Non-renewal Technicalities

[Mrs. D]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? District of Columbia

Hello all, and thanks in advance for any advice you may be able to give.

I moved into an apartment last October, and to make a long story short, I have had a lot of problems since I moved in there! It flooded (too much rain and clogged spouting, not through my fault) and some of the appliances broke (30+ years old and again, not my fault). Basic point: I'm pretty sure my landlord thinks that I am just a nuisance (if only she knew how much stuff I fixed without ever calling her!), and I'm concerned she may not renew my lease. Per DC law and my lease, she must give 60 days notice, the deadline for which would be August 1. So here's my question: if she doesn't serve notice not to renew on me by the deadline (i.e., she sends it late) does that give me any rights to not vacate by September 30? I'm not looking for a free lunch, and I would pay rent for any additional time I stayed, but DC is a competitive rental market, and to find a good place will take lots of time...it took me about 3 months to find this place, so I'm thinking about one extra month?. My landlord is a notorious scatterbrain and sent a non-renewal notice to another tenant in the same building about 2 weeks past the 60-day deadline. Any information would be much appreciated, as all I've been able to find on the internet is that 60 days notice is required for non-renewal in DC.

 

[acmb05]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? District of Columbia

Hello all, and thanks in advance for any advice you may be able to give.

I moved into an apartment last October, and to make a long story short, I have had a lot of problems since I moved in there! It flooded (too much rain and clogged spouting, not through my fault) and some of the appliances broke (30+ years old and again, not my fault). Basic point: I'm pretty sure my landlord thinks that I am just a nuisance (if only she knew how much stuff I fixed without ever calling her!),

Which she can now charge you for.

I'm concerned she may not renew my lease. Per DC law and my lease, she must give 60 days notice, the deadline for which would be August 1. So here's my question: if she doesn't serve notice not to renew on me by the deadline (i.e., she sends it late) does that give me any rights to not vacate by September 30?

Sure you could stay and be a month to month renter, unless you have an automatic renewel clause in your lease.

I'm not looking for a free lunch, and I would pay rent for any additional time I stayed, but DC is a competitive rental market, and to find a good place will take lots of time...it took me about 3 months to find this place, so I'm thinking about one extra month?. My landlord is a notorious scatterbrain and sent a non-renewal notice to another tenant in the same building about 2 weeks past the 60-day deadline. Any information would be much appreciated, as all I've been able to find on the internet is that 60 days notice is required for non-renewal in DC.

Again you would then be a month to month tenant. If she sends it late then write her back and site the law. Make sure you send her proper notice that you are moving and when.

 

[Mrs. D]

Which she can now charge you for.

How exactly can she charge me for fixing something? A closet door was so loose that it wouldn't close, so I tightened the hinges. The shower head broke and started spraying water everywhere, so I replaced it. Her half-assed attempt at fixing a broken cabinet door failed, so I properly repaired it. I didn't break something and then fix it, it was already broken and/or normal wear and tear that I remedied without asking her help or requesting payment for the time and materials. Unfortunately, I cannot fix a 32-year-old refrigerator (neither can a repairman), so I had to call her for that, and cost her several hundred dollars to replace it.

The lease states that it continues as a month-to-month agreement with all the same terms if non-renewal notice is not given by one party. I guess my main question is what steps should I take to secure this right if she sends the notice late? Is saving the postmarked envelope enough? Obviously I would respond immediately with a letter, via registered mail since I am smart enough to know how to prove when I sent something, saying I am in receipt of the notice on such-and-such a date and as 60 days notice was not given I do not intend to vacate until the end of X month, but what do I have to do to prove it was late in coming?

 

[ecmst12]

If you get notice after 8/1 but before 9/1, you get to stay until 10/31.