Utilize our Lease Renewal Agreement to prolong the duration of an existing lease.
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District Of Columbia
A Lease Renewal Agreement is a document that allows a landlord to extend the current rental period with a tenant.
A Lease Renewal Agreement serves as a crucial document in the landlord-tenant relationship, providing a formal mechanism to extend the existing rental period. This legal form acts as an amendment to the original lease agreement, altering its expiration date while retaining the fundamental terms established initially.
While both serve to continue a rental contract, lease renewals and extensions differ in their nature. A lease renewal is essentially a new contract that updates the duration of the rental period and may introduce new terms. Conversely, a lease extension continues the current terms but extends the agreement beyond the original lease period.
Lease Renewal Terms:
While both serve to continue a rental contract, lease renewals and extensions differ in their nature. A lease renewal is essentially a new contract that updates the duration of the rental period and may introduce new terms. Conversely, a lease extension continues the current terms but extends the agreement beyond the original lease period.
Lease Extension Terms:
On the other hand, a Lease Extension Agreement maintains the same terms as the original lease but on an extended timeline. For instance, if a tenant anticipates a delay in closing on a new home, extending the existing lease for a few months might be a practical alternative to signing a new agreement.
A Lease Renewal Agreement is aptly employed when landlords or tenants wish to continue the current leasing arrangement or modify the existing lease terms. Whether seeking to communicate intentions, request changes to amenities, or adjust rent rates, this document offers a structured approach for both parties.
Additionally, landlords or tenants can leverage a lease renewal agreement to redefine the structure of an existing lease after it concludes. This is particularly useful when contemplating a switch to a short-term or month-to-month lease agreement, allowing for adjustments without restarting the entire rental application process.
Pros and Cons of Lease Renewals:
Opting for a lease renewal presents opportunities for both landlords and tenants. The ability to amend lease terms, increase rent, or maintain a consistent security deposit are among the advantages. However, it's essential to recognize that a lease renewal commits tenants to the entire lease term, potentially leading to tenant loss if they decline to renew. In such cases, a lease extension might be a more suitable alternative.
Initiating the lease renewal process ahead of the expiration date is crucial. While state and local laws define notice periods, providing intent at least 60 days in advance is generally recommended.
State and local laws often define how far in advance a landlord must provide notice of intent to renew or not renew before the lease expires (see table below).
State | Advance Notice of Renewal and Non-Renewal (Termination) of Lease | Citation |
Alabama | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Alabama Code § 35-9A-441 |
Alaska | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.290 |
Arizona | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Arizona Rev. Stat. § 33-1375 |
Arkansas | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Arkansas Code § 18-17-704 |
California | 60 days (yearly/fixed tenancies where tenant has lived at least one year) 30 days (yearly/fixed tenancies where tenant has lived less than one year) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | California Civ. Code §§ 1946-1946.1 |
Colorado | 91 days (tenancies one year or longer) 28 days (tenancies 6 months to less than one year) 21 days (tenancies 1 month to less than 6 months) 3 days (tenancies 1 week to less than 1 month) 1 day (tenancies less than 1 week) | Colorado Rev. Stat. § 13-40-107 |
Connecticut | 3 days (yearly/fixed tenancies) None (month to month tenancies) | Connecticut Gen. Stat. § 47a-23 |
Delaware | 60 days (yearly/fixed tenancies) 60 days (month to month tenancies) | 25 Delaware Code § 5106 |
District of Columbia | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | District of Columbia Code § 42-3505.54 |
Florida | 60 days (yearly/fixed tenancies) 15 days (month to month tenancies) | Florida Stat. § 83.57 |
Georgia | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 60 days for landlord (month to month tenancies) 30 days for tenant (month to month tenancies) | Georgia Code § 44-7-7 |
Hawaii | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 45 days for landlord (month to month tenancies) 28 days for tenant (month to month tenancies) | Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 521-71 |
Idaho | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 1 month (month to month tenancies) | Idaho Stat. § 55-208 |
Illinois | 60 days (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | 735 Illinois Comp. Stat. §§ 9/205, 207 |
Indiana | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Indiana Code §§ 32-31-1 et seq. |
Iowa | 30 days (tenancies longer than month to month) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Iowa Code § 562A.34 |
Kansas | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Kansas Stat. § 58-2570 |
Kentucky | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Kentucky Rev. Stat. § 383.695 |
Louisiana | 30 days (tenancies longer than one month) 10 days (month to month tenancies) | Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2728 |
Maine | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | 14 Maine Rev. Stat. § 6002 |
Maryland | 90 days (yearly/fixed tenancies) 60 days (month to month tenancies) | Maryland Real Prop. Code § 8-402 |
Massachusetts | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Massachusetts Gen. Law ch. 186 § 12 |
Michigan | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 1 month (month to month tenancies) | Michigan Comp. Laws § 554.134 |
Minnesota | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) Lesser of 3 months or the time interval between rental periods (month to month tenancies) | Minnesota Stat. § 504B.135 |
Mississippi | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Mississippi Code § 89-8-19 |
Missouri | 60 days (yearly/fixed tenancies) 1 month (month to month tenancies) | Missouri Rev. Stat. §§ 441.050-441.060 |
Montana | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Montana Code § 70-24-441 |
Nebraska | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Nebraska Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1437 |
Nevada | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Nevada Rev. Stat. § 40.251 |
New Hampshire | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | New Hampshire Rev. Stat. § 540:3 |
New Jersey | 3 months (yearly or at will tenancies) 1 month (month to month tenancies) | New Jersey Rev. Stat. § 2A:18-56 |
New Mexico | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | New Mexico Stat. § 47-8-37 |
New York | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 1 month (month to month tenancies) | New York Real Prop. Laws § 232-B |
North Carolina | 1 month (yearly/fixed tenancies) 7 days (month to month tenancies) | North Carolina Gen. Stat. § 42-14 |
North Dakota | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 1 month (month to month tenancies) | North Dakota Century Code § 47-16-15 |
Ohio | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17 |
Oklahoma | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | 41 Oklahoma Stat. § 41-111 |
Oregon | 30 days (yearly/fixed tenancies, different notice and qualifications for termination after the first year of occupancy) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Oregon Rev. Stat. § 90.427 |
Pennsylvania | 30 days (tenancies longer than one year) 15 days (tenancies one year or less) | 68 Pa. Stat. § 250.501 |
Rhode Island | 3 months (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 34-18-37 |
South Carolina | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | South Carolina Code § 27-40-770 |
South Dakota | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 1 month (month to month tenancies) | South Dakota Codified Laws § 43-8-8 |
Tennessee | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Tennessee Code § 66-28-512 |
Texas | 1 month (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Texas Property Code § 91.001 |
Utah | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 15 days (month to month tenancies) | Utah Code § 78B-6-802 |
Vermont | 60 days (tenancies two years or more) 30 days (tenancies two years or less) | 9 Vermont Stat. § 4467 |
Virginia | 90 days (yearly/fixed tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | Virginia Code § 55.1-1253 |
Washington | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 20 days (month to month tenancies) | Washington Rev. Code § 59.18.020 |
West Virginia | 3 months (year to year tenancies) 30 days (month to month tenancies) | West Virginia Code § 37-6-5 |
Wisconsin | None (yearly/fixed tenancies) 28 days (month to month tenancies) | Wisconsin Stat. § 704.19 |
Wyoming | No Statute |
Step 1: Send a Lease Renewal Letter
Landlords typically initiate the process by notifying tenants of their willingness to negotiate a renewal or extension. Tenants can also request these conditions, and if they choose not to renew, they should communicate their intent through written notice.
Step 2: Negotiate the Terms
Negotiations primarily rest with the landlord, but tenants can propose amendments. Once both parties agree, the terms are incorporated into the lease renewal agreement. If no changes occur, the agreement should state that the original lease remains unchanged.
Step 3: Gather Important Documents
While a lease renewal usually doesn't necessitate additional legal documents, it's prudent to compile crucial information, including the original lease agreement, the new rent amount, and any changes to terms and conditions.
Step 4: Sign the Lease Renewal Agreement
After agreement on the new terms, both parties sign the lease renewal agreement. It's imperative that everyone involved comprehends the new arrangement, and a copy of the renewed lease agreement should be retained by all parties.
A lease renewal agreement is essentially the>new, so following the correct steps to complete the form is essential.
Before you fill out your lease renewal agreement, note the state you are contracting in.
1. Date of Agreement. Provide the date of the lease renewal agreement.
2. Landlord Information. Enter the full landlord’s name and address. Note that this is not the address of the leased property.
3. Tenant Information. Enter the name and address of each tenant.
4. Date of Original Lease Agreement. Write the date of the original lease agreement (in most cases, the date the landlord and tenant signed the original contract).
5. End Date of Original Lease Agreement. Provide the lease term’s end (expiration) date under the original lease agreement.
6. Section Number of Original Lease Agreement. This is optional. You can specify a section or paragraph number in the original lease agreement allowing the lease term extension.
7. Start and End Dates. Write the start and end date of the new extended lease term.
8. Rent. State whether the rent for the new lease term changes or remains the same. If it changes, specify the new monthly rent.
9. Security Deposit. Choose whether or not there is any additional security deposit for the new lease term. If yes, state the amount of the other security deposit and when the amount is due by providing the number of days due from the start of the lease term.
10. Additional Provisions. This is optional. You can include any new provisions or modifications to existing terms in the original lease agreement.
11. Governing State Law. Our templates allow the state whose laws will govern the agreement to be pre-filled with your state of residence.
12. Landlord. The landlord provides a signature here as well as a full name.
13. Tenant(s). All tenants provide their signatures here, as well as their full names.
In conclusion, navigating the intricacies of a Lease Renewal Agreement demands a strategic and well-informed approach. By understanding the nuances and following best practices, both landlords and tenants can ensure a seamless continuation of their leasing relationship.
Pros include the opportunity to amend lease terms, increase rent, or maintain a consistent security deposit. However, the cons involve the commitment of tenants to the entire lease term, which might result in tenant loss if they decline to renew. In such cases, a lease extension might be more suitable.
Begin the process by sending a Lease Renewal Letter before the lease ends. State your intent to negotiate a renewal or extension, inquire about the tenant's interest in continuing, or specify that the lease will end as scheduled if no extension occurs.
State and local laws often define notice periods, but a best practice is to provide intent at least 60 days before the lease end date. However, adhere to specific notice requirements based on the applicable laws in your jurisdiction.