Amend a Lease

[Brian Hellenbrand]

So I just bought a duplex, living on one side, and inherited a lease on the other. Our tenant approached us asking if she could add her boyfriend and his family to the lease. All I have told them is that we will have to amend the current lease. At this point I have collected a rental application from him to start to writing the amendment.

Here is what they are adding to the lease: He will be full time living there. He also has three children from previous (1 or 2) relationships that will live there every other weekend. He also will have a dog that will live there full time.

I would like to amend their lease but not add any more time on to their original one because I would like to make sure since I didn't screen them originally I would like to have a shorter time to evaluate them as tenants than a year. Their lease currently runs until the end of June.

Fair market value for rent is 1,000. They are currently paying 830 because the previous owner gave them a discount for maintenance. Obviously we do not need them to do that anymore since we live on the other side. The owners supplemented us at the closing for the discounted rent.

I would like to raise their rent to 980 because I feel like 1 full time adult, three part time children, and another dog (two black labs in a 1200 sq. foot apt) will definitely add to the wear and tear. Do you believe this is fair? It is still under market value for rent but it is a significant increase. The boyfriend pays a month to month at 1100 so I feel like we will be saving them a ton of money doing this as is.

Also does anyone know where I can find the proper forms to fill out amendments or do you just do it with a word document and signatures? I found a website: lawdepot.com that I believe might be a free one, but I assume after I fill it all out they will make me pay to print it.

Sorry for this being so long and I appreciate whoever responds that you took the time to read it. First time landlord so looking for all the advice I can get!