Cornelius v. Rosen

ELLISON, J. This is an action for one month’s rent of a house at $18 per month. The account is credited with payment of $7.36, leaving a balance claimed of $10.64* The plaintiff prevailed in the trial court. The evidence disclosed that defendant was plaintiff’s tenant from month to month, beginning the first of each month, and that on August 3rd plaintiff gave defendant a written notice to vacate the premises on or before the first day of the month of September following. Defendant then vacated the premises on the 18th of August and contends that all claim for rent ceased on that day. In this we believe defendant is right. The plaintiff, as landlord, could have held defendant for rent until defendant should give him a month’s written notice of his intention to quit. And defendant, as tenant, [621] could have required a corresponding notice from plaintiff before be could have been compelled to vacate. But neither of these conditions appear in the case. Here, the plaintiff chose to waive his right to a continued tenancy by giving notice to1 defendant asking him to vacate at any time before September first and defendant took him at his word and quit. We think plaintiff, in such circumstances, has no cause for demanding rent beyond the time defendant remained. It further appears that defendant had some repairs to the plumbing made for which he paid, and which he contended should be allowed on the rent and which plaintiff refused. Thereafter defendant sent to plaintiff the plumbing bills and his check for $7.36 which, together with the plumbing account, equalled the rent due, counting up to the time he vacated. The evidence tended to show that defendant tendered this check as in full of all plaintiff’s claim; and that plaintiff refused to so accept it, but nevertheless retained the check, cashed it and kept the money. If such were the facts plaintiff must he held to have accepted it in full, for if he accepts money conditionally tendered, he accepts the condition also. St. Joseph School Board v. Hull, 72 Mo. App. 403; Andrews v. Manufacturing Co., 100 Mo. App. 599. Defendant’s instruction to that effect should have been given without being altered. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded. All concur.