352 A.2d 321 | Conn. Super. Ct. | 1975
This is an action sounding in summary process in which partial nonpayment of rent and termination of lease are said to be alleged. The termination of lease allegation is set forth in the notice to quit, the plaintiff's writ reciting, "a copy of which is being attached hereto." The plaintiff relies, inter alia, on Practice Book § 91, Thompson
v. Main,
Briefly summarized, the facts are as follows: The defendant has been a tenant in the premises in question for a period of approximately four years. The tenancy is a parol month to month tenancy, running from the first day of the month for a monthly rental of $80. The evidence demonstrates nothing remarkable until on or about July 1, 1974, when the plaintiff, landlord, hand delivered a letter to the defendant which gave him notice of a rental increase to $100 commencing on August 1, 1974. The defendant refused to accept the increase and offered checks, in the amount of $80 each, to the plaintiff on the first days of August, September, and October. Each check bears the defendant's notation on its face that it is rent for the period stated. There are other checks for successive months thereafter which are not relevant to the issue.
The plaintiff received the checks and deposited them. They all are stamped for collection October 30, 1974, and further stamped paid October 31, 1974. The plaintiff admits to placing the following endorsement on the checks before depositing them: "accept for use and occupancy only." The defendant's wife first learned of that limitation when the exhibits were received by her with her bank statement subsequent to November 5, 1974. The August check was held by the plaintiff for a period of approximately ninety days, the September check was held by the plaintiff for approximately sixty days, and the October check was held by the plaintiff for approximately thirty days. *299
There is no question that a parol lease for an indefinite period reserving a monthly rental is a lease for one month only. Kligerman v. Robinson,
There seems to be little doubt that the acceptance of rent after a forfeiture waives that forfeiture and creates or accepts a new tenancy. Hartford WheelClub v. Travelers Ins. Co.,
The court is not persuaded that the endorsement, "accept for use and occupancy only," sustains the plaintiff's position. "When an offer of a sum less than the amount claimed to be due is accompanied *300
by acts or declarations which make the acceptance conditional upon an acceptance in full satisfaction of the debt and the offer is in such form as to clearly bring this home to the creditor, the latter must either refuse the offer or accept it upon that condition."Perryman Burns Coal Co. v. Seaboard Coal Co.,
Judgment may enter for the defendant.