Brook Run Development Corp. v. Dristine Noon, et al.

New Haven, Connecticut landlord and tenant lawyer represented the parties in a lease renewal dispute.



The plaintiff is the owner of real property located at 183 Bull Hill Lane, Unit 12, in West Haven (premises). On November 17, 2012, the plaintiff and the defendant entered into a residential lease agreement for the premises, at the amount of $1200 per month (lease). The original lease term was for two years, running through December 14, 2014. The typed lease, prepared by the plaintiff, defined certain terms used therein, noting that ''the words 'we,' 'us,' and 'our' means the [l]andlord'' and ''[t]he words 'you' and 'yours' means the [t]enant.'' It also contained a handwritten provision labeled 10 (A) which read as follows: ''This lease will automatical[l]y renew on every an[n]iversary for the term of one year unless a written [agreement] is signed by us, or you vacate the apartment when the lease ends.'' The final relevant portion of the lease was a holdover provision, paragraph 18, which read as follows: ''If you continue to occupy the [a]partment with our consent after this lease ends, this lease will be on a monthly basis. In that case, either you or we can send a notice to the other and cancel lease at any time. All the other terms of this lease will still apply.''



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Legal issue Can a landlord prevent automatic lease renewal by notifying the tenant of nonrenewal according to the lease terms?



Key Phrases Lease automatic renewal. Summary process action. Protected tenant status. Tenant at sufferance. Judgment of possession.

Affirmed