Notices & termination › Lease renewal letter

Lease renewal letter

A lease renewal letter is a written proposal to extend an existing lease for a new term. It is usually sent 60 days before expiration and states the proposed new rent, term length and any revised clauses. Both parties typically sign the letter or a short renewal addendum; a full re-signed lease is no longer common in 2026 unless substantial terms have changed.

What a renewal letter covers

Effective date of the renewal term (usually the day after the current end date).
Length of the new term (commonly 12 months).
New monthly rent — either flat, percentage increase or CPI-linked.
Any changes to utilities, pet terms or occupancy.
Security-deposit top-up if rent has risen.
Date by which the tenant must accept or decline.

Sample wording — landlord offer

LEASE RENEWAL OFFER
Date: [Date]
To: [Tenant name, property address]

Your current lease for the above Premises expires on [end date]. We are pleased to offer a renewal on the following terms:
New term: 12 months, from [start] to [end]
New monthly rent: $_______ (a ___% increase over current rent)
All other terms of your existing Lease remain unchanged.

Please sign and return this offer by [deadline]. If we do not hear from you, your tenancy will continue on a month-to-month basis under the above rent.

Accepted: [Tenant signature, date]

Rent-increase limits on renewal

Jurisdiction	Cap
California (AB 1482)	5% + CPI, max 10%
Oregon	7% + CPI, max 10%
New York rent-stabilized	RGB annual limit
Texas, Florida, Arizona	No cap

India practice

Indian residential leases typically run 11 months to avoid compulsory registration and are renewed by a fresh 11-month agreement at a 5–10% higher rent. Most renewals in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi are effected by a new agreement rather than a renewal letter — the original agreement explicitly terminates and a new one begins.

FAQs

What is a lease renewal letter?

A lease renewal letter is a written offer or request to extend an existing lease for a further term, usually under new rent and revised terms. Either party can initiate it; the tenant typically sends it when they want to stay, and the landlord sends it when offering renewal terms.

Can a landlord refuse to renew a lease?

In most US states yes — outside rent-controlled or just-cause jurisdictions, the landlord is free not to renew. In California under AB 1482, New York rent-stabilized units, New Jersey, Washington DC and several cities, the landlord needs just cause to refuse renewal.

How much notice for a lease renewal?

60 days before expiration is standard. Some leases require 30 days, some 90. New York law now requires landlords to give 30/60/90 days' notice of non-renewal (by tenure) and effectively forces the lease-renewal conversation to happen that far in advance.