Q: When my lease was up last week, I began talking with the landlord about renewing, and what the new rent would be. She surprised me by setting a high figure, so I'm not going to renew and plan to leave next week. Now she says I owe her two months' rent, because my lease had a clause in it that says if I "hold over" after the lease ends, she can collect two months' rent or twice the "actual damages" she suffered by my overstay, whichever is greater. This is a great place and I know it will rent right away.  more...