Q: Can I get out of a lease and save a few months' rent if the landlord is selling the house from under me?
The owner of the property has repeatedly lied to me over email. They said they would allow me to rent until I could buy the house on my own in a few years. I moved in 7 months ago. Now, they are selling the house fast, and the real estate people are being extremely rude and inconveniencing me at every possible turn. They will not give me any straight answers about whether or not I will have to move. I sold all my belongings to move into this furnished home 7 months ago, and now I think they are going to take everything from under me. The lease now looks extremely sketchy since it says I will be responsible for fixing everything, which I was okay with when I thought I would be buying in a few years. What are my options?
A: Review your lease to seek what (if any) conditions allow you to terminate the lease. Note, if you signed a lease with a fixed term (e.g. 1 year), the landlord CANNOT evict you from the rental (but can change ownership on the deed) until the lease term expires. If the sale does occur, you are still required to pay rent and follow the terms of the lease.
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