Yes, in most cases a tenant may be able to stay after a lease expires, but it depends on the terms of the lease and state law. When a lease ends, if the tenant remains in the property with the landlord’s consent, a month-to-month tenancy is typically created automatically. This allows the tenant to stay while continuing to pay rent, but either party can usually terminate the tenancy with proper notice.
Outside of this arrangement, staying without the landlord’s consent is considered “holding over” and can lead to legal consequences, such as eviction or being responsible for additional rent or damages. It’s important to communicate with the landlord before the lease ends to clarify your options.
The information for this answer was found on our Lease Extension Addendum answers.