Cal. Civ. Code § 250.203
Assignment, Grant and Surrender of Leases to be in Writing; Exception
Operative Text
No lease of any real property made or created for a term of more than three years shall be assigned, granted or surrendered except in writing signed by the party assigning, granting or surrendering the same or his agent, unless such assigning, granting or surrendering shall result from operation of law.
Under 68 P.S. § 250.203, when a lease covering real property runs for more than three years, any transfer, grant, or surrender of that lease must be documented in a signed writing by the party making the transfer or their authorized agent. Oral agreements to assign or give up such a long-term lease are generally not legally effective. The only exception is when the assignment or surrender occurs automatically by operation of law, such as through bankruptcy or inheritance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators managing properties under leases longer than three years should ensure that any assignment, subletting arrangement, or early surrender of such a lease is memorialized in a written document signed by the relevant party or their authorized agent, as required by 68 P.S. § 250.203. Accepting an informal or verbal agreement to transfer or end a long-term lease may leave the transaction legally unenforceable. Maintaining clear written records of all such transactions is a standard practice for compliant property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 68 P.S. § 250.203, tenants holding leases of more than three years have a right to expect that any assignment or surrender of that lease be documented in writing — meaning an oral agreement to transfer or give up the lease may not be legally binding on either party. If a dispute arises over whether a long-term lease was properly assigned or surrendered, this provision may be relevant to how the matter is resolved. Tenants navigating such situations may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Pennsylvania landlord-tenant law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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