The Connecticut Month to Month Rental Agreement Form is often utilized when a landlord and tenant wish to enter a lease without a fixed term. A fixed term is where both parties will remain locked in an agreement for a predetermined definitive amount of time (usually a year). This means neither party can abandon their responsibilities in the middle of a fixed term lease. That is, in an unpleasant situation, they are stuck. The power of a month to month agreement is its flexibility. There is not as much protection if one wishes to end this type of lease however notice would be required before doing so. Otherwise, the lease will automatically renew at the end of every month which, obligates each party to the terms and conditions for another thirty days.

Each party, landlord and tenant, must fulfill their obligations while the lease is in effect. Thus, landlords must provide a domicile that is compliant with health and housing codes while tenants are responsible for the rent and observing the rules of the property as defined by the property owner. After all, despite the flexibility, the State of Connecticut will still consider this lease a binding contract and expect the state and federal laws to be followed.

Minimum Time-Period: There is no statute stating the minimum time-period a Landlord or Tenant must give to cancel a month-to-month lease. Thirty (30) days’ notice is recommended.

Laws – None.

How to Write

Step 1 – There will be several sections which require information to be entered. Make sure that all the negotiable information entered is understood and agreed upon by both parties.

Step 2 – In the first paragraph enter the landlord’s full name, tenant’s full name, and the date of this contract.

Step 3 – In the first section heading, “Premises,” enter the address where the property is located. The first space will be for the street address and the second will be for the city the property is in.

Step 4 – The “Lease Term” section will require the starting date of the lease to be entered.

Step 5 – Now that parties, property, and time period has been established, it is time to report the payment amount to rent the property. This will be done in the “Lease Payments” section. On the first line enter rent amount due each month. Notice this will have to be entered twice (written out and as a dollar amount). Next enter the calendar month of the first payment along with the year.

Step 6 – The “Late Charges” section will require that the latest date a tenant may pay the rent and be considered on time (grace period). If the tenant does not pay the rent within the defined grace period enter the late fee charge the tenant will have to pay each day it is not paid. Enter the last date the tenant may be rent without being considered in violation of the lease.

Step 7 – If the tenant bounces a check, enter the penalty amount charged to the tenant for each bounced check in “Insufficient Funds.”

Step 8 – Enter the security deposit amount in the “Security Deposit” section.

Step 9 – In the “Occupants” section enter the maximum number of people that may live in this rental. Include the tenant in this number.

Step 10 – The “Utilities and Services” check all the services the landlord will be responsible for providing. There is an additional space to write in any amenities that have not been covered.

Step 11 – The “Pets” section requires a dollar amount entered for the additional security deposit amount a tenant will have to leave with the landlord for each pet they live with.

Step 12 – The “Abandonment” section will deal with the unfortunate event that a tenant simply moves out without informing the landlord. Enter the number of consecutive days a tenant may be absent then the number of days the rent is overdue before the landlord may consider the property abandoned.

Step 13 – The “Display of Signs” section will define how many days before a tenant moves out that the landlord may show the unit to rental applicants. It is assumed party terminating the agreement will have observed the law and provided the appropriate notice.

Step 14 – In the “Noise” section enter the earliest time of day furniture may be moved in or out of the property. Then enter the latest time of day this will be allowed.

Step 15 – If the tenant has a space to park his or her vehicle mark the first checkbox in “Parking.” If not, mark the second checkbox. In cases where parking is available, enter the location in the space provided and the maximum number of vehicles the tenant may park.

Step 16 – At the bottom of the document, the landlord must sign and print his/her name. Below this the tenant(s) must also provide a signature and printed name. There will be enough space for two tenants however if there are more, they too must sign and print their name for this to bind them to the lease terms.