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Lease Addendums: What are they and how do you write them?

by Rhenti on

As hard as you might try to account for every possible scenario when drafting a rental lease agreement, you never really know what the future holds. Situations change, the wants and needs of property owners (and tenants) change, and when they do, lease addendums can save the day. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the definition of lease addendums, why and when they’re useful to property owners, and what they need to include to be enforceable.

What are lease addendums?

Addendums are legal documents that address topics and coverages not covered in existing or standard lease agreements. They are separate from the initial agreement, don’t stand on their own, and are typically tacked on later.

As long as there is nothing included in the original lease stating otherwise both property owners and tenants can initiate addendums. Before it’s officially added to the lease, however, all parties have to sign in agreement to the added terms.

 

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When should I add an addendum to my lease agreement?

If there’s a kind of coverage that you’re worried is lacking in your original agreement, even a little bit, it’s probably worth adding an addendum. This is because, as long as you adhere to local tenancy laws, you can cover almost anything with one.

That said, some of the most typical reasons for adding lease addendums relate to:

  • Disclosures: A tenant may want to initiate an addendum to require you to disclose anything that could affect their health or well-being, such as if there’s any asbestos or mold on the property.
  • Pets: Some provinces give landlords the option to specify whether or not they want to rent to people with pets. Beyond this, conditions around owning pets on the property can also be outlined, such as the number and kind of pets allowed. 
  • Destructive actions: Behaviors that cause damage or alter the integrity of a property can be banned in addendums, such as smoking indoors or even within a certain distance to the property.
  • Renovation: To what extent can a tenant renovate your property? Clearing this up with addendums can save countless dollars and headaches down the road.
  • Property maintenance: Who’s responsible for shovelling the walkway in front of your property during the winter? If there’s an insect infestation, who takes care of it – and who flips the bill? Addendums can clear up important questions like these. Learn more about landlord maintenance obligations. 


How do I write a lease addendum so that it’s legally binding?

The actual wording of your lease addendum will depend on the original lease it’s being added to, local landlord-tenant laws, and its specific kind of coverage. 

This last point is why it’s best to create different addendums for different topics, rather than trying to cover everything in one. For example, if you want to add coverage related to renovations and disclosures, it’s best to create two separate addendums, one for each topic. This keeps things organized for yourself, not to mention clearer for your tenants.

Regardless of the topic, however, all lease addendums should include the following to be legally binding:

  • Landlord name(s)
  • Tenant name(s)
  • Property address
  • Date being signed
  • Effective date
  • Policy/information
  • Consequences for breaking the lease or addendum
  • Landlord signature and date
  • Tenant signature and date

Without this information, you risk ending up with an invalid, unenforceable contract, which no property owner wants to deal with. To be certain, always run any addendum you’re considering by qualified legal counsel. In addition to an addendum, check out all of the important forms and paperwork landlords frequently use.  

 

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The blog posts on this website are for the purpose of general introductory information. They can’t serve as an opinion or professional advice. Speak to a professional before making decisions related to your circumstances.

 

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