Renew or Not: Deadline for Tenants

[Kaela J.]

Hello All- 

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm a new landlord. I lived in a condo until two years ago and now am renting it out.  Last year when I asked my tenants if they would like to renew their year lease, they quickly answered that they would like to renew. Their lease is up this year on July 31st. I asked mid-May if they planned on renewing their lease (also when I asked last year) and they did not let me know that they would be renewing until yesterday after me reminding them several times to get back to me. 

Legally, when do tenants have to tell me that they are not renewing the lease for another year? I tried finding this online - most places said 30 days but this was only for month-to-month leases. I was a little wishy washy this year on when I had to know but only having a month to find new tenants to move in doesn't seem like a lot of time! Luckily they are staying this year but I have a feeling they will move out next year. I'd like to give them a hard deadline for next spring.