Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Tenant Rights

I am a tenant and yesterday we received a notice of trustee's sale for the owner who is in foreclosure. The owner just cashed my check 2 days ago. I would like to know what my rights are as a tenant. If I don't pay her the next months rent. Can she lock me out? Should I just move, because the house is being auctioned on 05/08/09?

I called her 3 months ago and asked why we were receiving correspondence about foreclosure. She told me not to worry that they were going through a loan modification. What should I do? Please HELP!


Asked on 4/16/09, 1:53 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

David Gibbs The Gibbs Law Firm, APC

Re: Tenant Rights

The rent you paid yesterday was for April 15-May 15? If the home sells on May 8, then your landlord must return seven days rent. If your rent is for the month of April, then you are not entitled to get it back simply because he is losing the home in foreclosure, you must pay rent through the date on which he loses the property and you remain in possession. Conversely, 21 days after he loses the property, the landlord must return your full security deposit, as he cannot deduct for damage since he no longer owns the property and will not pay to repair it. The bank (post-foreclosure) will probably give you 60 days notice to leave, at which time I would plan to be gone to avoid an eviction lawsuit.

If you have more than just a month-to-month lease, then you may have the right to recover damages from the landlord for breach of the lease, but there is a good chance your landlord is broke if s/he has not been paying the mortgage.

*Due to the limitations of the LawGuru Forums, The Gibbs Law Firm, APC's (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided is general and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.

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Answered on 4/16/09, 2:21 pm


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