Verbal lease agreements

[Datman07]

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

Hello All,

My girlfriend and I are looking to take the leap and move in together. We have found a place we really like but currently have leases in place. My lease is verbal and month to month and dont expect any issues. She has a verbal lease as well, but I believe the assumption was a year starting in June. She has been at her current house for roughly 6 years but is afraid her landlord may not approve of her leaving 5 months early.

The question is, The move is currently planned for end of January with the lease at the new place starting in February. If she decides to move out 5 months early, could she still be held liable for the remaining 5 months even though there is no written agreement between her and her landlord?

Feel free to asks questions if any additional info is needed.

 

[FarmerJ]

Verbal agreements are worth the TP they are written on. What actually counts is if she originally started on a written lease and what its terms were. Some LLs use written leases that are for whole year at a time that automatically renew for another whole year when LL or T do nothing to change it via written notice. It becomes a he said she said fight when it comes to court , with out a written lease month to month rental either person can end the tenancy with proper written notice to the other. If LL decided they wanted her out or to raise the rent with no written lease all they would have to do is send proper notice , and there is nothing she can do about it if she chose to fight it , all LL would have to do is deny any verbal agreement existed.

 

[Datman07]

I believe she had signed a written lease at the beginning of her tennancy 6 years ago, but has just been verbal after that (or at least in the 2 1/2 years i've known her). That's for the info!

 

[FarmerJ]

Have her find that original lease to re read it! That is what counts, especially if it auto renewed for whole year at a time. If the lease clearly says it becomes month to month when not renewed then its a month to month.

 

[Datman07]

So what if the original lease was just for that year with no section on renewals and the terms were just assumed thereafter via phone conversation. Would the lease then be legally for a year or on a month to month basis at that point?

This may seem like a dumb question, but one that I do not have an answer to...