Lease Addendums – By Type
Depending on what provisions you want to add to your lease, you can use a customized lease addendum template that meets your needs.
Addendums for General Lease Changes
Use these general lease change forms to update key terms like the lease length, rent amount, or other conditions.
Extends your lease beyond its original end date.
Lease Extension Addendum
Converts a fixed-term lease into a month-to-month tenancy while keeping all other provisions the same.
Month-to-Month Addendum
Details an increase or decrease in the rent amount.
Rent Increase (Rent Change) Lease Addendum
Expands upon an existing lease with extra rules or disclosures.
Residential Lease Addendum
Lease Addendums for Lifestyle & Living Conditions
Set clear rules around lifestyle and living conditions, such as whether pets are allowed, smoking is permitted, or a swimming pool is included.
Lets a tenant know the specific rules for having a pet on your property.
Pet Addendum
Prohibits tenants from smoking on the premises.
Smoking Addendum
Outlines the terms related to the use, care, and maintenance of the swimming pool or hot tub.
Swimming Pool & SPA Addendum
Lease Addendums for Property Condition & Modifications
Disclose important health/safety information or permit tenants to make changes to the property.
Provides information related to bed bug infestations on the leased premises.
Bed Bug Addendum
Defines the types of alterations the tenant is allowed to make to the leased property.
Improvements and Modifications Lease Addendum
Outlines tenant responsibilities for preventing mold growth and requiring prompt reporting of any sightings to the landlord.
Mold Lease Addendum
Lease Addendums for Legal & Safety Protocols
Enhance safety measures and address specific tenant rights or protections required by law.
Establishes the illegal activity and drug policies of a rental property.
Crime and Drug Free Lease Addendum
Used by military personnel to terminate their lease early without penalty if they receive relocation orders or are called to active duty.
Military Lease Addendum
What Is a Lease Addendum?
A lease addendum is a document you attach to your original lease to introduce additional provisions. It does not modify the original content, so all the initial clauses remain effective. Once the landlord and tenant sign the addendum, it becomes an integral and legally binding part of the original lease.
Your initial lease should include all key clauses, but due to changes over time, you may need to implement new terms. Addenda can fulfill purposes like recording pet policies and clarifying maintenance duties. You can also use them to introduce minor additions without writing a new lease.
Addendum vs. Amendment
An addendum adds to a lease, while an amendment updates existing lease terms. Read our guide to learn more about the differences between an addendum and an amendment.
Is a Disclosure a Lease Addendum?
It can be, but not all disclosures are lease addenda. With a disclosure, a landlord merely fulfills their legal obligation to inform tenants about specific issues. An addendum adds to the terms of the original lease.
Many states and even local cities require landlords to disclose certain information to tenants. For example, New York City landlords must disclose bedbug history, and Section 83.49 of the Florida Statutes requires that landlords provide a specific disclosure about holding advance rent and security deposits. Federal law mandates that all landlords provide information about lead-based paint for residences built before 1978.
How to Add an Addendum to a Lease
Adding an addendum helps you update your release to contain your most current terms. Learn how to add an addendum to a lease below.
Step 1 – Check the Original Lease
Read over your current lease to see what it says about addenda. Ensure there are no clauses that prohibit addenda or restrict their implementation.
Some leases have clauses that specify conditions under which addenda are permissible, so you must follow these if applicable. For example, you may be limited in the topics you can address and formatting requirements.
Step 2 – Talk to the Tenant
Schedule a meeting with your tenant to discuss the new addition to the lease. Consider both parties’ interests and concerns, working together to reach a consensus on the new terms. An in-person discussion can ensure your tenant understands the new terms you want to implement. They can ask questions and negotiate, and you can work with them to reach a mutual agreement.
Tenants may wonder, “Do I have to sign a lease addendum?” In most cases, they are not legally obligated to do so. All parties must consent to and sign the addendum for it to be valid. Otherwise, it is not enforceable.
Step 3 – Write the Addendum
After discussing the addendum with your tenant and ensuring it’s legally enforceable, you can review how to write a lease agreement addendum. Legal Templates’s guided form ensures you include the following key elements:
- Date: Fill out the date when the addendum was created.
- Parties’ details: Provide the landlord’s and tenant’s names and contact information.
- Original lease date: Specify when the original lease was entered into.
- Property location: Clarify the address to which the addendum will apply.
- Addendum details: State what the addendum is. Give a complete description and provide a reason for the new lease addition. Clearly identify the location of the addendum in the lease to avoid confusion, i.e., “Exhibit A.”
- Clarifying statement: Clarify that all other lease provisions will remain unaffected.
Step 4 – Sign & Execute the Addendum
Let the tenant review the written addendum. If they agree with its contents and have no questions, they should sign their name. You must also sign as the landlord. With both parties’ signatures, the addendum is enforceable.
Attach the addendum to the existing lease. Enforce the addendum’s terms, and refer to the written document if any issues arise.
Lease Addendum Sample
View our free lease agreement addendum sample to learn what it looks like. Then, fill out our printable lease addendum template. Available to download as a PDF or Word file.
What Happens If a Party Breaks a Lease Agreement Addendum?
Similar to a lease agreement, addendum rules are legally binding. Failure to comply with an addendum can constitute a breach. In such cases, a tenant may face eviction from the property for non-compliance. Conversely, if a landlord fails to uphold the terms of an addendum, the tenant may be entitled to terminate the lease without penalties or obligations, or may have other legal recourse, such as seeking financial damages.
