Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland

Automatic renewal of a lease

Here is the situation. I have been living in my apartment for almost three years. After my initial 1 year lease was up, I recieved a renewal form. I asked my landlady what would happen if I did not respond to it (I was going to be out of town for the month in which my lease was to be renewed). She told me that if I did nothing, I would be switched to month to month status. I renewed for a year. The next time my lease came up for renewal, I did nothing, as I knew I would want to move out in less than a year. I am now preparing to move. Thinking that I was on month to month, I spoke with my landlady, informing her of my intention to move out. She claimed that by not signing the lease renewal, it was automatically renewed for the term of a year, and that by moving out, I would be breaking the lease and responsible for the remainder of the rent. Regardless of what I was told previously, is it leagle to hold me responsible to a contract that I didn't sign. Are there any laws in the state of Maryland concerning the renewal of a lease. I was under the impression that unless speciffically renewed, a lease would go to month to month status.


Asked on 3/31/00, 6:18 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: Automatic renewal of a lease

A lease does not automatically renew for another year unless there is a clause in the lease that provides otherwise. Most apartment leases don't have this sort of clause, and that's probably why your landlady told you after the first year was up that you would go month to month if you didn't sign a renewal. Since you didn't sign a renewal after the second year, you should be on month to month now (unless the lease provisions changed upon the first renewal.) Check both documents and you should find the answer.

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Answered on 4/14/00, 5:14 pm


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