A lease renewal letter is a short document, signed by landlord and tenant, that continues the tenancy and states the new rent, the new end date and any changed terms. Write it in five parts: who and which property, the new term, the new rent and its start date, what stays the same, and signatures with dates. Both sides should sign before the current term ends, because what happens after that depends on your country.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your own case with a local lawyer.
What a renewal letter must say
The letter does not replace your lease. It points to the original lease and changes only what you list. A clause you do not name stays as written.
Use this example outline as a checklist. The names, dates and amounts are fictional.
| Part | What to write (example) |
|---|---|
| Parties | Landlord: Rohan Mehta. Tenant: Priya Nair. |
| Property | Flat 4B, 12 Elm Court, Leeds |
| Original lease | Dated 1 March 2025, ending 28 February 2026 |
| New term | 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027 |
| New rent | 1,150 per month, up from 1,100, from 1 March 2026 |
| Deposit | The existing deposit of 1,100 stays in place |
| Unchanged terms | All other terms of the original lease continue |
| Changed terms | Clause 9 (pets): one cat allowed |
| Acceptance | "Signed by both parties to confirm the renewal" |
| Signatures | Both names, signatures and dates |
Lease renewal letter from a landlord
Send the offer early and put a deadline in it. Show the new rent next to the old rent, the date the new rent starts, and a reply date such as "reply by 15 January". Attach a clean copy of any changed clause so the tenant sees what they sign.
Ask for the reply in writing. A tenant who says "fine" on a call has not accepted anything you can show later.
Lease renewal letter from a tenant
Write first if you want to stay and want a say on rent. Say you want to renew, give the term you want, and propose the rent and any change you need, such as a pet or an extra occupant. Ask the landlord to confirm by countersigning.
Notice period and rent rules by country
Rules differ by country, and in the US by state. Check the notice period first.
England
England changed in 2026. On 1 May 2026, all assured tenancies, including assured shorthold tenancies, automatically became rolling tenancies, and an assured periodic tenancy cannot have an end date, according to GOV.UK's guide for tenants.
So in England you often do not renew a fixed term. You agree a new rent or a changed term in writing. A landlord can raise the rent once a year and must give at least 2 months' notice on form 4A, and a tenant who disagrees can ask the First-tier Tribunal to review it, as GOV.UK explains.
If a tenancy agreement does not say how much notice a tenant must give, the tenant gives at least 2 months, and a landlord cannot ask for more than 2 months, says GOV.UK on ending a tenancy. These pages cover assured periodic tenancies only.
United States
There is no national renewal rule. State law sets notice periods, so read your state's landlord and tenant statute. Two examples show the spread.
In Virginia, either side can end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice at least 30 days before the next rent due date, unless the agreement sets another period, under Virginia Code 55.1-1253. The same section says a new rent set by written notice cannot start until the next rent due date that falls 30 days after the notice, when a tenant stays on with consent and no new agreement exists.
In Arizona, either side can end a month-to-month tenancy by written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date named in the notice, under Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1375.
India
Rent laws in India are state specific, so check yours. One point applies widely: registration. Section 17(1)(d) of the Registration Act requires registration of leases of immovable property from year to year, for any term exceeding one year, or reserving a yearly rent, as quoted in the Supreme Court of India judgment in Siri Chand v. Surinder Singh.
In that judgment of 17 June 2020, the Court held that a tenancy with no period specified, even with a 10% yearly rent increase clause, did not need compulsory registration. A renewal that fixes a term of more than one year is a different case. Ask a lawyer or your sub-registrar office before you rely on a letter alone.
Rent increase in a renewal letter
State the increase as a number and a start date, not as a percentage alone.
- Weak (example): "Rent will go up slightly from next term."
- Strong (example): "Rent will be 1,150 per month from 1 March 2026, up from 1,100."
Check three things first. Does your place require minimum notice for an increase? Does your lease already have a rent review clause? Does a local cap apply?
What happens if the lease is not renewed
If nobody signs and the tenant stays, the tenancy often continues as a periodic tenancy, rolling week to week or month to month, with details that vary by place. In England the rolling form is now the default.
In Arizona, a landlord can bring an action for possession if the tenant stays on without the landlord's consent after the term ends, under the same Arizona statute. Do not leave it to chance. A short signed letter beats a guess about which default applies.
Get it signed this week
- Fill in the table above and attach any changed clause.
- Send the letter to every person named on the lease.
- Collect signatures with dates. In the US, a signature cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic, under 15 U.S. Code 7001, though your country may differ.
- Keep one signed copy each and file the letter with the lease.
For a ready format, use a template you can send today. To send it for signature by link, see e-signature for rental agreements. DulySigned makes simple electronic signatures only, not Aadhaar eSign or a digital signature certificate, and it does not register a lease.
Common mistakes
- Mistake: signing after the old term ends. Fix: sign before the end date, or state that the letter covers the gap.
- Mistake: leaving the new rent vague. Fix: write the amount and the start date.
- Mistake: forgetting a joint tenant. Fix: list and sign every person on the original lease.
- Mistake: assuming one country's notice period applies elsewhere. Fix: check the rule for your own place.
- Mistake: skipping registration where it is required. Fix: ask a lawyer whether your term needs it.
FAQ
Can a tenant send a lease renewal letter?
Yes. It asks to renew, proposes the term and rent, and asks the landlord to confirm in writing. It stays an offer until the landlord signs.
How much notice does a lease renewal need?
It depends on the country and state. In England a landlord gives 2 months for a rent increase on an assured periodic tenancy, while Virginia and Arizona use 30 days to end a month-to-month tenancy.
Can I raise the rent in a renewal letter?
Usually, if you follow your local notice rules and your lease. State the new amount and the date it starts.
Is a renewal letter the same as a new lease?
No. It extends the existing lease and lists only the changes. If the changes are large, a new lease can be safer.