Is a verbal lease agreement legal?
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Is a verbal lease agreement legal?
My lease ended at the end of last month. I gave my landlord notice. He claims I broke the lease because I verbally said that I would do another lease. He is allowing me to stay until the end of this month, however I will be moved out by the 15th. Do I pay half the months rent or the full months rent? Can he keep my security deposit from me?
Asked on July 1, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Virginia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
An oral lease (that's the better term than verbal lease) is enforceable. It creates a month to month tenancy, or a tenancy for one month at a time. That means that the tenant, under an oral lease, is always obligated for at least one full month of rent; it takes, for example, 30 days notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy.
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