
Month-to-Month Tenancy
Table of Contents What Is a Month-to-Month Tenancy? How a Month-to-Month Tenancy Works Pros and Cons of a Month-to-Month Tenancy Pros Control over the end date of the tenancy Financial fluidity Peace of mind Moving out or replacing a tenant on short notice Higher rents/less predictable income Uncertainty Whether a month-to-month tenancy is advantageous or disadvantageous depends, in part, on a renter's or landlord's desire for flexibility and ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances. A month-to-month tenancy is a periodic tenancy created when the renter is granted possession of the property with no definite expiration date and pays the owner on a monthly basis. Other variations of tenancies found in lease contracts include tenancy for years, tenancy at will, and tenancy at sufferance. Month-to-month tenancy is a periodic tenancy wherein the tenant rents from the owner on a monthly basis.

What Is a Month-to-Month Tenancy?
A month-to-month tenancy is a periodic tenancy created when the renter is granted possession of the property with no definite expiration date and pays the owner on a monthly basis. This tenancy is most commonly found in residential leases. In situations where there is no written agreement, tenancy is also considered to be on a month-to-month basis.



How a Month-to-Month Tenancy Works
Tenancy falls under the real estate laws that cover leases. In legal real estate terminology, a lease is a contract between the owner of a property, also known as the landlord, and a tenant, who rents the property. The lease transfers the owner’s rights to the exclusive possession and use of the property to the tenant for an agreed-upon period.
As anyone who has rented an apartment knows, the lease sets forth the period of time for which the contract is to run and the amount of rent the tenant is contracted to pay. The renter gains access to the property and uses it in whatever manner was agreed upon in the lease. The landlord receives rent for a specified period of time, and after the lease period is up their ownership rights are returned.
Pros and Cons of a Month-to-Month Tenancy
Whether a month-to-month tenancy is advantageous or disadvantageous depends, in part, on a renter's or landlord's desire for flexibility and ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances.
Pros explained
Cons explained
Month-to-month tenancy falls under the real estate laws that cover leases.
Different Types of Tenancy
Within the lease contract, the tenant’s legal right to possess the property is deemed the leasehold estate — or tenancy. Depending upon the contract’s language, the following four different tenancies can be established:
Tenancy for years (aka tenancy for term)
This establishes a possession for the tenant that will last for a fixed time period, which could range from days to years. It has a specific starting and ending date, with the latter signifying the expiration of the renter’s tenancy.
Periodic tenancy
This is established when the renter’s possession is contracted for an indefinite period, with no agreed-upon expiration date. The tenancy is originally created for a specific period, but the renter’s tenancy can continue until there is some notification of the lease’s termination. Under the terms of the lease, the contract is automatically renewable until the owner or renter gives a notice to terminate.
Tenancy at will
A tenancy at will gives the renter the right to use the property for an unspecified period. The tenancy continues until the owner or renter gives notice of termination. In the event of either party’s death, the tenancy is terminated.
Tenancy at sufferance
A tenancy at sufferance occurs when the renter, who at one time had established a contractual tenancy, continues to remain in the property without the owner’s consent. This can occur when the renter does not surrender the property after the initial expiration date written into the lease. It usually leads to eviction proceedings being instituted by the owner. If, however, the landlord accepts a rent payment after the lease expiration date, the property is considered to be leased again, but now on a month-to-month basis.
Related terms:
Eviction
Eviction is the process by which a landlord may legally remove a tenant from a rental property. read more
Gross Lease
A gross lease is a commercial lease where the tenant pays a flat fee that encompasses rent and all costs associated with ownership. read more
Holdover Tenant
A holdover tenant is a renter who remains in a property after the lease expires. Laws for handling holdover tenancy vary from state to state. read more
Landlord
A landlord is a person or entity who owns real estate for rent or lease to a tenant. Learn how landlords make money and what they can and cannot do. read more
Lease Option
A lease option is an agreement that gives a renter the choice to purchase the rented property during or at the end of the rental period. read more
Lease
A lease is a legal document outlining the terms under which one party agrees to rent property from another party. read more
Leasehold
A leasehold refers to an asset or property that a lessee contracts to rent from a lessor in exchange for scheduled payments over an agreed-upon time. read more
Lessee
A lessee is a person who rents land or property and must follow restrictions and guidelines set by a lease agreement. read more
Month-to-Month Tenancy
A month-to-month tenancy is categorized as a periodic tenancy in which the tenant rents from the property owner one month at a time. read more
Rent Ceiling
Rent ceiling is the maximum price a landlord is allowed to charge for rent. It is usually set by law and limits how high the rent can go in an area. read more