Austin v. Strong

Headnote

Plaintiff leased to defendants an office for the term of five years, with the use of a closet or wash room supplied with water, in common with other tenants. The lease expired May 1st, 1858. Defendants contined to occupy, without any new agreement, until May, 1866. In July, 1860, plaintiff cut off the water pipes or the supply of water from the closet, but furnished other water to defendants upon the same floor. Defendants objected to the cutting off the water, but received, accepted and continued to use the water substituted by plaintiff. The new arrangement was made upon consultation with, and was satisfactory to, defendants. Defendants paid the rent for 1860, in full, after the change was made, without objection.

Held, that by using the substitute and paying the rent thereafter, defendants waived a suspension or forfeiture, and could not claim an eviction, and were therefore, liable for the rent. Also, that by the holding over, defendants became tenants from year to year ; that it was equivalent to a new lease, commencing with each year, and the eviction could have no application to the subsequent years.