What happens to the lease if the apartment building or house is sold to a new owner?

The landlord cannot terminate a lease and evict a tenant simply because the landlord wants to sell the building (unless the lease expressly gives the landlord this right). When a new owner purchases a building, the new owner also purchases all of the obligations of the previous owner, including the obligation to honor the existing leases. The new owner may not increase rent or change the house rules until the existing written leases expire. A tenant should continue to pay rent to the previous landlord in the same way as before, until receipt of a written notice signed by the previous landlord telling the tenant to begin paying rent to someone else.

Show All Answers

1. What is a lease?
2. Does the lease have to be in writing?
3. What should the lease cover?
4. What can be done about violence or drugs on the premises?
5. How should the lease be signed?
6. What happens to the lease if the apartment building or house is sold to a new owner?
7. Do roommates have obligations under the lease?
8. What happens to the lease if the tenant remains after the lease term ends - holdover tenant?
9. Are all clauses in a lease legal?
10. Can a landlord refuse to rent to a prospective tenant?