What type of tenancy describes Mr. and Mrs. Smith's arrangement as month-to-month tenants?

The arrangement of Mr. and Mrs. Smith as month-to-month tenants is best classified as a periodic tenancy. This type of tenancy automatically renews at the end of each rental period, typically on a monthly basis in this case, until either party provides proper notice to terminate the agreement.

In a month-to-month tenancy, tenants have the flexibility to leave the property after giving a specific notice period, usually 30 days, which aligns with the periodic nature of their arrangement. This is distinct from a fixed-term tenancy, which has a set duration such as a one-year lease, where the tenant is committed to stay for that entire period unless they find a mutually agreed upon way to terminate it early.

While the options of tenancy at will and tenancy at sufferance do exist, they apply in different contexts. A tenancy at will implies a more informal arrangement without a formal lease and can be terminated by either party at any time. A tenancy at sufferance occurs when a tenant remains in the property after their lease has expired without the landlord's approval. Neither of these describes Mr. and Mrs. Smith's month-to-month tenancy accurately.