenant to come to terms and come to a verbal agreement.
4. Write the New Lease
If the terms of the lease are mostly the same as the original, a simple 1-page lease renewal agreement may be signed by the parties. If the new lease has many changes, i.e. a tenant has changed, the landlord has changed, the tenant has moved to a new unit in the building, etc. a new lease agreement should be authorized amongst the parties.
Renewal vs. Extension
A renewal is treated legally as an entirely new agreement where an extension is simply prolonging the end date of the original agreement.
Actions | Renewal | Extension |
Extending the Lease Term | Recommended | Recommended |
Increasing Rent | Recommended | Not recommended |
Adding Terms & Conditions | Recommended | Not recommended |
Notice to Not Renew a Lease
Lease Non-Renewal Letter – To inform a tenant that the landlord does not wish to renew the lease agreement.
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
Sample Lease Renewal Agreement
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument