76 Ind. App. 681 | Ind. Ct. App. | 1921
On August 1, 1916, appellant and appellee executed a written lease by the terms of which appellee leased to appellant a certain dwelling at a monthly rental of $22.50, payable in advance on the first day of each month. It was provided in the lease, among other things, that the tenancy might be terminated by either party at any time by giving thirty days written notice. During the month of April, 1919, appellee, claiming that the rent was inadequate, notified appellant to give possession. Whereupon it was verbally agreed between them that from and after May 1, 1919, appellant should pay a monthly rental of $25 in consideration of which appellant’s possession would not then be disturbed. On November 10, 1919, appellant having refused to give possession of the leased premises though written notice had been given to him more than thirty days prior to November 1, 1919, this suit was commenced by appellee for possession. There was a trial by the court, and the facts above set forth were established by the evidence.
The action of the court in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial is the only error assigned.
It is the contention of appellant that by the parol modification of the written lease, the lease became a parol contract for a tenancy from year to year giving appellant a right to the premises for one year from May 1, 1919, and that he could not be dispossessed except upon notice served three months before May 1, 1920.
The case of City of Michigan City v. Leeds (1899), 24 Ind. App. 271, 55 N. E. 799, cited and relied on by appellant is distinguishable from the case at bar, in that the lease there under consideration was for a term of ten years, and therefore within the statute of frauds.
Affirmed.