My lease expired and I did not sign the renewal lease. Does this make me a tenant at will? The new lease that was not signed did have a paragraph in that that stated that if the lease was not signed and returned prior to 60 days before the end of the lease we (the tenants) agree to the terms and rent increase for the next 12 months. This lease was delivered to us inside the 60 day window. When I called the property manager I was told not to worry about it.

I have also in the past submitted to repair requests that went unanswered. One was for smells from the trash room and the neighbors (strong smoke smell), but the new property manager told me there was nothing the old property manager could do, but he (the old property manager) never stated that to me. The second was our unit is the only unit in the entire building without blinds. Not a big deal, but still an unanswered repair request.

I am now trying to give my 30 day notice and my landlord says I owe them the balance of the rent until the unit is re-rented plus one months rent to break the lease. Our lease states that we owe the landlord either one month's rent or the rent until the unit is re-rented, which ever is the larger amount. They have already demanded both payments.

Should I find myself a lawyer, or try to rent my apartment for them (cannot sublet) ASAP?

thanks!