Changing a Lease or Rental Agreement

As your relationship with your landlord unfolds, you may decide that certain terms in your lease or rental agreement need to be changed. The landlord may tell you orally that they will stop enforcing that part of the lease, but you should not rely on this type of promise. You never know if the building will change ownership or if the landlord will simply change their mind, and an oral change to a written agreement is hard to enforce. Instead, you should make the change to the lease in writing so that both sides have a record of it.

Removing a Term from a Lease

To remove a term from a lease, you can simply cross out the clause on a written copy of the lease (or delete it on the computer) and write in any language that is supposed to replace it. Then, the landlord and anyone else who needs to sign the lease will initial and date the changes. This version will then be just as binding on all of the parties as the original lease.

Adding a Term to a Lease

If you only need to add a minor clause or a small amount of language to your lease, you can use the process above. If the changes to the existing lease are substantial, on the other hand, the landlord may prefer to prepare a new agreement or an amendment (sometimes known as an addendum). This new or additional agreement then will need to be signed by all of the parties before it becomes binding.

Explore the Justia Lawyer Directory

Most changes to lease or rental agreements can be accomplished without a lawyer, and it may make the most sense to simply walk away if a landlord will not agree to an important change or addition. But sometimes a tenant may wish to consult with a lawyer experienced in landlord-tenant law in their area. Justia offers a lawyer directory to simplify researching, comparing, and contacting attorneys who fit your legal needs.

Last reviewed October 2023

Landlord - Tenant Law Center Contents