Posted by TenantNet on June 24, 1996 at 19:54:08:
In Reply to: Can My landlord sell my home? posted by Angelina Nagy on June 24, 1996 at 15:25:34:
: I just moved into an new house on June 1, 1996. The landlord said that
the tenants before me weren't the greatest and only wanted a 1 month lease
(month by month). assuring them that My husband and I would be there for
a while , I didn't not give it a second thought. There was much work to
be done in the house such as a neew front door, fencing in the yard, major
landscaping (tree pruning), replacing broken panes of glass, adn many
other miscellaneous repairs. My husband is a sheetrocker and knows people
in the related fields of work that would give us a better price. We would
do the work and deduct it from the rent. Not less than a month goes by
and a real estate agent shows up at my front door, wanting to show the
house. I was floored. These people let us do all the work under the
supposition that it was to better our living conditions, meanwhile
they're going to give it to someone else. we were not told that the
house was on the market. We were not informed that a real estate agent
would want to enter our home to show the house, having his own key no
less !. What can I do. When we moved in they had wanted 2 mo security.
we gave them one motnh's and agreed to pay double rent again on July 1.
However at this pint I feel jilted and think that two months security is
excessive for such a tenntative agreement.
Different states have different laws, but I think your predicament falls
more under contract law and possible misrepresentations. If the owner knew
that he was going to sell the place (and how this might affect you) and
given the deal for you to do improvements, he might have made a knowing
misrepresentation that might give you cause for action.
But in some cases a new owner would take you on as tenants and he might
be required to do that on the same terms as your present arrangement. But it
sounds as if it might all be on an oral basis -- which makes it tough to prove.
I would think that the real estate agent cannot enter your home unless
there is advance notice (you should demand this). It does not matter that
he has a key. Inn some states you have the right to change the lock, but you
might have to give the owner a key if he asks -- but you can certainly enforce
the right to privacy unless they give you advance notice or in an emergency.
The ownner can certainly sell his property, but for your rights with a new owner
I would suggest you contact a local tenant attorney in your area.
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