Possible for landlord to not renew at end of lease?

[Anonymous]

We currently have tenants that we haven't been very happy with. They are in a 1-year lease, which ends August 31, 2022. If we do not want to renew with them, could we let them know June 1 (which is 90 days' notice) that we don't intend to renew the lease and we ask that they plan to move out at its expiration?

I recently saw a thread that said tenants are allowed to automatically go month-to-month at the end of their lease agreement even if the landlord wanted to end the lease (unless the landlord was moving back into the house themselves). Is that true?

What is the point of having a lease at all with a determined time period (for example, 12 months) if only one party has the power to renew or terminate it at the end of the set time? Is it really not possible for a landlord to simply say "this isn't working for us, we don't intend to renew with you as tenants"?

Any insight would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

I would say we intend to move into the house and don’t.

[Anonymous]

What you read in the previous thread is true.

In D.C., once the lease period ends, the lease automatically goes month-to-month. All the other parts of the lease remain the same (including the rent amount, unless you give the tenant proper written notice of a rent increase).

If you really don't like them cash for keys may be in your future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say we intend to move into the house and don’t.

An easy way to get hit with punitive fines

If you are outside DC the rules are likely different FYI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say we intend to move into the house and don’t.

90 days notice is required for that, and cannot be rented for a 12-month period beginning on the date the housing provider recovered possession of the rental unit. If they do not actually move in the tenant can seek damages.

[Anonymous]

Yeah just give 90 day notice that you will not be renewing. If they get nosy, just say it’s nothing personal, but part of the contract. As a landlord, I’ve done this. The tenant was grateful that we gave them a heads up and they were able to buy a house further out, so win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What you read in the previous thread is true.

In D.C., once the lease period ends, the lease automatically goes month-to-month. All the other parts of the lease remain the same (including the rent amount, unless you give the tenant proper written notice of a rent increase).

If you really don't like them cash for keys may be in your future.

OP here. Thank you. Unfortunately, this is what I thought was going to be the case. We'll figure something out, I'm sure. And it's definitely a good lesson for me going forward...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say we intend to move into the house and don’t.

90 days notice is required for that, and cannot be rented for a 12-month period beginning on the date the housing provider recovered possession of the rental unit. If they do not actually move in the tenant can seek damages.

Couldn’t OP just notify them that rent is going up by 50% or something? They’re unlikely to stay if rent is so much higher than market rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say we intend to move into the house and don’t.

90 days notice is required for that, and cannot be rented for a 12-month period beginning on the date the housing provider recovered possession of the rental unit. If they do not actually move in the tenant can seek damages.

Couldn’t OP just notify them that rent is going up by 50% or something? They’re unlikely to stay if rent is so much higher than market rate.

Nope. You are only allowed to raise the rent “to what the market can bear.”

[Anonymous]

What is the problem with the tenants?
Are they paying on time?

[Anonymous]

Don't these laws intimidate would-be landlords and increase the number of vacant spaces that are just sitting around in DC, when we have shortage of units?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say we intend to move into the house and don’t.

90 days notice is required for that, and cannot be rented for a 12-month period beginning on the date the housing provider recovered possession of the rental unit. If they do not actually move in the tenant can seek damages.

Couldn’t OP just notify them that rent is going up by 50% or something? They’re unlikely to stay if rent is so much higher than market rate.

You can do a reasonable rent increase but you can’t try to evict them or retaliate against them thru a rent increase

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't these laws intimidate would-be landlords and increase the number of vacant spaces that are just sitting around in DC, when we have shortage of units?

Or maybe they lead people to sell increasing the supply of housing to purchase.

[Anonymous]

You don’t have to be very happy with a tenant as long as they are not bad tenants like not paying rent or destroying your house .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say we intend to move into the house and don’t.

90 days notice is required for that, and cannot be rented for a 12-month period beginning on the date the housing provider recovered possession of the rental unit. If they do not actually move in the tenant can seek damages.

Couldn’t OP just notify them that rent is going up by 50% or something? They’re unlikely to stay if rent is so much higher than market rate.

You can do a reasonable rent increase but you can’t try to evict them or retaliate against them thru a rent increase

You’re only allowed to raise it to market rent.