Pennsylvania Lease Laws

[gtchrltn]

I am a graduate student and I initially rented the townhome my wife and I live in starting Aug, 2002 when I started school. We intially signed a one-year lease, but have stayed in the same house for over three years so far. Each spring, my landlord sent me a letter stating that my lease was going to automatically renew and that I must sign an attached form and return it to him. I never did this, but just kept paying the same rent. Two weeks ago I gave him written notice that I need to leave in 2 months and that I want to end the lease then. He replied that we are liable for the final two months of our automatically-renewed lease if he does not find a new tenant to start immediately after I leave. My question is this... Since I never signed these automatic renewal forms am I legally liable for those two months? My father-in-law is an attorney in DC and he thinks that we are considered month-to-month without a signed lease for the current period, does anyone know the specifics of the lease laws in PA? Thanks for your help.

 

[Duranie]

Since your father in law is an attorney, I would listen to him. It does not sound like you have a written lease, therefore I would say you are month to month. The landlord does not know what he is talking about. as long as you give 30 days notice that should be suffucient. He can try and sue you but not sure he has much of a case.