What is a tenancy at will?

A tenancy at will is defined as a property tenure that allows either party—the landlord or the tenant—to terminate the arrangement at any time, without the requirement for advance notice, unless specified otherwise in an agreement. This means that the rental situation is very flexible and can change as per the needs of either party.

This type of tenancy does not have a predetermined duration, making it different from leases that specify fixed terms. Moreover, it does not conform to long-term rental agreements as seen in other tenancy types, where stability and longer commitments are essential aspects. Finally, while a tenancy at will can exist without a written contract, it will often benefit from having one for clarity regarding terms and conditions, but it is not a requirement for the tenancy itself to be valid. Thus, the primary and defining characteristic of a tenancy at will is this inherent flexibility for termination by either party.