What would you do? Tenant wants a 6 month lease at renewal time.

[Jason Maestas]

Hi everybody, I want to hear what you would do in my situation. 

I have a great tenant who pays on time every time and never has complaints or issues with rules or anything, for that matter. She has been with me for 2 years, each on a 1 year lease term. It is a 1br 1ba 800sft apt.  It's time for her renewal and she wants to be in a 6 month lease term because she is not sure what her plan is for the end of next year. 

I really want to stick with 1 year terms but I really like her as a tenant and how easy she makes things.  I have thought about allowing it this once but going back to 1 year leases as I dont want this to become the normal.  

Let me know what you guys would do. I really appreciate all the feedback. Let me know if you have any questions as well.

[Michael Boyer]

ditto on the above... If you want to keep the good tenant I would do six months. Plus she may even renew the six months over and over and over....I have tenants who have been "planning" to buy a house or even move for years.... This sounds more about her wanting to have options and flexibility  than move out per se... Also, if other folks mostly do one year leases in your area, she is even more likely to stay longer if you have the more flexible terms...