Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia
Eviction when house sells
We have rented a house on a farm for over 7 years on a month to month basis; no lease. Landlord has told us in the past that he would sell to us, but just sold the whole farm, including our house, without notifying us before putting it up for sale. He then told us that if he sold the farm w/o the house, we could buy, and if he sold the house too, he would put in the contract that we had 90 days to vacate. He just gave us a letter stating that we have only 50 days to get out, and asked us to sign the letter, which we did not do. Is there anything we can do about the things he has promised us and not stuck to?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Eviction when house sells
No, due to a legal device known as the statute of frauds which is normally incorporated in state law in one form or another and requires that agreements to sell or buy real estate must be in writing in order to be vaild and enforceable. Oral promises regarding such transactions are
obviously excluded as valid and enforceable under this statute of frauds.