What is the difference between a lease amendment and an addendum?

An addendum usually adds terms when a lease is signed, such as parking or pet rules. An amendment changes a lease that is already in effect. Both are signed by the landlord and tenant.

Do both the landlord and the tenant have to sign?

Yes. An amendment records a change both sides agreed to, so it has a signature block for the landlord and each tenant. Keep a signed copy with the original lease.

Can I use an amendment to raise the rent?

Yes, if the tenant agrees. Without the tenant's agreement, a mid-lease increase may not be allowed, and rent increase rules differ by state and city, so check yours first.

Does this replace my original lease?

No — it modifies specific terms; the original lease remains in effect for everything not changed.

Can I change it after I unlock it?

Yes. You can correct key details on the preview page up to 3 times in the first 24 hours after unlocking, and you can edit the Word (DOCX) file yourself at any time.

Is this legal advice?

No — LeaseCraft provides professional DIY documents. Consult an attorney for complex situations.

Lease Amendment Generator

Changes one term of an existing lease in writing and keeps the rest of the lease in force.

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General-purpose template. Not reviewed for your state's specific requirements.

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Three steps from blank form to a document you can sign.

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Answer plain-language questions about the property, the people and the terms.
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What a Lease Amendment is

A lease amendment changes a lease that the landlord and tenant have already signed. Instead of rewriting the whole lease, it identifies the original lease by date, parties and property, states the term being changed and the date the change takes effect, and confirms that every other term continues to apply.

The wizard asks what you are changing: the monthly rent, who lives in the property, pets, parking, responsibility for utilities, or another term you describe. For a rent change it records the current and the new amount. The amendment says that it controls only as to the term it changes, that it does not extend or shorten the lease term, and that it does not waive anything owed before it took effect. Landlord and tenant sign it.

A rent increase in the middle of a fixed-term lease generally needs the tenant's agreement, and some states and cities limit rent increases or require advance notice. If the tenant has not agreed to the change, a notice may be the right document instead.

When to use it

Landlord and tenant agree to change the rent before the lease ends.
A roommate moves in or out and the lease should name who lives there.
You are adding or ending permission for a pet or a parking space.
You agree to move a utility from the landlord to the tenant, or the reverse.

What to have ready

You will need answers to these 7 required questions, spread over 4 steps. The questionnaire also has optional questions, and some answers lead to follow-ups. Your answers are kept in this browser for 24 hours, so you can come back and finish (how saving works).

Landlord & tenant
- Who is the landlord?
- Who is the tenant?
- What is the rental property address?
The lease being amended
- What is the date of the lease being amended?
- When does this amendment take effect?
What is changing
- Which term is changing?
State
- Which state is this document for?

What your Lease Amendment includes

Parties, property and the date of the original lease
Background: why the lease is being amended
The amended term and its effective date
All other terms unchanged (ratification)
Governing law
Landlord and tenant signatures

Why build it from your answers?

A blank form leaves you to work out what belongs on each line. The wizard asks for the facts your Lease Amendment needs, builds the document from your answers, and lets you check the preview before you unlock the editable Word and PDF files. The preview is free, and the files come with a LeaseCraft membership ($2.99/month or $19.99/year).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about this document type.

An addendum usually adds terms when a lease is signed, such as parking or pet rules. An amendment changes a lease that is already in effect. Both are signed by the landlord and tenant.
Yes. An amendment records a change both sides agreed to, so it has a signature block for the landlord and each tenant. Keep a signed copy with the original lease.
Yes, if the tenant agrees. Without the tenant's agreement, a mid-lease increase may not be allowed, and rent increase rules differ by state and city, so check yours first.
No — it modifies specific terms; the original lease remains in effect for everything not changed.
Yes. You can correct key details on the preview page up to 3 times in the first 24 hours after unlocking, and you can edit the Word (DOCX) file yourself at any time.
No — LeaseCraft provides professional DIY documents. Consult an attorney for complex situations.

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