Tenants who stay past the end of a lease are treated as month-to-month tenants if the landlord accepts a rent payment (Real Property Law § 232-c). The contract you signed with the landlord guarantees that he won't have to worry about an empty unit for the next 12 months.This booklet explains many of these laws you need to know and provides resources where you can find more information about landlord and tenant issues. Many rental agreements also have terms regarding early terminations. This usually involves paying a fee which amounts to a month or two of rent. Landlord double the rent for as long as the tenant holds over. (See Right of Entry Bulletin). New homes are getting added all the time. So, if this is the case, you should probably call the landlord and say that you want to remain in the apartment. If you've broken your lease and taken off, expect to lose at least a month's rent.