My lease expires soon. I would sign a new one, but I may have to leave the city over the summer, and I won't know until early in the new lease term. I talked to my LL about attaching an opt-out rider to the lease, but he just told me (orally) that I could go month-to-month until I know whether I'll be staying for the full year, then return the lease.
I'm aware that this arrangement isn't legal in an RS unit and that the LL could sue me for failure to renew. Is there any danger that, in paying rent in the new lease term without returning the lease, I could imply the renewal agreement into existence? I seem to recall reading something about that on this site, but I can't find it.
For context, the LL has had trouble renting vacant units, and he's put up signs around the building encouraging tenants to apply for rent relief money from the state, so it's possible he's made this arrangement with other tenants who aren't sure they'll be able to make rent from month to month (almost all apts in my building are RS). On the other hand, it gives him further incentive to try to shake me down if I leave early.
I was thinking of sending him a certified letter confirming the month-to-month arrangement, so there's at least a paper trail.
Thanks for any help you can give me.