Do you need to give notice for NOT renewing a lease?

Besides being courteous, do I need to give my landlord a certain amount of advance notice if I'm not renewing my lease? Can he try to say I need to give him 30 days notice?

About two weeks ago I got my renewal lease (current one ends 9/15) and then a few days later spoke with my landlord to do a little negotiating about the terms of the lease. I told him I would sign and return with what we agreed on. Then there were a few problems in the building. Then the super didn't show up for a minor thing that he said he would come to my apartment for and wouldn't return my phone calls. So out of frustration I decided I wouldn't send my signed lease back just yet so I could see what else was out there. Now with a week until the end of my current lease, an opportunity came up that I'm strongly thinking of taking. Any chance my landlord will try to make me stay or withhold my security deposit?

No. Although the landlord may try to find a way to keep your deposit anyway. Take lots of pictures of every part of the apartment before you turn over the keys.

You told the landlord

" I told him I would sign and return with what we agreed on. "

So you should tell him.

Unless you have something to hide, why wouldn't you say, "this is my last day" and confirm your move? Be honest. You have a verbal or even email agreement (depending how you discussed it) you will probably loose your deposit and never get a good reference from this person. Also, your landlord might just assume you are going month to month or paying by week until you return the lease, unless you tell him. There was a post about another person that never told their management and left and they were still billing the renter after they had left. Your are probably causing more headaches by not just being upfront.

I have no problem telling him and being straightforward, I'm just wondering what some of the potential backlash would be now that it is down to only a week until the end of the lease. He would have my signed lease by now if my phone calls were returned and t in the building/my apartment were taken care of as they were supposed to be.

Anyway, I don't want to burn any bridges, so if this other situation becomes confirmed (within the next 24 hours if it happens) I will be calling my landlord first thing.

I broke up with my landlord via text message. He deserved less.

verbal agreements are enforceable. If you move out you've also caused damage to the landlord because he wasn't given any time to try and find a replacement tenant so there's a good chance he will lose a month's rent, if not more.

It sucks that phone calls haven't been returned and the minor thing that the super was supposed to fix didn't get fixed but that's not enough to break your agreement without penalty.

Also keep in mind that the week or two leading up to labor day is one of the busiest vacation times of the year so I think it would be common for there to be a little extra delay in returning calls, getting things fixed, etc.

PittieCity wrote: I broke up with my landlord via text message. He deserved less.

LOL that one gave me a good laugh.. thanks i needed that!

Ben wrote: verbal agreements are enforceable. If you move out you've also caused damage to the landlord because he wasn't given any time to try and find a replacement tenant so there's a good chance he will lose a month's rent, if not more.

It sucks that phone calls haven't been returned and the minor thing that the super was supposed to fix didn't get fixed but that's not enough to break your agreement without penalty.

Also keep in mind that the week or two leading up to labor day is one of the busiest vacation times of the year so I think it would be common for there to be a little extra delay in returning calls, getting things fixed, etc.

^^^ good advice

The lease may say the 30 day thing - that's the place to look if you're concerned about the terms of the deposit.