Do not use EL-11/11 for a long-term renewal (e.g., extending a 1-year lease for another full year). For that, you should create a new Lease Agreement or use a formal Lease Renewal form (C.A.R. Form LTR). The EL-11/11 is intended for temporary, finite extensions, typically 30 days or less, although technically it can be any length.

Even experienced landlords and agents make errors. Avoid these:

To use the form correctly, you must understand each field. Below is a detailed dissection of the EL-11/11 (11/11) version.

Form EL-11/11 is a standardized contract published by the California Association of Realtors. The "11/11" in its title refers to the version date—November 2011—which remains a widely accepted and utilized version in practice. (Note: C.A.R. periodically updates forms, but the EL-11/11 is still the prevalent extension form in most transaction files).

This form is designed to be an amendment to an existing Residential Lease or Rental Agreement (such as C.A.R. Form LR or a previous version). It does not replace the original lease; rather, it modifies the original lease solely regarding the term end date and, optionally, rent adjustments during the extension period.

If the property was built before 1978, the form explicitly reminds you that federal lead-paint disclosures must be provided (or re-provided) to the tenant. Do not skip this.