Are no-lease apartments legal?

Answer 1

Yes. Many apartments are rented on a "month to month" basis. The advantage of a month to month rental agreement is that you can move out at any time you choose (usually with 30 days notice).

Answer 2

yes, of course they are legal. the landlord can rent out apartments any way he wishes. if he wants to write a lease, then so be it. if not, then he will rent to you as a month-to-month tenant.

i think you should be careful if you are thinking of being a MTM tenant in one particular building. why?

because this owner may very well have the property up on the market already, but chose not to put a sign on it. or, the landlord could be thinking of selling it. everyone knows how apartment buildings are being converted left and right to CONDOS these days, effectively making suburbs of owners out of what were nicely diversified neighborhoods. you'd think a realtor would be happy for all this condo conversion, yes? well, i am not. there is really no sense of community when people drive into their garages, get out of their cars, walk into the building, and then you don't see them at all. they don't shop in your stores, they do not use the libraries or churches, and they do not send their kids to your schools. they have come from the suburbs to find diversity, and then they move into condos, creating another suburb! heavens!

so, if you move into a place on a MTM tenancy, who knows what security you will have? when you are on MTM, either you or the landlord can vacate (or tell you to vacate) within 30 days from the date of a letter that is sent by registered or certified mail. if YOU want the flexibility to move, say, if you are in the process of buying a house, then i guess it would work out for you. but if you are not and you don't know what the landlord intends to do, maybe you will become comfortable, out of the boxes, only to learn you have to go get more of them, and soon. so where do you go if it is not rental season???

leases in certain municipalities, such as in chicago, are usually called city of x standard apartment lease. you want that kind of lease, since it clearly states what laws the landlord must follow in renting out. i don't like non standard leases. you have to look at them with a magnifying glass and maybe have your lawyer look at it too.

if you are the owner of an apartment building, yes, you can rent out the apartments any way you want to, for the greatest amount of money you can get. this is not russia.

hope this helps you.

Answer 3

Yes as long as the lease is month to month.

Answer 4

I believe that they are not illegal. But you rent at your risk. You probably have not legal recourse, if anything goes wrong.