A tenant at will is a tenant who occupies a rental property with the permission of the landlord, but without a written lease or rental agreement. This type of tenancy can be ended by either the landlord or the tenant at any time, with proper notice.
In a tenancy at will, the landlord and tenant have a verbal or implied agreement that the tenant can occupy the property in exchange for rent. The terms of the tenancy, such as the amount of rent and the length of the tenancy, are not specified in a written lease or rental agreement.
Tenancy at will is different from a lease tenancy, in which the tenant has the right to occupy the property for a specific period of time, as specified in a written lease agreement. In a lease tenancy, the tenant’s right to occupy the property cannot be terminated by the landlord without cause, unless the lease agreement allows for it.
Tenancy at will is generally less stable than a lease tenancy and can be ended by either the landlord or the tenant at any time, with proper notice. The notice period required for ending a tenancy at will depends on state law and may vary from a few days to a few weeks. It is important for both landlords and tenants to understand their rights and obligations in a tenancy at will arrangement.