What can I do if a landlord refuses to renew my yearly lease agreement?
Q: I have rented in the same community for several years, and my lease is renewed yearly. A few weeks ago, management left a note on my door saying I was rude to a staff member, but I honestly don’t know what I did. Then I got a note telling me they would not renew my lease. I called the manager, but they did not give me a meaningful reason for not renewing. Do I have any recourse? — Mary
A: Your lease agreement is a legal contract, and you and your landlord are bound by what it says.
Some leases give the tenant the right to renew their lease if certain conditions are met, such as paying the rent on time, while others require a new lease agreement each year.
Check your lease to see what your rights are. If your lease gives you the right to renew, follow the steps to do so.
That said, if you must sign a new lease each year, you may be out of luck. Generally, nothing requires a landlord to offer their tenant another year, just like nothing forces the tenant to stay longer than the lease’s term.
Your lease may require that your landlord give you a certain amount of notice they are not renewing.
Even if your lease does not have this requirement, many jurisdictions have laws requiring a landlord to give several months’ notice when ending the relationship at the end of the agreement’s term.
Your situation may be caused by a misunderstanding that can be cleared up with effective communication. Since you want to continue living there, try to speak with the manager again, in person, if possible.
Try to clear the air, explaining that you do not understand the issue but that you would not be rude to anyone on purpose. Since you like living there, it is worth trying to smooth things over.