How a Consumer Hired a Lawyer to Review an Addendum to Lease in California

Hello! I'm so sorry about this situation! To modify a contract legally, the following requirements must be met: 1. All parties to the contract must agree to the modification. This means that both parties must sign and date the amendment to the contract. 2. The parties to the contract need new consideration -- something of legal value -- to modify a contract. For example, if a party wants more money for something they would need to provide additional performance in exchange. 3. A writing is not required for a modification, but recommended. In your case, you said that you received the addendum to the lease agreement and it contains changes to the original terms, including an increase in rent. An increase in rent would be a change to a material term, requiring you to pay more. Because you would be required to pay more, your landlord would have to offer something in exchange for this to be binding. This means that unless the lease was up for renewal, the modification would be invalid. Thanks again and good luck!

Generally speaking, one party to any sort of contract cannot amend any sort of contract unilaterally…however, review your lease very carefully to see if you granted the landlord any such rights when you signed your contract—for example, that the landlord could increase the rent if his property taxes or insurance increases.