10 Pa. Super. 491 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1899
Opinion by
The defendants operated a printing establishment, and, from October 15, 1895, to January 30, 1897, had used, for the purposes of their business, the fourth floor of a building owned by plaintiffs. By the covenants of the lease each of the parties had become bound for a term to expire on March 1,1898. The parties, on January 30, 1897, executed an additional lease, under the terms of which the defendants became tenants of the fifth floor, also, for a term to expire on March 1,1898, the same date with the expiration of the term under the lease for
It is not necessary in this case to consider whether the acts complained of would have amounted to such a wrongful interference with the beneficial enjoyment of the premises as to have constituted an eviction during a current term. The defendants had full notice of the character and capabilities of the building, and the limitations as to the manner of its use imposed by plaintiffs, prior to December 1, 1897. Their affidavit of defense clearly implied such notice and knowledge prior to that date, and we must assume that it states the defense as strongly as conscience would permit. With this knowledge of the defects of the building and the regulations insisted upon by its owners, the defendants were able intelligently to make up their minds, on December 1, 1897, as to whether, or not, they would accept the building for an additional term of one year, from March 1, 1898, under the terms ■ of the leases. If they desired to avoid liability for the rent for such additional year, it was incumbent upon them, under the covenants of the leases, to give written notice to the plaintiffs, on or before December 1, 1897, of their intention to terminate the tenancy at the end of the current term, and a failure to give such notice was as effective to bind them, for the additional term, as if they had formally entered into a new lease for that period: Wilcox v. Montour Iron Co., 147 Pa. 540; Lane v. Nelson, 167 Pa. 602; Gardiner v. Bair, 10 Pa. Superior Ct. 74.
Having accepted the additional term, with full knowledge of the manner in which the building could be used, the defendants cannot escape liability for the rent, by showing that, when it was too late, they gave notice that they would vacate the
Judgment affirmed.