A Kansas month-to-month rental agreement is a contract (not necessarily in writing) which allows a tenant to rent property from a landlord, for one month at a time, in exchange for a fee (“rent”). The rental renews monthly, until either party gives proper notice to end it.
Basics of a Kansas Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
In Kansas, a landlord and tenant create a month-to-month lease by agreeing to rent a property according to acceptable terms. Written rental agreements are clearer and legally stronger, but oral leases are legal in a month-to-month context.
Parties under a month-to-month lease enjoy full rights under Kansas landlord-tenant law. The tenant must use the property in a responsible way and pay rent on time. The landlord must keep essential features of the property in habitable condition, and protect the tenant’s quiet enjoyment of the lease.
The main difference between a month-to-month lease and a fixed-term lease is that month-to-month leases can be terminated (with proper notice) by either party for any reason without penalty. Landlords also can usually modify terms from one month to the next, again with proper notice.
Required Disclosures for Month-to-Month Rentals in Kansas
Kansas landlords may not rent a property out without making the following disclosures to a potential tenant, as relevant:
- Landlord’s Name and Address – Landlords must give the tenant their name and address, or that of their authorized agent, to enable smooth communication of legal notice.
- Move-In Checklist – Landlords must provide tenants with a move-in checklist to take inventory of existing property damage before move-in.
- Lead-Based Paint – Landlords must provide an EPA-approved disclosure and informational pamphlet to tenants renting any property built before 1978.
Required Notice To End a Month-to-Month Rental in Kansas
Kansas lets both the landlord or tenant terminate a month-to-month lease with at least 30 days of advance notice. In general, any reason that isn’t landlord retaliation is a legal and valid grounds for ending a month-to-month lease.
Kansas requires written notice to end a month-to-month lease. Notice may be served by leaving a copy at the address of record, delivering a copy to an individual at the address of record who is 12 years old or older, posting a copy of the notice in a conspicuous place, or by registered/certified mail with a return receipt requested.
Required Notice To Raise the Rent on a Kansas Month-to-Month Lease
Kansas requires that notice for a rental increase be delivered in writing, but doesn’t specify a particular timeframe for that notice. This means in most cases it’s reasonable for a landlord to keep the same standard advance notice provided for termination or other major lease changes, which in Kansas is 30 days.
Eviction in Kansas Month-to-Month Rentals
Kansas tenants may face eviction for violating a month-to-month lease or remaining on the property after the notice period allowed by a valid termination. Evictions in Kansas typically take three to twelve weeks.
For more information on the eviction process in Kansas, click here.
Sources
- 1 Ks. Stat. § 58-2570(b)
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The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice given to the other party stating that the tenancy shall terminate upon a periodic rent-paying date not less than 30 days after the receipt of the notice, except that not more than 15 days’ written notice by a tenant shall be necessary to terminate any such tenancy where the tenant is in the military service of the United States and termination of the tenancy is necessitated by military orders. Any rental agreement for a definite term of more than 30 days shall not be construed as a month-to-month tenancy, even though the rent is reserved payable at intervals of 30 days.
Source Link - 2 Ks. Stat. § 58-2510
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Notice as required in the preceding sections may be served on the tenant, or, if the tenant cannot be found, by leaving a copy thereof at the tenant’s usual place of residence, or by delivering a copy thereof to some person over 12 years of age residing on the premises, or, if no person is found upon the premises, by posting a copy of the notice in a conspicuous place thereon, or by registered mail, registered mail return receipt requested, or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the tenant at the tenant’s usual place of residence. Proof of service by registered mail may be by the affidavit of the person mailing such notice or by the return receipt. Proof of service by certified mail may be by the return receipt.
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