A tenant's right to possess and use property for periods defined by the amount of rent paid. If rent is paid on a monthly basis, then the tenancy continues month to month as the tenant chooses to stay and the landlord chooses to continue accepting rent.If the tenant pays rent on an annual basis, for an entire year at a time, then the tenancy continues on a year-to-year basis. Consumer protection laws define the amount of notice necessary to terminate a periodic tenancy for residential properties.Usually,the landlord must give 10 days notice for a week-to-week tenancy and 60 days notice for a month-to-month tenancy.