Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California
I moved into a new place in February and signed a year lease.
At the end of the month, the owner of the building decided to sell.
The new landlord is now asking me to sign a new lease, even though I already sent them my previous one as well as an estoppel certificate. Am I required to sign? What should I tell them?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Unless there is a provision in your current lease that covers this situation, the current lease remains in effect even though there is a new owner. You can tell them their purchase was "subject to" your lease.
While I agree with Mr. Dorfman, I would just note that if the terms and conditions are the same in all meaningful ways, good landlord/tenant relations might benefit from agreeing to sign the lease. But he is right, the new landlord has no legal right to ask for a new lease.