Free Florida Lease Addendum Template

Ideally, when you sign a lease with a tenant, it will cover every possible contingency. In reality, circumstances can change - and situations that you never anticipated may arise. That is where a lease addendum can come in handy.

A lease addendum modifies the original lease. It can be used for a variety of purposes, from adding a roommate to the lease to changing responsibility for maintenance. The addendum should be in writing and signed by all parties to the lease, clearly specifying exactly what is and is not allowed under this contract amendment. Our free Florida lease addendum template gives you a starting point if you want to add terms to an original lease with your tenant.

At Eaton Realty, we offer seasoned property management services to landlords in Hillsborough County, Florida. We can help you draft a great initial lease that covers most situations. If necessary, we can also walk you through the options for amending a lease through an addendum. Reach out to talk to a member of our real estate team about your property management needs.

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What Is a Lease Addendum?

A lease addendum is a legal document that is used in conjunction with a lease agreement. An addendum can be used to change and modify an existing lease agreement. A landlord may also include an addendum along with the original lease to add terms to the lease.

Lease addenda are often used to cover some aspect of an agreement that was not already included in the initial lease. For example, a landlord may request a lease addendum to address issues such as pets or special maintenance for the property. While either party can initiate a lease addendum, they are most commonly requested by the landlord.

In contrast to a lease clause, which is part of the original lease, an addendum adds to or changes the original lease. Such changes are permitted under Florida’s Landlord-Tenant Law, provided that both the landlord and the tenants agree to and sign the lease addendum.

While a lease addendum can address a range of issues, it cannot contain any illegal clauses. For example, if a landlord learns that a tenant is gay, they cannot ask a tenant to sign a lease addendum that bars them from bringing a same-sex partner to the rental property. That would be considered illegal discrimination under both Florida and federal civil rights laws.

In summary, a lease addendum is an addition to the original contract between the landlord and tenant regarding the rental of residential real estate. It can be signed alongside the original lease or at some point in the future. The most important thing to know about lease addenda is that they should be in writing, signed by all parties, and not include any illegal provisions.

When Is a Lease Addendum Necessary?

There are many reasons why a landlord might request a lease addendum. When deciding whether or not an addendum is necessary, the main question that you should ask is whether the issue has already been addressed by the lease itself. If not, and the matter is important to you, then you may want to ask your tenant to sign a lease addendum.

There are several situations where it may be smart to have a lease addendum.

Pets

If the original lease is silent about pets or allows pets, but does not include restrictions, an addendum can be used to spell out pet restrictions. This can specify the type, number, and size of pets allowed, breed restrictions, any additional security deposit necessary, and tenant responsibilities related to their pets (such as keeping dogs leashed in common areas). Importantly, landlords cannot prohibit service animals or emotional support animals through a lease or lease addendum.

Lease Extension

If you or your tenant wants to extend the lease term without signing an entirely new lease, then an addendum can be used for this purpose. For example, if your tenant is buying a house and the closing date is 3 months after the expiration of their year-long lease, you might agree to a 3-month extension.

Property Alterations

If your tenant wants to make changes to the rental property, such as painting, installing fixtures, or making other minor changes, an addendum can give them permission to do so. You can also put limits in the addendum, such as requiring color approval for paint or requiring the tenant to paint the property back to its original color upon vacating or to make repairs necessitated by their alterations.

Parking

If issues arise or something changes related to the parking situation at your rental property, you can use an addendum to assign specific parking spots or add parking privileges to the lease. It can also include provisions related to parking fees.

Rent Payment Plan

If a tenant is struggling financially, you might offer a lease addendum to allow them to pay rent on a payment plan. This may be useful for times when a tenant has temporary financial issues, as opposed to situations where it might be better to find a new tenant because the current one is unable to pay the rent.

Sublease

If you want to allow your tenant to sublease the unit to a new tenant, you can use an addendum to define the approval process and establish any other rules for a sublease.

Roommates

When a tenant wants to add a roommate or have a partner move into the property, you might use a lease addendum to add a new person to the lease. This ensures that both tenants are jointly responsible for both the rent and the rules outlined in the lease.

Maintenance

An addendum can clarify or change maintenance duties for the rental property or specific features, such as requiring a tenant to mow the lawn.

Crime issues

A lease addendum can establish rules and consequences related to criminal activity, such as violence or drug use, if it is not already addressed in the lease.

Utilities

If utility responsibilities are not fully addressed in the main lease, a separate addendum can be used to specify which utilities the tenant must pay for, how costs are shared (if applicable), and how payment will be handled. The addendum helps prevent misunderstandings by putting all utility-related terms in writing.

HOA

If a rental property is part of a homeowner’s association (HOA), a lease addendum can be used to have the tenant confirm receipt of all relevant HOA rules and agree to abide by them.

Any lease addendum should be carefully considered, as it changes the terms of your agreement and impacts your rights as a landlord. Our Tampa property managers can help you weigh the pros and cons of a lease addendum. We can also help you draft a lease addendum to protect your interests.

Florida Residential Lease Addendum Template

If you want to create a lease addendum, it should contain the following information:

1. Names of all parties
2. Property location
3. Lease dates
4. Effective date of the addendum
5. The matter to be addressed, which should be detailed and labeled (i.e., “Pet Addendum)
6. Signature
7. Dates

Below, we provide a sample lease addendum that you can use to modify or add to an existing residential lease agreement.

ADDENDUM TO RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

This Addendum (hereinafter the “Addendum”) is hereby a part for all purposes of the Lease Agreement between:

_________________________________________________________, as LANDLORD and

_________________________________________________________, as TENANT(s) for the

property known as:

____________________________________________________________________________.

This Addendum modifies the Residential Lease Agreement between the LANDLORD and TENANT(s) dated ___________________________.

Except as expressly modified herein, all terms of the Residential Lease Agreement entered into between the parties control. The LANDLORD and the TENANT(s) hereby agree to modify the existing Residential Lease Agreement as follows:

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

By signing my name below I affirm that I have read and understand the terms of this Addendum to Residential Lease Agreement, had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel and agree that I will be jointly and severally liable for the complete fulfillment of the terms of this Addendum.

This Addendum takes effect on ___________________________.

TENANT SIGNATURE: ______________________________________ DATE: __________

TENANT NAME: ___________________________________

TENANT SIGNATURE: ______________________________________ DATE: __________

TENANT NAME: ___________________________________

LANDLORD/AGENT SIGNATURE: _____________________________ DATE: __________

LANDLORD/AGENT NAME: ___________________________________

You can download a free copy of the lease addendum template above here.

Need Help Managing Your Hillsborough County Rental Properties? Give Us a Call

A lease addendum can be a relatively simple way to modify or add to the terms of your lease, whether it’s to deal with a problem that has arisen or to clarify the lease agreement. If you find yourself tired of dealing with the day-to-day tasks of owning rental properties, we can help. Our award-winning property managers can handle your properties expertly, easing your burdens while maximizing your profits.

Based in Lithia, Eaton Realty offers property management services to landlords and property investors in West Central Florida. We can assist with all aspects of property management, from marketing your rental units to screening tenants to rent collection. We can also determine if a lease addendum may be necessary, draft the necessary paperwork, and collect the required signatures.

To learn more about our property management services, fill out our online contact form or call our office at 813-672-8022.