Offering a renewal?. Create a lease renewal letter →
A lease renewal letter offers your tenant a new term before the current lease ends. It should state the current end date, the new term and its dates, the new rent (and when it starts), any terms that change, a deadline to accept, and how to accept. Send it 60 to 90 days before the lease ends, or earlier if your state requires longer notice for a rent increase. Then have every tenant sign the renewal so the new terms bind everyone.
This guide covers what to put in the letter, when to send it, how to handle a rent increase inside it, and two sample letters. For deciding whether to renew and how to set the rent, see lease renewal strategies.
What a renewal letter must include
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tenant names (every adult on the lease) and the property address | Identifies who the offer is for |
| Current lease end date | Anchors every other date in the letter |
| New term, with start and end dates | "12 months" is less clear than "November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027" |
| Rent for the new term, and the date it takes effect | The term most likely to be disputed later |
| Any other changed terms | Pet policy, parking, utilities, who handles lawn care |
| Terms that stay the same | One line: "All other terms of the lease remain the same" |
| Deadline to respond | Gives you time to list the unit if they decline |
| How to accept | Sign and return, e-sign, or reply in writing |
| What happens if they don't respond | Lease ends, or converts to month-to-month, per the lease and state law |
| Your name, signature and contact details | Lets the tenant ask questions |
Keep the tone businesslike and short. The letter is an offer; the signed renewal is the contract.
When to send it
Aim for 60 to 90 days before the lease ends. That gives the tenant time to decide and you time to market the unit if they leave.
Two things can push you earlier:
- A rent increase notice period. Some states require more notice for an increase than a typical renewal timeline allows. Oregon and Washington, for example, generally require at least 90 days' written notice of a rent increase. Check your state on the rent increase laws hub.
- Your lease's own renewal or notice clause. If the lease says either party must give 60 days' notice of non-renewal, your offer should arrive before that.
Handling a rent increase in the letter
If the rent goes up, state the old and new amounts and the date the new rent starts. Many landlords give a one-line reason (higher taxes, insurance, or improvements) because it lowers pushback.
A renewal letter isn't always enough notice on its own. Some states require a specific form or wording for rent increases, and some cap the amount. Where that applies, send a separate rent increase notice that meets the state rules along with the renewal offer. The rent increase calculator shows the percentage, and how much a landlord can raise rent covers caps by state.
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Renewal letter, addendum or new lease?
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| Only the end date and rent change | A signed renewal letter or renewal agreement |
| One or two other terms change | Renewal plus a lease amendment |
| Many terms change, or the old lease is outdated | A new lease from the lease agreement generator |
Whatever you choose, get signatures from every adult tenant and keep the signed copy with the original lease.
Sample letter: renewal at the same rent
October 1, 2026
Dear Jordan and Casey Rivera,
Your lease for 412 Pine Street, Apt. 3 ends on December 31, 2026. We'd like to offer you a 12-month renewal from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027 at your current rent of $1,600 per month. All other lease terms stay the same.
To accept, please sign below and return this letter by November 15, 2026. If we don't hear from you by then, we'll assume you plan to move out when the lease ends and will contact you about move-out.
Thank you for being great tenants. Call or text me at (555) 010-0199 with any questions.
Pat Lee, Owner
Sample letter: renewal with a rent increase
October 1, 2026
Dear Morgan Ellis,
Your lease for 88 Harbor Road ends on December 31, 2026. We'd like to offer you a 12-month renewal from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027.
Starting January 1, 2027, the monthly rent will be $1,545, up from $1,500 (a 3% increase), mainly because of higher property taxes and insurance. All other lease terms stay the same.
Please sign and return this letter by November 15, 2026. If you'd like to discuss a different term length, let me know before then.
Pat Lee, Owner
The names and amounts are hypothetical. Replace the dates with ones that meet your state's notice rules.
Our free lease renewal letter form fills these details in, previews the letter and prints it.
If the tenant doesn't respond
Follow up once in writing about a week before your deadline. If the deadline passes, what happens next depends on your lease and state law. Some leases convert to month-to-month automatically; others simply end. If you want the tenant to leave at the end of the term, give a proper notice to vacate with the notice your state requires; landlord notice to vacate by state has the periods.
Common mistakes
- Sending it too late to meet a rent increase notice period
- Only one tenant signs when two or more are on the lease
- Vague dates, such as "renew for another year" with no start or end date
- Changing terms without saying so, then trying to enforce them later
- Offering different terms to similar tenants for reasons that could look like discrimination under the Fair Housing Act
Sources
Official sources cited above (checked 2026-10-28):
Frequently asked questions
Is a lease renewal letter legally binding?
The letter is an offer. The renewal becomes binding when the tenants accept it as the letter requires, usually by signing, so have every adult tenant sign and keep the signed copy with the lease.
Can I raise the rent in a renewal letter?
Yes, but the letter may not satisfy your state's rent increase rules on its own. Where a state requires specific notice, wording or a form, send a separate compliant rent increase notice with the offer.
Offering a renewal?
Fill in a lease renewal letter with the new term and rent, preview it and print it for free.
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