Full question:
My wife and I are renting a room in our basement. Since it is in our personal residence we didn't think about writing a real detailed lease agreement. I just had the bare basics. The house is owned jointly with my wife, however the lease agreement does not have her name or signature on it. Is it still a valid lease legally? We still intend to honor it as such, but I was just curious.
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Date:
- State: Pennsylvania
Answer:
In Pennsylvania, leases for three years or less can be made verbally or in writing by a landlord or their agent. However, leases for more than three years must be in writing and signed by both parties to be valid. If the lease is not signed by both owners, it may only be considered a lease at will, unless the tenancy has lasted more than one year and both parties have acknowledged the rental agreement. In that case, it could automatically convert to a year-to-year lease.
For your situation, since the lease lacks your wife's signature, its validity may be questionable. However, if you both continue to honor the lease and accept rent, it could still be recognized as valid under Pennsylvania law.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.