In order to properly terminate a month-to-month tenant's possessory rights in the leased premises, please note that the requirement is not "thirty days notice" but rather "notice equal to the length of the tenancy".  The tenancy is calculated from when rent is due. That means you have to give the tenant one FULL months' notice. The tenant remains rent responsible for the time that he is in the leased premises.

For example, if it is May 3, 2011 and you have decided you want to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, the notice that you give would state that the tenant has until June 30, 2011 to vacate - NOT June 3, 2011. 

This is an incredibly common mistake made by managers who have been in the industry for years.  Part of the confusion results from the fact that attorneys and managers alike call the form a "30 Day Notice".  

Given the recent line of severe weather, many of my clients have faced significant property damage to their apartment communities or rental properties. Alabama Code 35-9A-406 deals with a tenant's rights when the property is substantially impacted by fire or casualty.  

If the rental housing is destroyed (or the tenant's ability to live there is substantially impaired) due to fire, storm or other casualty damage a tenant may be legally entitled to terminate their lease pursuant to Ala. Code 35-9A-406 which states:

The tenant may vacate the property immediately and send written notice to their landlord of that fact within fourteen days. The lease is thereafter terminated as of the date the tenant vacated the property.  The tenant is entitled to the return of their security deposit and any prepaid rent.

If only a portion of the home is destroyed:

A tenant may elect to remain in the property, so long as the property is legally livable, and pay rent reduced in proportion to the diminished value based on the date of the event

NOTE: A tenant may seek the remedies under 35-9A-401 and 35-9A-406 only to the extent that the tenant did not cause the damage or is otherwise responsible for it.