landlord sold house no written notice

#1 07-29-2004, 01:09 PM

What is the name of your state? Iowa

August 15, 2003 is the day I signed my one year lease. Things have been fine, just some minor things with landlord. In May of 2004 she said that she was thinking of selling but nothing definite. I told her that I may be interested. Nothing was said until July 6th when I paid my rent she said that she had a lady coming in to look and that she would get back to me the next day. I heard nothing for 2 weeks. Then I got a final utility bill in the mail and couldnt figure out why the heck that would happen. Called the landlord and she said there was a misunderstanding with the lady that BOUGHT THE HOUSE. This is the first I heard of that. So she said that oh by the way I have a house that you can move to and pay the same rent. The current house is 4 bedrooms and the one she showed us was 3. We didnt want it and told her that I would look else where. At the time that she was showing the house she said that she told the lady that she could move in on August 1, 2004. Well, my year isnt up yet and I told her that. She said sorry that is what I told her. And I just said we will see about that. I have since found another place to move to but he wants all the money and wont do the half and half arrangement like I asked him. So, on Monday July 26, 2004 I went to the bar that she owns so I could talk to her cuz I knew that she would be there and couldnt avoid me and her husband was there too. I told her I wanted my money so I could move and she said not until I moved. From what I understand she has no rights to that money anymore since she sold that house. So when I mentioned the fact that I had until the 15 th of August her husband threw a HUGE fit and said that he was gonna get ahold of the lawyer and see what could be done about this. And that if the lady wasnt able to move in by August 1st she may back out of it and then he would be stuck with an empty house. I just said to look at the lease and that I wanted my money. I said that there would be noway to be out in that many days. I was never served an official 30 day notice. I have looked over the tenant/landlord laws of iowa. But i just want to be sure that she can do nothing to me They havent responded the last few day. I want to know how to contact the other lady and they are being evasive. I am moving on the 6th. The lady moving in is trying to change everything to her name. She wasnt told anything about the lease til the 15th. My question is Do I get the deposit back?? And am I right to stay until leaseis up?? Sorry this is long there is more but wont get into

BelizeBreeze · #2 07-29-2004, 01:24 PM

You have a lease until the 15th of august. If the landlady or the new owner wants you out before then suggest they pay for your move. If they don't then move when your lease is up and then the deposit is yours.

The lease was sold right along with the house. And the landlady and new owner are SOL.

treese · #3 07-29-2004, 06:24 PM

The landlord should have let you know the house had been sold. Not only will the lease have been "bought" with the house, but your security deposit will have been turned over to the new owner at closing.

You are right, the current landlord has no rights to the security deposit money, but the new owner does. You will have to request your deposit from the new owner after your move out.

*Most landlords will not return security until after the tenant moves out as it can be used to cover any damage by the tenant. Sometimes, in cases like this, the LL will negotiate some sort of settlement/agreement with the tenant in order to get the tenant to move out.

nextwife · #4 07-29-2004, 06:30 PM

When my husband sold his house we offered a nice compensation to the tenants in the event they could move out earlier than lease end. If we wanted them out early, it was up to us to make it worth their while. Which we did.

FarmerJ · #5 07-29-2004, 07:52 PM

Dont forget to take ALOT of pictures of the unit when it is empty so you have pics to take into small claims court. If you have to take the new LL to court to get your deposit back , also use certified mail and send a letter saying what your new addy is for your deposit return . you will be able to show a court if needed that your new LL did indeed know where you were living .