Landlord Tenant Lawyers for West Virginia

You need to put all your terms and conditions in your agreement. You can use the same agreement for all three tenants, or more if you desire. Don't leave anything to supposition or make ambiguous statements. If you need further help, you can contact me here.

Speaking generally, if your agreement is a lease, neither the landlord nor tenant can amend it unless both parties agree (the same can be said for a completely new agreement). If it is a month to month agreement, if you don't sign, the landlord may be able to give you notice to vacate. What I would do is ask for a couple of days for review. Put your current agreement down with the proposed new agreeement down, side by side, and go through them together, paragraph by paragraph. At the same time, make notes about anything in the new agreement you don't like, and attempt to negotiate the terms with your landlord before signing. Please note that the WA State Residential Landlord Tenant law was modified in several ways by the WA State Legislature, effective a few months ago - this may be why your landlord is doing this. For example, a landlord now has 30 days to return a security deposit (or explain why he/she isn't); it was 21 before that, and 14 before that). To review the Landlord/Tenant Law at the same time, follow this link: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18 If you would like to hire me to help, I am not available until October 15th, I'm afraid - I'm on vacation at Yosemite.

You need to review your lease agreement. There may be a section that discusses renewal. Some leases are silent, other contemplate automatic renewal and others will have a specific renewal procedure. If your lease has no renewal language, the lease will terminate at the end of the term. If that is the case, you should speak to your landlord about entering into a new lease, whether under the same terms or different terms. If the lease renews automatically, you most likely have to do nothing (if there is a procedure in the automatic renewal language, follow that procedure). If there is a specific procedure to renew, you must follow that procedure. Your lease may also state that if you remain in the property after the lease expires you will be treated as a month-to-month tenant and the terms of your lease (include rent rate) will remain. The landlord or tenant in that case can terminate the month-to-month tenancy with 30 days notice from the date the rent is due. If your rent is due July 1, 2023 and, as a month-to-month tenant, you want to move out, you would notify your landlord in writing on July 1, 2023 that July is the last month you are renting from him and you will be moving out on July 31, 2023. Likewise the landlord can notify you on July 1, 2023 that July is your last month or could change the terms (such as a rent increase) effective August 1, 2023 because the tenancy is month-to-month. There is also the possibility that you would not be considered a month-to-month tenant, but a "holdover tenant". Again, check the lease for these terms. If you are a holdover tenant, the landlord would include in the lease a rental increase for holdover tenants. This is still technically a month-to-month tenancy but on more expensive terms and the landlord most likely will want you out. Check your lease for renewal provisions and follow them. If you have questions, speak to your landlord. Open communication is important in situations like this.

I am a WA State attorney, and I counsel both landlords and tenants in WA who end up having landlord/tenant conflicts. It would be smart of you to have your first lease draft reviewed by a knowledgeable WA State landlord tenant law attorney. The biggest problems that arise include return of a security deposit and/or billing for additional costs after move out; tenants failure to comply with terms of the lease and/or HOA rules; and issues/questions regarding renewal of the lease. The Residential Landlord Tenant Law can be found here: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18 Two changes were made in 2023 alone. In addition, some cities, like Seattle, and unincorporated King County, have additional requirements to be aware of. You may want to consider joining an association of WA landlords - I think there's a statewide one, and there may be county or city organizations. Some of these can provide you with first draft leases and/or provide guidance, classes, and counseling. There are many places to buy leases online, but some of these don't address the fine points regarding notice to vacate or raise rent, issues arising from paying last month's rent ahead, whether or not security deposits can be applied toward the last month's rent, and so forth. An attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law can provide you with your first lease and also be available on an ongoing basis for consultations from time to time.

North Carolina General Statute 42 contains the North Carolina Residential Rental Act i.e. the landlord-tenant law. Generally, North Carolina landlord-tenant law requires that (1) a residential landlord keeps the property fit and habitable and (2) a residential tenant keeps the property safe and sanitary, pays the rental fee at the time and in the amount agreed upon, and follows (valid) agreed-upon rules. It also addresses other important issues like security deposit, late fee, required notice, termination, and eviction. One important aspect of the statute is that it does not allow a residential landlord to avoid or disclaim certain responsibilities simply by having a tenant agree in a rental agreement. Another important aspect of the statute is that it allows a residential tenant to recover money from a landlord who engages in certain particularly egregious conduct. It is important for a future residential tenant to know each party's rights and responsibilities before entering into a residential rental agreement. If you are considering signing a North Carolina residential lease, you are entitled to have an attorney review it and advise you before you sign.