Which scenario commonly gives rise to a tenancy at will?

• A. The seller permits the buyer to occupy the property until the sale is completed.
• B. The tenant signs a month-to-month lease.
• C. The landlord refuses consent.
• D. The tenant signs a long-term lease.

Answer: (A)

Tenancy at will is occupancy by someone with the owner’s permission but without a fixed term or written lease. It’s common in real estate when a buyer moves in before the deal closes, with the seller still technically the owner and no formal lease in place. Because there’s no defined end date or rent schedule, either party can end it with reasonable notice, and it typically ends when the sale closes or possession is otherwise terminated.

In the scenario described, the seller permits the buyer to occupy until the sale is completed. This fits tenancy at will because there’s consent to occupy but no lease agreement or fixed duration. The other situations involve a formal lease arrangement (monthly tenancy or a long-term lease) or no occupancy arrangement at all, so they aren’t tenancy at will.