Does a Tenant Have to Sign a Lease Addendum that Includes a Waiver of Rights

[perseus]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Washington, DC

Our building is getting a new owner/landlord and they are submitting a lease addendum that has waiver of rights for personal and property damages under a couple of circumstances limiting our legal rights to action. There will be construction going on in the near future which concerns me .Under any lease /addendum situation do we HAVE to sign the documents with these provisions? If not what is the best way to handle this. For me they will already have a lease they will have transferred to them.

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you have an existing lease, you don't have to agree to modify the lease merely because there's a new landlord - the lease remains valid until the end of its term. But the consequence can be that your landlord chooses not to renew your lease when it expires - something to think about, but not necessarily a sufficient basis to waive any of your present rights.

[antrc170]

You may consider posting the language of the lease addendum. Depending on the location there are some rights that the LL cannot force you to waive regardless of what is written down and signed.