This feature extends lease identification criterion beyond DUID (default) for DHCPv6 leases held in the lease database for a configured period after the lease times out. DHCPv6 leases can be held in the lease database for a configurable period, after the lease time has expired. A large configured timeout value allows for address and prefix ‟stickiness”. When a subscriber requests a lease through DHCPv6 (IA_NA or PD), existing lease is looked-up and handed out. The lease identification match criterion has been extended beyond DUID to also include interface-id, or interface-id and link-local address.