A lease renewal agreement extends an existing lease past its end date without rewriting it: the parties confirm the new term and any rent change, and everything else carries forward exactly as signed.
Renewing beats re-signing for both sides: the tenant keeps terms they know, and the landlord avoids vacancy, turnover costs, and re-screening. A short renewal document also avoids the errors that creep in when a full lease is retyped.
Renewal, new lease, or holdover?
- Renewal (this document): extends the existing lease with targeted changes. Fast, low-risk, keeps the deposit in place.
- New lease: appropriate when many terms change at once, occupants change, or years of amendments have piled up.
- Doing nothing (holdover): most leases convert to month-to-month at the old rent. Convenient but unstable: either side can end it on 30 days' notice.
When to start the renewal conversation
Start 60 to 90 days before the lease ends. That window respects the notice periods that apply if either side walks away (30 days minimum in most states, more in some), gives the tenant time to compare options, and gives the landlord time to list the unit if the tenant declines. If the renewal includes a rent increase, the increase notice rules of your state apply to the renewal offer as well.
The deposit carries over
A renewal keeps the original security deposit in place with its original move-in condition documentation. That is a real advantage over a new lease, which can reset condition baselines and deposit accounting.
What to update at renewal time
Beyond term and rent, renewal is the natural moment to regularize anything that changed informally during the tenancy: a pet that arrived mid-term, a new occupant, updated contact information, or maintenance promises. Put each change in the modifications field so the renewal captures the tenancy as it actually is.
Frequently asked questions
Can the landlord change the rent in a renewal?
Yes. The renewal states the new rent and the tenant accepts it by signing. Rent-controlled jurisdictions cap the size of the increase; elsewhere the market and the notice rules govern.
Does a renewal need a new security deposit?
No. The existing deposit carries over, and this template says so explicitly. If the rent increases, some landlords ask to top up the deposit; that belongs in the other modifications field.
What if the tenant keeps paying after the lease ends without signing anything?
In most states the tenancy becomes month-to-month on the old terms. It works, but either party can end it on short notice, and rent increases require formal notice. A signed renewal restores stability.
Can we renew more than once with this document?
Yes. Each renewal references the original lease and the current end date. Keep every signed renewal attached to the lease so the chain of terms stays clear.
Is a renewal binding if only one party signs?
No. Like the lease itself, the renewal binds when both parties sign. Send it early enough that signatures are collected before the current term expires.