Legal Definitions - Periodic Tenancy

A periodic tenancy is a type of rental agreement where the tenant rents a property for a certain period of time, usually a month or a year, and the tenancy automatically renews for another period until the tenant gives notice to end the tenancy. This type of tenancy can be created either by an explicit agreement between the landlord and tenant or by implication, such as when rent is paid at regular intervals without a specific end date being agreed upon.

For example, if a tenant signs a lease agreement for a year and continues to pay rent on a monthly basis after the lease expires, the tenancy becomes periodic. Another example is when a tenant rents a property on a month-to-month basis without a specific end date being agreed upon.

To end a periodic tenancy, the tenant must give notice to the landlord at least equal to the length of the period of the tenancy itself, unless the parties agree to different terms for termination. For instance, if the tenancy is monthly, the tenant must give one month's notice to end the tenancy.