Understanding Lease Agreements

Why might a tenant prefer a month-to-month lease over a fixed-term lease?

• It offers more flexibility to move out with short notice

• It is always cheaper than a fixed-term lease

• It does not require any responsibilities

• It guarantees the rent will never increase

What should a tenant do if there is a plumbing or electrical issue in the rental unit?

• Wait until the lease ends

• Notify the landlord in a timely manner

• Attempt major repairs themselves

• Ignore the problem

Which action would be considered a violation of the tenant’s duty to maintain the property?

• Cleaning the rental unit regularly

• Changing light bulbs as needed

• Leaving the property dirty and unkempt

• Reporting maintenance issues

If a lease is for more than a year, what is required?

• It must be notarized

• It must be written

• It must be oral

• It must be registered

According to lease covenants, who remains responsible for the rent after an assignment of the lease?

• The new tenant only

• The original tenant only

• Both the original tenant and the new tenant

• The landlord

A tenant transfers only part of their lease to another person, but not the remainder. What is this action called?

• Assignment

• Sublease

• Renewal

• Termination

A tenant and landlord both agree to end a lease before its scheduled expiration. What is this called?

• Mutual Agreement

• Breach of contract

• Eviction

• Subletting

If a landlord fails to keep the property in habitable condition, what action may the tenant take?

• Consider the lease terminated and vacate the premises

• Increase the rent

• Sublease the property to another tenant

• Ignore the issue and continue living there

If an injury occurs inside the interior spaces of a leased property, who holds the responsibility?

• The landlord

• The tenant

• The property manager

• The government

Explain why the landlord is responsible for injuries in halls, stairs, and entryways, while the tenant is responsible for injuries in interior spaces. Use reasoning based on control over the property.

• Because the landlord owns the entire property

• Because the landlord controls common areas and the tenant controls private spaces

• Because the tenant pays rent

• Because the law always favors the landlord