Lease renewal letter
By Justin Winter · Updated August 22, 2026
The short answer
A renewal offer with a response deadline needs a record of when it was sent. Send it Certified, $12.99 all-in: USPS records when it was mailed and tracks it to delivery. Preview the exact pages free. This template is not legal advice.
The math
The math on one certified letter.
| Option | Cost | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| paperplane, Certified Mail | $12.99, all in | About two minutes |
| At the counter | USPS fees, plus printing, an envelope and the trip | About ten minutes at the counter, plus the drive and the line |
USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over. The difference is the trip, the form and the slip you keep for a year.
A lease renewal letter puts a formal offer, with a real response deadline, in writing — instead of a verbal or text-message conversation that's easy to lose track of on either side as the expiration date approaches.
Timing
Most landlords send renewal offers 60 to 90 days before the current lease expires. That gives the tenant time to decide and gives the landlord time to plan for a vacancy and start advertising if the tenant declines.
Certified Mail, no Return Receipt required
A renewal offer usually only needs a mailing record — Certified Mail at $12.99 covers that with tracking and a USPS receipt. Add electronic Return Receipt ($14.99) if your lease or state law specifically requires proof of delivery, not just proof of mailing.
How it works
- Open the template, fill in the new term dates, rent, and response deadline.
- Pay $12.99 (Certified) — the letter prints the next business day.
- You get the tracking number and mailing record once it's sent.
This template is a tool, not legal advice; if the renewal includes a rent increase, check our rent increase notice template for the notice-period rules that apply on top of a routine renewal.
Keep reading
Questions before you send
Why not go to the post office myself?
You can, and if your time is free it costs less. USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over; paperplane does not replace the post office, it replaces the trip. The mailing record comes from USPS, not from us. $12.99 covers the printing, the envelope, PS Form 3800, a USPS address check before you pay and a handoff the next business day. For a letter you already know how to send, the counter is a fine choice.
What if they refuse the letter?
USPS tracking records what happened to it, including refused or unclaimed. You still have the mailing record. Rules on what that means vary, so check with your court or an attorney if a deadline depends on it.
If something goes wrong, do I pay?
If we cannot mail the letter, the hold on your card is released and you are not charged. If a letter fails after your card is charged, you are refunded automatically and in full.
When should a landlord send a lease renewal letter?
Most landlords send renewal offers 60 to 90 days before the current lease expires, giving the tenant time to respond and giving the landlord time to plan for a vacancy if they decline.
Does this need to be certified mail?
Certified Mail (without Return Receipt) is usually enough — it gives you tracking and a mailing record. Add electronic Return Receipt if your lease or state law specifically requires proof the tenant received it, not just that it was mailed.
What if I am renewing at a higher rent?
State the new rent clearly and check your state's notice-period rules for rent increases — some jurisdictions require more advance notice for a renewal that raises the rent than for one that does not. See our rent increase notice template for that situation specifically.
Is this legal advice?
No — it is a template. Renewal notice requirements and any rent-increase limits vary by state and city; confirm your local rules before sending.