Asking a landlord about a lease change

The clause, the date you need an answer, and the one change you want. Not a theory about landlord law. Not a forwarded chat.

1 min read

You want a cat, a roommate, or a break date. The lease says something else. Your assistant has opinions about enforceability. None of those opinions should leave the house.

Quote the bit you mean

The paragraph, the date the lease ends, the change you are asking for, the date you need a yes or no so you can decide whether to stay.

Assume nothing silently. "We have not added an occupant yet" is a fact. "This is standard" is a guess. Drop the guess.

One ask

May we add a second adult on 1 June, or may we end on 1 June without penalty. Not both, and not a tour of your situation.

They will not open your chat

Write as email. Keep the tone you would use on paper. You approve the note. If the model wrote "as I'm sure you understand," cut it.

If they say no, you have it in a thread. That is useful later. It is not a lawsuit. Do not ask the product to be one.

Tags household housing briefings

Frequently asked questions

Should I include what my assistant said about the law?
No. You are not their counsel and they are not yours. Ask for the change. If you need legal advice, ask a lawyer in a different letter.
Do they need an account?
No. Property managers live in email. They can reply from the message. If they already have a RelayLink account, you need an accepted contact first.
What if I also need a repair?
That is a second ask. Mix them and you get neither, or you get the easier one.

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