51+ Sample Addendum to Agreement Templates

What Is an Addendum to Agreement?

An addendum is a document that changes the conditions and terms of an existing contract. Its primary purpose is to update an agreement by modifying, clarifying, or nullifying a part of the actual deal. It can be as easy as changing the validity of the contract, or it can be as complicated as altering the schedules for payment. Once an addendum is ready, all parties must sign. The signatures of the parties serve as an acknowledgement of their knowledge and acceptance of the new information. Also, the process of signing may need the presence of a witness to ensure the contract addendum’s validity. Most often, real estate contracts such as a purchase or lease agreement require additions. When a landlord and a tenant enters into a lease agreement, they will most likely need an addendum to provide information concerning issues that are not part of the original contract.

According to Statista, in 2016, about 27% of Americans rented homes.

In New York, specifically, about 30 to 50% of an American’s income goes straight to rent.

Also, a Statista survey reports that 16% of participants earning an annual income of $30,000 claim they were not able to pay for their rent for one whole month.

The Key Components of a Lease Contract

As mentioned, a lease agreement is a legally binding agreement between a property owner and a tenant. For it to be binding, it necessitates the signatures of the parties involved, who must both have the legal capacity and competency to enter an agreement. The following are what you should include in a lease contract.

An appropriate property description. If you are the landlord, you don’t need to exaggerate in describing your property for rent. What you need may only be the complete address of the property. However, you can include the project name of the apartment or the building number or other details that makes your property different from the others.The term of the lease. Don’t write the length of contract in terms of months or years. (e.g., one year). You must print the exact starting and final date. Also, add information concerning a tenant’s time allowance to vacate. The lessee should know when to leave the area or unit empty.Renewal conditions. If you allow the lessee to renew, clearly state it in the contract. There may be additional statements concerning a different rental rate. Some landlords include escalation provisions for rent. So, the lessor must ask the lessee to provide a written notice regarding their plan to renew terms. In that case, the landlord must give a real estate contract addendum for the tenant to sign. Moreover, if you allow a tenant to continue renting on a monthly basis, write your new rules in detail.Payment terms and security deposits. Laws from one state to another may differ when it comes to the amount of deposit an owner must collect. Deposits may be for security, for the first or final month, for a pet, or personal property damage. The lease agreement must detail how much the deposit should be, how the deposit will be kept, and if there will be interest. Also, it is important to note how the lessor will release the money when the contract ends.Moreover, a contract must address the questions: how will the owner determine the value of damages? How long will the lessor hold the deposit? The tenant should know the details concerning when the rent payments are due, what payment methods are, and what will happen if he/she doesn’t pay or delay in paying.An occupancy or a sublease agreement. You can also use a residential unit for other purposes aside from private rental. If you permit a tenant to use the unit as an office, be clear about it in the contract. So, if you allow it, what type of business will it be? Where will the customers stay or park? How many individuals can stay in the unit? Be specific to avoid conflicts later on. Moreover, if you permit subletting, write the terms in the contract, and specify the process of how the transfer of obligations will happen from the original lessee to the subletting party. Most landlords usually don’t allow this, but some may allow it depending on the case.Entry rights and inspection. If the term is long, you, as a landlord, may need to enter and check the condition of your property. Include your rights to enter the unit for inspection, and let the tenant know that you will provide notice before checking. When the unit needs repairs, state it in the contract. How many handymen can enter the area? Always bear in mind that you are asking to get inside a tenant’s home, so you must respect his/her privacy.Acceleration of payment. Depending on your state laws, the lessor and lessee must agree about conditions for payment acceleration. That is, when a tenant violates the rules of a landlord, becomes a source of irritation to others, or consistently delays in paying rents.A notice waiver if possible. As a property owner, you may not want to keep on informing your tenant about their responsibilities. You can make a notice waiver that expresses the lessee’s responsibility to know their payment dues and the term of the lease.A clear language. You can ask assistance from a lawyer to create a lease agreement, or buy a basic lease agreement online and let an attorney check it. Also, if you need an addendum letter, you can download one of our addendum examples above.

How To Create a Valid Addendum to Agreement

As a reminder, an addendum to agreement is another document an individual attaches to an existing contract. Note that an addendum is different from an amendment, and we will discuss that further later on. So, here are the steps in creating a valid addendum.

Step 1: Use the Same Writing Format

The addendum should be identical to the original contract. Therefore, it is crucial to use the same writing format. Use the same font, font size, and margins. Also, write the same date that is printed on the original document. When making an addendum title, make it similar to the contract’s title but indicate its nature as an addendum. For example, “An Addendum to May 5, 2020 Employment Contract”.

Step 2: Name All the Parties Involved

Name all the parties involved in the contract. Make sure to write their legal names correctly in the addendum. For example, “The persons involved in the June 1, 2020 Vendor Agreement Addendum are Kristel Hermosa (vendor) and Sophia Montes (vendee)”.

Step 3: Write the Date of Effectivity

Specify the exact date when the addendum will operate. State it similarly the way you state dates in the original document. For example, “The addendum will be effective starting May 5, 2020”.

Step 4: List the Changes Clearly

Embolden or italicize in the addendum the parts of the contract that you will modify. Also, secure the original document with the addendum and make sure that the parties involved will know which is which. For example, “The May 5, 2020 Employment Contract is secured to this document for reference”.

Step 5: Leave a Blank Space for Notarization

To notarize means to certify a document through a notary. Notaries are government agents who serve as witnesses to the validity of signatures. Several states in the U.S. require notaries public to notarize official papers by imprinting them, each with a governmental seal. Typically, notaries don’t get compensation for the service they make for the government. So, prepare to pay fees for notarization.

FAQs

What is the difference between an addendum and an amendment?

We already know what an addendum is, so let’s proceed to define what an amendment is. What is an amendment? A contract amendment is a direct change of contract terms or provisions. Any contract can have revisions as long as all parties consent. The most common type of amendment involves extending the duration of an agreement or contract. In other words, an amendment doesn’t significantly change or modify the provisions or terms of a contract. It may only change a deadline or price, correct a wrong statement, or address contingencies. If a written agreement requires substantial changes, creating an addendum helps.

What is the difference between a lease agreement and a rental agreement?

A lease agreement usually lasts for a year, while a rental contract typically lasts for only a month. For example, a college student who is new to the city may decide to rent a temporary place. He may want to rent an apartment for 12 months, so he should enter into a lease. If he plans to stay for five months, he can sign a rental agreement.

What is an assignment of lease agreement?

An assignment of lease is a document that transfers a contract’s obligations from one person (assignor) to another (assignee). The assignor signs this agreement so that an assignee will assume and own all contractual rights and responsibilities.

Is an addendum to purchase agreement similar to an addendum to lease?

No, because a purchase agreement is different from a lease agreement. A real estate purchase contract is an arrangement between a buyer of a residential property and a seller.

Is an addendum also applicable to other contracts?

Yes, it also applies to many other contracts as long as it serves the same purpose we’ve mentioned above. It can be for a memorandum agreement, a hold harmless agreement, a separation agreement, and more. Though the fact remains, that is common for modifying real estate contracts.

An addendum to agreement is a separate document that one attaches to the original contract to modify an agreement successfully. It is most useful when a real estate agent forgets to include valuable information that should be part of the contract. As long as the parties agree, an addendum will save one party from unnecessary hassle. To save you some time, you can easily download one of our example addendum of agreements above.