Lease wording

[brute]

I'm looking at renewing a lease, and the wording isn't entirely clear. I'm trying to figure out if the current lease allows for a month to month lease renegotiated every 6 months, or a 6 month lease. Essentially, we're going to be moving in the next 3-8 months and we're trying to figure out what makes the most sense. Here's the clause in question.

At the end of the lease term, Tenants have the option of renewing the lease contract for another year with the written permission of the Landlord at the rate of XXX

If the Tenants with to continue on a 6 month-to-month lease the rent amount will be XXX. This will continue until the landlord or tenants provides written notice to end the lease

So, are my options a year lease or a six month lease, or is there an actual month to month option in there?

[ducky19]

To me it reads that if you choose not to sign another year's lease, you can sign a six month lease with the option to go month to month after that. I agree that the wording isn't exactly clear. The best thing to do is to be honest with your landlord about your intentions and ask for clarification. This will ensure you are both on the same page, and they may decide to update the lease terms so the intent is more clearly stated.

[brute]

To me it reads that if you choose not to sign another year's lease, you can sign a six month lease with the option to go month to month after that. I agree that the wording isn't exactly clear. The best thing to do is to be honest with your landlord about your intentions and ask for clarification. This will ensure you are both on the same page, and they may decide to update the lease terms so the intent is more clearly stated.

Thanks for the input. That's definitely my plan (re: being open with the landlord). I just wanted to get a second opinion about what the lease seemed to say before I went in asking for something totally out of left field. I like the landlord pretty well, he's been reasonable so far, very responsive to repair requests. If it weren't for wanting to reduce my 50 mile a day commute, I'd stay there happily quite a lot longer.

[Samuel]

A "6 month-to-month lease" sounds like a typo to me. It's not how I would describe any combination of 6 month extension and/or month to month options.

I wouldn't sign something like that unless it's clarified.

[cchrissyy]

yeah that's confusing wording and my guess is they have a typo where that part used to say 6 months and now should say month-to-month, or maybe the reverse situation.

[robartsd]

The wording certainly isn't clear. I think the most reasonable interpretation is that the lease is month-to-month, and the rent amount is fixed for 6 months. I'd ask the landlord if this is the intent and suggest the language be changed to something like:

If the Tenants wish to continue on a month-to-month lease the rent amount will be XXX per month for six months. This will continue until the landlord or tenants provides written notice to end the lease