California Real Estate Practice Exam

A landlord does NOT have to file a notice to terminate when tenancy is:

1. An estate at suffrage

2. An estate for year-to-year

3. An estate for years

4. Periodic

The correct answer is: An estate at suffrage

A landlord does not have to file a notice to terminate when the tenancy is an estate at sufferance. This type of tenancy arises when a tenant continues to occupy the property after the lease has expired without the landlord's consent. Since the tenant is in possession without any lawful right, the landlord may choose to evict the tenant directly without needing to provide a formal notice of termination. In contrast, other types of tenancies, such as estates for year-to-year, for years, or periodic tenancies, typically require a notice to terminate that complies with specific legal requirements to allow the tenant adequate time to vacate. Estates for years and year-to-year tenancies involve specific start and end dates, requiring notice if the landlord intends to terminate the agreement. Periodic tenancies generally also necessitate notice due to their ongoing nature, which continues until one party provides notice of intent to end the lease.