LEASE RENEWAL
© 1991-2000 by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
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DOES MY LANDLORD HAVE TO RENEW MY LEASE?

        No, your landlord only has to renew your lease if it says it will automatically renew. Unless you are in public or subsidized housing, your lease probably does not automatically renew itself. In fact, at the end of a lease term, your landlord may decide to evict you if you have not moved out of the apartment.

DOES MY LANDLORD HAVE TO GIVE ME NOTICE AT THE END OF MY LEASE IF HE OR SHE WANTS ME TO MOVE?

        No, your landlord does not have to give you any notice that he or she wants you to leave when your lease runs out unless the lease says otherwise. Talk to your landlord before your lease runs out so you can plan ahead. If your landlord takes rent from you after your lease runs out, you do not have a new lease but you are a month to month tenant. What that means is your landlord has to give you a proper one month notice if he or she wants you to move.

HOW CAN I MAKE MY LEASE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWABLE?

        Make sure your lease says so.

HOW SPECIFIC SHOULD THE LANGUAGE IN A LEASE BE?

        The language should be very specific. You and your landlord should put in the lease how long the renewal is for and what the rent should be.

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