What you should have done is threatening eviction

As discussed earlier, ever since the house changed owner, you don't have an effective lease with the tenant. He was a tenant at will, the lease of which can be terminated by either landlord or tenant, given 30 days notice (at least this is the rule for most states, without checking your actual state law).

When he refused to sign your new lease, you could tell him he needs to move out in 30 days, or sign the new lease. Either way it would clarified the situation. At that time, if he needs to sue someone because his original lease was cut short, he needs to sue the previous owner since his old lease is with them, not you.

This situation happens a lot in commercial real estate, when companies buy and sell office buildings with many different tenants. Usually commercial contracts state the sales are contingent on 85% (or whatever number negotiated) of the existing tenant resigns the lease with the new owner.

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• Thanks. -sleepyfox- ♂ (408 bytes) () 09/22/2014 postreply 12:35:27

• New lease doesn't have to be post-date -lexm5- ♂ (1060 bytes) () 09/22/2014 postreply 12:44:06

• You are right. -sleepyfox- ♂ (516 bytes) () 09/22/2014 postreply 13:09:54