--- title: "What Is Holdover tenant? Landlord and Renter Glossary" description: "A holdover tenant is a tenant who keeps living in the rental home after the lease term ends, without signing a new lease or other agreement." url: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/holdover-tenant publisher: Real Property Management Gold phone: +1-301-392-2172 assessment: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment --- Leasing # Holdover tenant A holdover tenant is a tenant who keeps living in the rental home after the lease term ends, without signing a new lease or other agreement. A holdover tenant keeps living in a rental after the lease term ends, with no renewal signed. This often happens when a tenant misses a move-out date, or when talks about a new term stall. What happens next depends on the lease and on what the owner does. If you want the tenant out, put your notice in writing and follow Maryland's notice rules. If the tenant still does not leave, a court can enter a judgment for restitution of the property and for costs against the person in possession "so holding over." Only a sheriff or constable can then carry out a [warrant of restitution](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/warrant-of-restitution). The best prevention is early planning. Send a [lease renewal](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/lease-renewal) offer or a clear non-renewal notice well before the end date, and give a [rent increase notice](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rent-increase-notice) on time if the rent will change. Talk to a Maryland attorney before you act on a specific case. This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the linked official source or talk to a Maryland attorney. [Read nextMaryland Landlord-Tenant Law: The Rules Every Rental Owner Should Know](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/maryland-landlord-tenant-law) ## Related terms - [Lease renewal](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/lease-renewal) - [Warrant of restitution](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/warrant-of-restitution) - [Rent increase notice](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/rent-increase-notice) ## Sources 1. [Maryland General Assembly: Real Property 8-402, Tenant holding over](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-402&enactments=false) 2. [Maryland General Assembly: Real Property 8-402, Tenant holding over](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-402&enactments=false) ## Ask what your home could rent for. Free. A free rental assessment from our offices in Lexington Park and Waldorf. No cost, no contract, no pressure. [Request a free assessment](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment)[(301) 392-2172](tel:+13013922172)