Why read the addenda at a new build?
Most of what changes your cost isn’t on the first page of the lease. It’s in the addenda. If you’re signing at one of the new apartments in Fort Worth, you’ll likely see a concession addendum, a fee or utility addendum, and several others alongside the standard Texas Apartment Association (TAA) lease. We read each one with you before you sign.
Here’s the checklist we use. None of these clauses is unusual. The point is to know what each one says before it matters.
1. Concession repayment
If your lease came with a special, the concession addendum often says what happens if you leave early. Many ask you to repay the free rent, sometimes in full, sometimes prorated. These terms vary and may be challenged depending on the wording, so we never assume they’re unenforceable. Our guide on concession repayment walks through what you may owe.
What to look for: the amount, whether it’s prorated, and what triggers it.
2. The special itself
Check that the special you were quoted is written into the concession addendum: the amount, the months it applies to, and any condition, like a minimum term. A verbal special isn’t the record. We confirm the end date and check your ledger at day 7 and day 30. Our guide on what required monthly fees add to rent shows how to total those lines.
3. Required fees and utilities
The fee addendum lists required monthly charges, like bulk internet, valet trash, and pest service. The utility addendum explains how water, sewer, and trash are billed. If water uses ratio billing (RUBS), 16 TAC Chapter 24 requires the method and last year’s bill information to be disclosed.
| Addendum | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Concession | Amount, months, conditions, repayment terms |
| Fees | Every required monthly line and its amount |
| Utilities | Billing method, last year’s figures, service charge |
| Parking | Monthly price, assigned or open, garage access |
| Pets | Pet rent, fees, deposit, breed and weight rules |
4. Renewal terms
Look at the notice window and whether the lease renews automatically. Many Texas leases need 30 to 60 days’ written notice. Also note that renewals usually price from base rent, not the discounted year. After 8 weeks free on a 12-month lease, year two rises about 18% at the same base.
5. Early exit and reletting
The early-exit clause, sometimes called a reletting or early termination clause, says what you’ll pay to leave before the end date. It may be a set fee, a number of months’ rent, or rent until the unit is re-leased. It can stack with concession repayment, so we total both.
The military right is separate
If you’re in the military, federal and Texas law give a separate termination right for qualifying orders. It isn’t the same as the lease’s early-exit clause, and the concession addendum may still address repayment. Read all three together.
6. Late fees and payment rules
Check when rent is late, what the initial and daily late fees are, and which payment methods are accepted. Note any fees for returned payments.
7. The signed flood notice
Texas Property Code §92.0135 requires a floodplain and flood-history notice at or before signing. Since Sept 1, 2025, both parties must sign it. We ask for it on every lease.
8. Move-in condition and repairs
Look for the move-in condition form deadline, often 48 hours, and how repair requests are made. At a new build, first-year punch lists are common, so you’ll want both in writing.
How do these clauses add up?
It helps to see what a few clauses can cost in one scenario. Here’s a labeled illustration with made-up numbers for someone who leaves 6 months into a 12-month lease with a special.
| Clause | What it says in this example | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Concession repayment | Prorated: half of $2,000 free rent | $1,000 |
| Early termination fee | One month’s base rent | $1,400 |
| Reletting fee | 85% of one month | $1,190 |
| Total to leave early | $3,590 |
Not every lease uses all three, and some early-exit options release you for a set fee instead. The point is to know the total before you sign, so a deep special doesn’t come with a surprise.
When we review a packet, we write a one-page summary for you: the special and its conditions, every required fee, how water is billed, the renewal notice window, the early-exit cost, and whether the flood notice is signed.
What happens next?
Send us your lease packet before you sign. We’ll read the concession and fee addenda with you, flag anything that changes your cost, and compare it with the Fort Worth apartment specials you were quoted. We usually reply within a few hours during our hours.
