Can I end my lease early with 30 days notice?

Full question:

My Lease agreement, under the section called 'Ending or renewing the lease agreement' says, 'At the end of the lease term, this lease agreement shall automatically continue on a month to month basis. The landlord or tenant may end this lease agreement by giving to the other 30 days prior written notice before the end of the lease agreement.'This is stated exactly the way it is in the contract. Does this mean I (the tenant) can end the lease at anytime as long as I provide 30 days notice? That is all it says under that section and it's not addressed anywhere else in the agreement.

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

Answer:

If your lease includes the quoted section, it suggests that after the initial lease term ends, it automatically converts to a month-to-month lease. In this case, either you or the landlord can terminate the lease by providing 30 days' written notice.

However, it’s unclear whether this notice requirement applies only after the lease term ends or if it also allows you to terminate the lease early. If this is the only section addressing termination, it may imply that you can end the lease early with the proper notice.

If your lease does not allow for early termination, you could be responsible for rent until the lease ends unless you can prove the landlord breached the lease. The landlord must also make reasonable efforts to relet the property to mitigate damages, which typically involves advertising and showing the unit to potential tenants.

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 month-to-month lease agreement in California is a rental contract that continues on a monthly basis after the initial lease term ends. Either the tenant or the landlord can terminate the lease by providing at least 30 days' written notice. This type of lease offers flexibility, allowing tenants to move out without a long-term commitment, while also giving landlords the ability to adjust rental terms or end the lease with proper notice.