Bakersfield, CA asked in Foreclosure and Landlord - Tenant for California

Q: OK so Me and my boyfriend moved in a house about 6 months ago we were on a fixed lease we'll the house got foreclosed up

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: In California, if you're living in a rental property that gets foreclosed upon, the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act provides you with certain rights. First and foremost, if you have a fixed-term lease, the new owner must honor the lease unless they plan to occupy the property as their primary residence. Even in that case, they are required to provide you with at least 90 days' notice before terminating the lease.

If your lease is month-to-month or if there is no lease, you're still entitled to a 90-day notice before you have to move out. It's important to know that these protections are there to ensure that tenants are not abruptly displaced due to foreclosure. Additionally, the new owner is considered your landlord and must adhere to local and state landlord-tenant laws, including the return of your security deposit in accordance with California law.

It's advisable to communicate directly with the new property owner or their representative as soon as possible to understand their intentions regarding the property and your lease. Keeping a record of all communications can be beneficial. If you encounter any issues, consider seeking legal advice to understand your rights and options more fully. California law provides mechanisms to protect tenants, and understanding these can help you navigate the situation more effectively.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.