What Are My Rights If My Landlord Sells My Rented Home?

The lease you signed stays in force after the sale, because the new owner automatically inherits the contract. In most jurisdictions the new owner must keep the start and end dates, rent amount, and all other terms you already accepted. Your rent payments simply go to the new owner, who also assumes responsibility for repairs.

As noted in the 'new owner steps into landlord role' section, the successor cannot end a fixed‑term lease without cause before it expires. A month‑to‑month tenancy gives the new owner more flexibility, but only with proper notice, a point we'll cover later. Exceptions like court‑ordered termination or a tenant breach are rare and do not automatically void the lease upon sale.

When a property changes hands, the new owner automatically assumes the landlord's responsibilities, and the existing fixed‑term lease stays in force unless both parties agree otherwise. The buyer must honor the rent amount, security‑deposit holdings, and any repair commitments outlined in the current lease, and must notify tenants in writing of the ownership transfer (see how a property sale affects existing leases). In most jurisdictions, the new owner cannot alter lease terms or increase rent until the agreement expires or is legally modified.

From that point forward, the new owner handles all routine landlord duties - collecting rent, addressing maintenance requests, and issuing any required notices - under the same rules that applied to the previous landlord. If the tenancy is month‑to‑month, the new owner may end it with proper notice, typically 30 days, but cannot evict without cause during a fixed‑term lease. This succession framework sets the stage for the next discussion on why buyers cannot evict tenants without a valid reason.

When a property changes hands, the new owner must honor the existing tenancy and cannot simply kick you out for no reason. Generally, a buyer may end a month‑to‑month tenancy without cause, but only after providing the legally required notice.

• Fixed‑term lease stays intact; the new owner steps into the landlord's shoes and must wait until the lease expires or a lawful cause arises (as we covered above).
• In most jurisdictions, a month‑to‑month tenancy can be terminated without cause, provided the new owner gives the statutory notice - commonly 30 days, though some states require 60.
• The notice length is dictated by state law or the lease itself; check your local landlord‑tenant code or rental agreement for the exact figure.
• Generally, an eviction attempted before the notice period ends or without a statutory reason is invalid and can be contested in court.

A fixed‑term lease usually survives a sale, keeping you in the home until the contract expires. The new owner steps into the landlord's shoes and must honor the agreement, so the tenancy continues unchanged (see landlord selling a rental property).

However, that shield isn't ironclad; an early‑termination clause, a 'buyer‑move‑in' provision, or a material breach can allow the new owner to end the lease with proper notice, and in most jurisdictions statutory exceptions may apply. As we covered above, the lease stays intact unless a specific provision overrides it, meaning the protection lasts longer than a month‑to‑month arrangement but isn't unconditional.

A month‑to‑month tenancy lets the new owner adjust rent or end the lease with comparatively brief notice.

1. Rent can rise quickly. In most jurisdictions the new owner must give at least 30 days written notice of any increase; California follows this rule uniformly, reserving a 60‑day notice only for certain large‑scale adjustments in other contexts.
2. Termination requires less lead time. Generally a 30‑day notice ends the tenancy, while a 60‑day notice is required only after the tenant has occupied the unit for 12 months in California. This flexibility contrasts with the longer protection a fixed‑term lease provides, as discussed earlier.
3. Showings may be scheduled sooner. The month‑to‑month arrangement permits the new owner to request viewings with the same short‑notice window used for rent changes, so expect advance notice but not the extended timelines tied to a fixed lease (see the 'Expect notice before any showings' section).

For a detailed state‑by‑state breakdown, consult Nolo's guide on month‑to‑month notice requirements.

The new owner must give the tenant reasonable notice before entering for a showing. In most jurisdictions that translates to 24 hours in California, 48 hours in New York, or whatever the local statutes label 'reasonable' (see state landlord entry notice rules). Many areas require written notice, though a few permit a clear oral warning if it's later documented. Skipping the warning breaches the tenant's quiet‑enjoyment right and can be challenged with a formal complaint or by withholding consent to the entry.

• Verify the exact notice period in state or municipal code; 'reasonable' typically means 24‑48 hours.
• Prefer written notice; if only oral notice is allowed, capture it in text or email for evidence.
• Unscheduled or disruptive showings may violate quiet‑enjoyment rights; contacting a local housing agency is an option.
• When notice isn't provided, respond with a firm request for proper notice before any future entry.

Landlords or new owners may arrange showings after delivering reasonable notice - generally at least 24 hours and during normal business hours (for example, 9 a.m.‑7 p.m.). The lease remains in force, so the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment isn't waived, but the right to control the exact timing isn't granted.

In a fixed‑term lease, the schedule usually stays steady, while a month‑to‑month tenancy often invites more frequent viewings as the new owner prepares the unit for resale. Tenants may ask for convenient slots, yet consent isn't required; the only legal hurdle is proper notice, as explained in landlord entry notice requirements. (Because 'flexibility' sounds nicer than 'invasion.')

Tenants may lawfully decline showings that intrude on privacy or work schedules. In most jurisdictions, landlords - or the new owner after a sale - must give reasonable notice, typically 24‑48 hours, and may enter only for legitimate purposes defined by state statutes, not merely by lease language.

• Review the lease and local habitability code; statutes usually set the notice window and limit entry to 'reasonable' times.
• If a notice arrives outside the mandated period, send a polite written refusal citing the specific law and the lease clause.
• Propose alternative hours that fit your routine; most landlords accept adjustments to avoid a breach.
• Keep copies of all communications; documented refusals protect you if the new owner later claims wrongful denial.
• Escalate to a local tenants‑rights agency if the owner persists despite proper notice.

Having asserted control over disruptive showings, the next step is to explore whether the new owner will offer compensation for your cooperation.

Negotiating perks is optional, not a statutory entitlement, but can smooth the transition after a sale.

When the new owner requests access for showings, propose concessions that offset inconvenience; landlords generally entertain reasonable offers because they preserve goodwill and reduce scheduling conflicts. Consider asking for:

• a temporary rent credit for weeks when several showings occur,
• permission to retain a pet without an added fee if the original lease allowed it,
• a mutually‑agreed early‑termination clause should the new owner intend to occupy the unit,
• reimbursement for any utility spikes directly tied to open‑house days.

Any agreed perk should be captured in writing, attached to the existing lease, and kept with the documentation discussed in the 'gather proof to safeguard rights' section that follows.

Keep the original lease, any addenda, and every rent receipt in a dedicated folder; email confirmations of repairs, notice letters, and text messages count as solid proof. Label each file with the date and the party - tenant, former landlord, or new owner - to avoid confusion later.

When the property changes hands, the new owner inherits the existing lease, so a well‑documented fixed‑term lease shields you from premature termination, while a month‑to‑month tenancy relies heavily on written notices of any showings or rent adjustments. A tidy record of who asked for a showing, when, and under what conditions lets you enforce your right to reasonable timing (see tenant rights after a property sale).

Store digital copies on a cloud service with password protection and retain paper copies in a fire‑proof box; this dual approach ensures you can produce evidence instantly if the new owner attempts an unlawful eviction or an unexpected sale collapse, a scenario explored next.

If the sale falls through, the existing lease continues unchanged and the current landlord remains your landlord. In most jurisdictions the contract does not terminate because the transaction collapsed, so rent payments, rights to quiet enjoyment, and any 'fixed‑term lease' provisions stay active. The 'new owner' never actually steps in, meaning eviction cannot be triggered by the failed deal alone (see the 'new owner steps into landlord role' section for the normal succession rule).

• Example 1*: A tenant on a 12‑month fixed‑term lease receives notice that the buyer pulled out. The landlord must honor the remaining months; the tenant can stay until the lease expires or negotiate a new agreement.

• Example 2*: A month‑to‑month tenant learns the sale collapsed after a week of 'showings.' The landlord cannot raise rent or end tenancy without proper notice, because the lease's continuity overrides the aborted sale.

• Example 3*: A landlord tries to cancel the lease citing the collapsed sale. Courts generally reject that argument, treating the lease as a separate contract that survives the failed purchase.

These scenarios illustrate that a collapsed sale does not dissolve the lease; tenants keep their rights until the lease legitimately ends.

• Request the deed from the county recorder; many offices still require an in‑person or mailed request, so don't rely solely on an online search (county recorder office information).
• Compare the eviction notice's timing to your state's required notice for a month‑to‑month tenancy - notice periods range from 15 to 60 days, so a '30‑day' claim isn't universally valid (state notice requirements guide).
• Verify that the new owner has actually recorded the transfer; a 'sale pending' email or verbal claim alone doesn't constitute proof of ownership.
• Watch for demands to vacate before the lease ends or requests to sign a new lease without proper notice; a fixed‑term lease generally protects you from early termination, even after a sale.
• Scrutinize any push for immediate showings that disrupt your life; legitimate showings must follow the notice schedule we discussed earlier.
• Contact your local housing authority or a tenant‑rights organization for an independent check before taking action.