Lease or no lease

[Roderick Brenes]

I have always had to sign a year lease when renting. However, when bought a rental last year and I suggested this to my property management company they acted like it was out of the ordinary to ask someone to sign a year lease. My father says that it's not the norm. Is this local culture or is there even a standard?

[Fred Heller]

I've never heard of anyone not wanting a lease at the beginning of a tenancy. When I lived in the Bay Area, I lived in two rentals. Both started as a one year lease and then continued month-to-month.