Renting an apartment for 2 months is legal in every state, and several rental structures exist specifically for stays that short. The tradeoff is money and attention: you’ll pay more per month than a year-long tenant, inventory is thinner, and a short lease packs the same clauses as a 12-month one into a window where a single overlooked provision can cost you an extra month of rent. The arrangement type you choose, the documents you bring, and the specific lease language you sign are what separate a clean 60-day stay from an accidental long-term obligation.
Ways to Structure a Two-Month Rental
Several legal arrangements can cover a 60-day stay. Which one fits depends on whether you need furniture, how firm your dates are, and how much flexibility you want on either end.
Month-to-Month Tenancy
The simplest option. You sign a lease with no fixed end date, and either side can end it with written notice. Most states require 30 days’ notice, though some require more and a few allow less.1Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. 30-Day Notice The catch: the landlord can also end it on the same notice, so you don’t have a guaranteed lock on two full months unless you negotiate that in writing.
Fixed-Term Short Lease
A lease with a specific start and end date gives both sides certainty. You pay for exactly 60 days, and the landlord agrees you can stay that long. Neither party can terminate early without consequences. This is the strongest option when you need guaranteed housing for the full stay, but landlords charge a premium because they’re accepting a fast vacancy turnaround.
Corporate Housing
Corporate housing providers furnish apartments specifically for stays of roughly one to three months. Rent typically includes utilities, furniture, internet, and sometimes housekeeping. The convenience costs more, often 30% to 50% above what an unfurnished long-term rental would run in the same neighborhood.
Subletting
Subletting means renting from an existing tenant who needs someone to cover part of their lease. The original lease stays in effect between the landlord and the primary tenant, and you sign a separate agreement with that tenant for your 60-day window. Most leases require the landlord’s written consent before subletting, and a landlord generally cannot withhold that consent without a reasonable basis. Without documented approval you have almost no legal standing if something goes wrong, so confirm the consent is in writing before paying anything.
Extended-Stay Platforms
Airbnb, Furnished Finder, and similar services list rentals designed for stays of 28 days or longer. Airbnb automatically applies savings to stays of 28 nights or more, and hosts can add monthly discounts on top of that.2Airbnb. Weekly and Monthly Discounts for Home Stays Stays over 30 days in most areas fall under landlord-tenant law rather than short-term rental rules, which gives you tenant protections but also the obligations of a standard renter. Zillow, Apartments.com, and Craigslist also let you filter for short-term availability, though inventory is thinner than for 12-month options.
What a Two-Month Rental Actually Costs
A 60-day rental almost always costs more per month than a 12-month lease for a comparable unit. Furnished short-term apartments run roughly 15% to 30% above unfurnished long-term rentals, with 20% being a common markup. Landlords price in the cost of finding a new tenant twice a year instead of once, plus the higher wear on furnished units. Corporate housing and extended-stay platforms can push that premium higher once service fees are added.
Security deposits vary by state. About a third of states cap deposits at one month’s rent, another group caps at one and a half or two months, and roughly 16 states impose no statutory limit. Landlords with flexibility tend to push toward the higher end for short-term tenants because they have less time to recover from a bad rental. Get the exact deposit amount in writing before signing, and confirm whether your state requires the landlord to hold it in a separate account or pay interest.
Beyond rent and deposit, plan for application fees of $25 to $75 per applicant. A handful of states cap these, most do not. If the landlord requires renters insurance, a short-term policy for basic personal property and liability coverage usually runs $15 to $30 per month. Get the policy in place before your move-in date if the lease demands it.
What Landlords Will Ask For
Landlords screening for a two-month tenant want the same core documents as any other applicant, sometimes more, because the short timeline raises reliability questions.
- Government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
- Proof of income. Two recent pay stubs, or bank statements or tax returns if you’re self-employed. The widely used benchmark is gross monthly income of at least three times the monthly rent. This is an industry standard, not a legal requirement.
- Credit report. Many landlords look for a score of at least 600, though the threshold varies by property and market. A lower score doesn’t automatically disqualify you; landlords often accept prepayment of the full two months’ rent or a larger deposit as an alternative.3Experian. What Credit Score Do You Need to Rent an Apartment?
- Rental history. Contact information for a previous landlord or two. Short-term landlords care less about length of tenancy and more about whether you left without owing money or causing damage.
If your application is denied based on a credit or background check, federal law requires the landlord to send an adverse action notice identifying the screening company and explaining your right to request a free copy of the report within 60 days.4Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Should I Do if My Rental Application Is Denied Because of a Tenant Screening Report? Dispute any errors with the screening company before applying elsewhere.
Lease Clauses That Matter on a 60-Day Timeline
A short-term lease needs tighter language than a standard 12-month agreement. Ambiguity that barely matters over a year can create real problems when your entire tenancy is 60 days.
Exact Start and End Dates
The lease should state the exact calendar dates your tenancy begins and ends. Avoid language like “approximately two months” or “through the end of summer.” A specific end date protects you from being charged for extra days and protects the landlord from an ambiguous holdover.
Automatic Renewal and Holdover
This is where most short-term tenants get tripped up. Many leases state that if you remain in the unit after the end date, the lease automatically converts to month-to-month. A few days late moving out can mean owing another full month. Read the renewal clause and confirm whether you need to give written notice before the lease ends, even if you plan to leave exactly on the termination date. Some leases require 30 days’ notice before expiration regardless of the fixed end date.
Early Termination
Two months may seem short enough that leaving early is unlikely, but job changes and emergencies happen. Break a fixed-term lease and you’re typically responsible for rent until the landlord finds a replacement. Landlords in most states have a legal duty to make reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit and cannot bill you indefinitely for a vacancy they aren’t trying to fill. Some leases include a liquidated damages clause, commonly one month’s rent as a flat fee. If the lease demands several months’ rent as a penalty for breaking a 60-day agreement, that’s likely unenforceable in court, but fighting it costs time and money.
Utilities
Short-term and furnished rentals handle utilities differently. Some bundle everything into rent. Others require you to open your own accounts for electricity, gas, and internet. Setting up utility accounts for just two months can involve activation fees and minimum service periods that outlast your lease, so ask before signing. If utilities are included, confirm whether there’s a usage cap or a flat rate.
Rights You Still Have on a Short Lease
A two-month lease gives you the same core legal protections as a 12-month one. Landlords sometimes assume short-term occupants have fewer rights or can be removed informally. That’s wrong.
You Cannot Be Removed Without a Court Order
Once you’ve signed a lease and moved in, the landlord cannot remove you without going through the courts. Self-help eviction, meaning changing locks, shutting off utilities, or removing your belongings, is illegal in virtually every state. Even if you’ve violated the lease, the landlord must file a formal eviction action and get a court order. This applies regardless of whether your lease runs two months or two years.
Security Deposit Return
After you move out, the landlord must return your security deposit within a deadline set by state law. These deadlines range from 14 to 60 days, with most states in the 21-to-30-day range. If the landlord withholds any portion, they’re typically required to send an itemized list of deductions. The clock usually starts when you vacate and provide a forwarding address, so give the landlord your new address in writing on your last day. Failing to do so can delay the return or, in some states, relieve the landlord of the deadline entirely.
Document the Unit at Move-In
For furnished short-term rentals, documenting the condition of the unit and its contents at move-in is critical. Walk through every room, photograph existing damage, and note the condition of furniture, appliances, and fixtures. If the landlord provides a move-in checklist, fill it out and get both signatures. If not, make your own and email it to the landlord so there’s a timestamped record. Deposit disputes in short-term rentals almost always come down to who has better documentation.