Does the Landlord Need a Reason To Terminate the Lease at the Expiration of the Term?

In general, a landlord can terminate a lease without reason at the expiration of the lease term. Your landlord is not obligated to renew your lease after the rental agreement expires unless you have a defense such as discrimination or retaliation. Depending on the laws of your state, your landlord may need to give proper notice that they will not renew your lease. The notice depends on the terms of the lease agreement and the laws in your state.

See Rental and Lease Agreements for additional articles related to the termination of a lease.

When Your Lease Term Ends

State courts handle landlord-tenant law. Eviction laws differ in each state and sometimes in each county. It is always best to communicate with your landlord and renew your lease on time.

In general, lease terminations depend on the nature of the lease agreement.

• With a fixed-term lease, the agreement ends on the date specified in the agreement. If your tenancy runs from January 1 to December 31, then the lease expires on January 1 of the following year.
• An indeterminate lease has no set end date. These leases can be month-to-month or week-to-week. There is no expiration date.

The type of lease matters. In all states, landlords must notify tenants if they will not renew the lease agreement. For instance, if you have a one-year fixed-term lease, the landlord has the right to refuse to renew it, but you have a legal right to know you must look for a new apartment.

It's common practice for fixed-term leases to have a notice period written into the agreement. Unless state laws differ, the standard is 30 days, but 45-60 days is common. The tenant must agree to renew the lease within the notice period, sign another fixed-term lease, or vacate the property. If the landlord is not renewing the lease, the period serves as an eviction notice.

State laws govern terminations for month-to-month leases. Most states require at least 30 days' notice before terminating a month-to-month tenancy. In other words, after accepting the final rent payment, the landlord must give the tenant 30 more days to leave the property. In all states, landlords must give a written notice of eviction.

Holdover Tenancy

If a tenant remains in a rental unit after a fixed-term lease expires, they become a holdover tenant. If the landlord continues to accept rental payments, the tenant becomes a month-to-month tenant under the same lease terms. In nearly all states, the landlord must start formal eviction proceedings to evict a holdover tenant.

Retaliation and Discrimination

Landlords cannot terminate leases for retaliatory reasons. It can be easier to prove retaliation for an early lease termination since there are few legitimate reasons for the landlord to break a lease. You must show that the landlord agreed to extend the lease and then rescinded the extension with a termination notice.

See Findlaw's What Kinds of Conduct Are Considered Landlord Retaliation? article for more details.

Landlords also cannot refuse to renew a lease for discriminatory reasons. State and local laws prohibit a landlord from renting or renewing a lease for rental property based on a tenant's:

• Race, religion, gender, or national origin
• Disability or perceived disability
• Military service or veteran's status
• Age or family status

If a landlord uses any of these reasons, they leave themselves open to legal actions and/or punishment from the government.

Valid Reasons for Non-Renewal of a Lease

Landlords may terminate a lease or refuse to renew a lease if the renter has violated the lease agreement, for instance:

• Repeated late payment or non-payment of rent
• Engaged in illegal activities on property
• Assignment or subletting in violation of the lease
• Property damage to the unit or common areas

A landlord or property owner can also refuse to renew the lease if the owner intends to move into the property or if they have a new tenant signed for the residence. In some states, the owner must move into the residence and cannot use that as a pretense for removing a tenant.

Can My Landlord Terminate My Lease Without Reason: Additional Resources

If you have more questions after reading this article, you can do further research by clicking the links below. You should consider speaking with a real estate attorney to ensure you know your state's most up-to-date laws.

• What is the Implied Warranty of Habitability?
• Landlords' Duties Regarding Repairs, Maintenance, and Provide Notice to Tenants for Entry
• Tenant Privacy Rights and the Right to Repairs

Get Legal Help With Your Questions About Lease Terminations

A tenant and landlord relationship is considered a contract due to the lease agreement. Tenants have protections under contract law and landlord/tenant law. A landlord is only liable for what they've agreed to in the lease agreement. 

If you have questions about your lease agreement or difficulty getting your security deposit back after moving out, you may wish to consult with a landlord-tenant attorney skilled in defending your tenant's rights.