What are my options if a tenant claims verbal notice for lease termination?

Full question:

Year to Year lease with provision for either party to terminate with a 30 day written notice. I have a tenant who claims she gave a verbal notice on 2/8. She sent me an email today stating she will be out on 3/14. I replied she has to give 30day written notice and i consider this email the 30 day notice and 3/25 is the termination date. She emailed she is only paying till 3/14 and to take her to court if need be. What are my options? do I accept the partial? do I not and send an email to this nature? If they leave prior to 3/25 and do not pay in full what is my next step?

  • Category: Landlord Tenant
  • Subcategory: Lease Termination
  • Date:
  • State: Arizona

Answer:

The termination of a year-to-year lease that requires a 30-day written notice is governed by contract law. If the lease specifies that notice must be in writing, a verbal notice is not valid. However, if you accept rent payments after the tenant's notice, you might be seen as waiving the written notice requirement.

If the tenant does not fulfill the lease terms, they may be liable for breach of contract. This occurs when one party fails to meet their obligations, resulting in potential financial harm to the other party. Remedies for breach of contract typically include monetary damages, restitution, or other forms of compensation to restore the injured party's position.

According to Arizona law (A.R.S. § 33-341), a year-to-year tenancy terminates at the end of the lease unless written permission is given to extend it. If the tenant does not provide the required 30-day written notice, they are responsible for rent until the end of that notice period.

If the tenant leaves before the termination date and does not pay the full rent, you may pursue legal action for breach of contract to recover the unpaid rent.

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.

FAQs

A written notice to terminate a lease should include the date, the tenant's name, the landlord's name, the property address, and a clear statement of intent to terminate the lease. For example: 'Dear [Landlord's Name], I, [Tenant's Name], am providing this written notice to terminate my lease at [Property Address] effective [Termination Date]. Thank you.' Make sure to sign and date the notice.