How do I tell my landlord I am not renewing my lease?

A fixed term tenancy ends on its end date without notice from either side, and it does not renew by itself. If the tenant stays and the landlord keeps accepting rent with no new agreement, it becomes a periodic tenancy. At the end of a fixed term the parties can negotiate a new agreement that could change the rent, the deposit and the conditions.

For a month-to-month tenancy the tenant gives one full tenancy month of written notice, served on or before the first day of the notice period. The notice must give the address, be signed and set the termination date. A late notice pushes the end to the last day of the next complete tenancy month.

If the tenancy agreement does not require the tenant to vacate at the end of the fixed term and the parties do not sign a new one, the tenancy continues as month-to-month on the same terms. A landlord cannot make a tenant who wants to go month-to-month sign another fixed-term agreement. A vacate clause is allowed only in limited cases, such as an individual landlord or close family member who will occupy the unit.

A tenant's notice to end a month-to-month tenancy must be in writing and given at least one month before the effective date and before the day rent is due; it is a complete rental month, not simply 30 days.

Three months before the end of a tenancy agreement, landlords must give tenants a renewal of the tenancy agreement. If the landlord fails to do so and the tenant continues to occupy the unit, the existing agreement is deemed renewed for the same term or a term of 12 months, whichever is less. Tenants in fixed-term tenancies are responsible for the rent until the end of the term.

A tenant in a periodic tenancy must give one full rental payment period's notice: notice on or before the last day of a rental payment period, to be effective not earlier than the last day of the following period. We did not find a source that states what a tenant must do to decline a renewal at the end of a fixed term, so confirm the steps with the Residential Tenancies Branch.

A fixed term tenancy ends on the date specified unless the landlord and tenant have signed a new tenancy agreement. The landlord must serve a written notice of intentions not later than two months before the agreement ends, saying whether a new agreement is offered. The tenant has one month to respond in writing, and a failure to respond is deemed to be a rejection.

For a periodic tenancy the tenant's notice cannot take effect earlier than one month after the landlord receives it (one week for a weekly tenancy), and the tenancy ends the day before rent is next due.

When a fixed term ends and nothing new is signed, the tenancy continues automatically on a month-to-month basis (week-to-week if rent is paid weekly) on the same terms. The standard lease says the end of the agreement does not mean the tenant has to move out or sign a renewal or new agreement to stay.

A tenant leaving at the end of a fixed term gives 60 days' notice, with a termination date no earlier than the last day of the term. For a month-to-month tenancy the notice is at least 60 days and the termination date has to be the last day of a rental month; for daily or weekly rent it is at least 28 days. Add five days if the notice is mailed.

The government says a fixed-term lease automatically ends at the end of the agreed period. If the landlord accepts rent after a tenancy has expired and no new lease is signed, the Act says this creates a new tenancy agreement whose term is determined by the method of rental payment.

For periodic tenancies a tenant gives written notice: one full week for week-to-week, one full month for month-to-month and three months before the end of the lease year for year-to-year (one month for a tenant who has been in the unit five consecutive years or more). The notice must show the unit address, the termination date and the tenant's signature.

A fixed-term lease ends on the day specified in the lease, and the Renting Guide says it does not renew after the end date. A new fixed-term lease must be signed for each additional fixed term. If a tenant remains in possession with the consent of an owner, the Act deems the lease renewed on a month-to-month basis.

A tenant's notice to quit is given in writing on Form C: at least three months before the end of the year for a year-to-year lease, at least one month before the end of any month for month-to-month, and at least one week before the end of any week for week-to-week. The notice must be given before the rent due date in the relevant month.

At the end of a fixed term with no renewal option and no valid termination, the landlord and tenant are deemed to renew the tenancy agreement as a monthly tenancy with the same rights and obligations. A tenant's ordinary notice cannot end a fixed-term tenancy before the term ends.

A tenant's written notice must be signed and dated and takes effect at least one month after the landlord receives it, ending the day before rent is due. For a weekly tenancy the notice takes effect not earlier than seven days after the landlord receives it.

A tenant gives notice not less than one month before the end of a rental period for a month-to-month tenancy, 7 days for week-to-week, and not less than 2 months before the end of the term for a fixed term. The notice must be given no later than the first day of a rental period and end on the last day of a rental period. The government form is the Tenant's Notice to Terminate.

If a fixed term ends and the tenant stays with no notice given, the tenancy continues on the same terms and can then be ended with the month-to-month notice periods.