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Landlord selling house--is lease still valid?

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topherius

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Connecticut

I'm a grad student living in a duplex in CT. My 2 roommates and I renewed our lease this month for another year; yesterday, my landlord called to tell me he had an offer on the house (he had neglected to mention that the property was for sale until after we renewed) and that the potential buyer wants to move into our unit by the end of June.

My major question is whether our lease (which is good until May 31, 2007) would still be valid when the property is transferred, or whether the new owner could kick us out. I have been asking attorneys and real estate agents, but no one seems to know the exact answer (I don't know any real estate attorneys in CT). Some have told me that the lease is in effect an inherent property of the house and that the buyer has to honor the lease when she buys the house. Others have told me that in other states, a landlord can force tenants to move by giving 60 days notice if he/she intends to sell the property--but I can't determine whether this applies in CT.

If we are protected by the lease, what can we ask of our landlord in compensation if we agree to move out? The move would be possible for us, but extremely inconvenient. It seems to me that since he's selling the house out from under us, it would only be fair for him to pay any costs we incur by having to move to a new apartment--which would include moving costs and any difference in price between our current rent and the rent at a comparable apartment. Does anyone have any suggestions or insight into this problem?

Thanks!
 


BL

Senior Member
If the new owner wants possession , request your moving expenses , security deposit , and about 2 months worth of rent , or any agreement you deem appropriate .

Otherwise the new owner has to honor the lease .

If it were the other way around and you broke your lease you would forfeit your sec. deposit and owe rent up until the time it was rented again .

Don't let them off cheap .

Also get any agreement in writing signed and dated by the new owner/landlord .
 

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