Is is legal for a landlord to ask tenants to sign a new lease?

Question

We have lived here for many years and now our landlord wants us to sign a new lease contract. I suspect it has something to do with releasing them from liability regarding our contaminated water and we don't want to sign. Is this legal procedure for the land owner and do we need a lawyer?

Answer 1

Are you under a lease now?

If not, the landlord can implement a lease at any time. You are free to move if you don't wish to sign.

If you ARE already under a lease and the landlord wishes to CHANGE the conditions of the lease, it would behoove you to investigate very closely exactly what he or she is changing...and why. In this case, you might need a lawyer.

Answer 2

you must sign it after 12 months or move out.

Answer 3

Yes.

You either sign it or you get evicted.

HOWEVER, there is nothing saying that you cannot make changes to it, and the water is something I would make sure he doesn't wiggle out of!  

They do these things all the time because they might have to spend money to correct a problem they are legally bound to correct! Landkords hate to spend money. They give you 29 pages of what you are responsible for, but none that they are!

I would be at public works testing your water! If not, you can usually bring a bottle of it to the state labs and they will check it for you! Then you would have some real ammunition!

Answer 4

Get the new lease and read it.  They are probably just updating their records.  If the original lease was for a year and a new lease wasn't executed then you are basically on a month to month rental agreement.  

Answer 5

In many cases, after a lease for a year ends, it becomes a month-to-month tenancy.  He can terminate a tenant's month-to-month tenancy "at will" provided that he gives whatever notice state law requires.

A new lease may be a benefit for both the landlord and tenant.  You do not need a lawyer unless you do not understand the lease.

Answer 6

He can ask for anything.  So can you.  If you have a current lease, you do not need to agree to any amendments of it.  When that lease expires, you can negotiate a new lease but if you do not reach an agreement then you have to leave.  You have no right to renew a lease based on the same terms, unless the existing lease gives you the right to renew on the same terms.

Answer 7

He can ask you to sign a new lease....unless there is a date for your lease to end...he cannot force you to sign another!