What does tenancy at sufferance describe?

Tenancy at sufferance refers specifically to a situation where a tenant remains in possession of the leased property without the landlord's permission after the lease term has expired. This scenario occurs when the lease agreement has ended, but the tenant continues to occupy the premises without an updated agreement or consent from the landlord.

In this case, the tenant does not have a legal right to stay, and the landlord may choose to take action to evict the tenant. This situation is often viewed unfavorably because it can lead to disputes over property rights and responsibilities. Thus, the definition of tenancy at sufferance captures this unique and somewhat precarious position of an occupant who has not been granted formal authorization to continue their residency.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of tenancy at sufferance: having a written lease agreement denotes a legal tenancy, voluntarily vacating means the tenant is leaving the property willingly, and being protected by rent control laws implies a tenant is within a regulated framework that provides protections, which does not apply to those without permission to stay.