Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Virginia

Sale of Leased Property

We entered a (1) one year lease aggrement 4 (four) months ago. The landlord has now decided to list the property for sale. The landlord has informed us that we are able to remain in our home the full duration of our lease; however, if a buyer wishes to occupy the unit prior to lease end we may be asked to vacate. We are fully willing to cooperate with this request. While under the assumption we will soon need to vacate the unit, we have located a home that we would like to purchase (place a contract on). When we contacted our landlord to inform him of our desire to place a contract on a home we were informed that we are responsible for the remainder of our lease or the monthly rent until the unit is sold. It seems as though our effort to cooperate in the sale of the property has backfired on us - we certainly can not afford the cost of our rental unit and a new mortgage. Is there any way that our lease can be broken? Thank you in advance for your help.


Asked on 2/23/00, 5:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Daniel Press Chung & Press, P.C.

Re: Sale of Leased Property

You are bound by the lease, as would be the new buyer. If they ask you to leave, unless your lease provides otherwise, it is no more than a request. You jumped the gun by looking for a place to buy.

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Answered on 2/28/00, 7:28 pm


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