Hi,

I live in NYC and my lease expired in May 2010. At the time I received a new lease agreement but never returned it signed. However, I did tell them over the phone that I intended to stay. I'm relocating soon and wanted to know if the landlord can hold me till May 2011 without the signed lease, if I only agreed to stay over a phone call? Do I need to give them a certain amount of notice?

Thanks.

Why don't you just ask them?

Where I live I signed a 12month lease. After that 12months I am month to month but still must give 30 day notice. All places are different.

Reread your old lease regarding renewals. You may be month to month but many leases state that they fully renew unless one party gave a 30 day notice. You would be better off to try to negotiate a release bu offering maybe 2-3 months rent. In most cases the LL can keep charging you rent until a new tenant moves in but the LL may not have to be actively searching for a tenant.