When a rental property is sold, many tenants worry that the new owner will immediately try to remove them. Understanding your rights under both state law and any applicable local ordinance prevents premature vacancy and protects your tenancy.
What the New Owner Can and Cannot Do
A new owner takes the property subject to existing leases. A tenant with a fixed-term lease cannot be evicted by the new owner simply because of the sale — the new owner steps into the prior landlord’s shoes for the duration of the lease. Month-to-month tenants in AB 1482-covered units have just cause protections. Tenants in rent-controlled jurisdictions may have additional rights under local ordinances.
Owner move-in evictions by new owners have specific requirements. A new owner who wants to occupy the unit must comply with the just cause eviction requirements for owner move-in — including the required notice period, relocation assistance, and re-rental restrictions. New owners who serve eviction notices without following these requirements are giving tenants a defense.
The California Tenant Defense System gives renters the exact tools, templates, and step-by-step guidance to fight illegal evictions, recover deposits, and enforce habitability rights. Request your free evaluation here.
California Tenant Defense System 
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