questions & answers

Question: I live in an apartment complex that is slated to be sold to new owners at the end of this month. The new owners are planning major repairs and upgrades, resulting in a major rent increase. My current lease is for another six months. I cannot afford higher rent, nor coming up with first/last/deposit etc quickly for a new place. What are my rights? Do the new owners have to "buy" out my current lease?

Answer: The following is provided for general information only. Typically, a new landlord has to honor an existing lease agreement. Upon termination of the existing lease agreement, the landlord and tenant are no longer in a contractual relationship. At that point, the landlord and tenant can choose to enter into a new lease agreement. Essentially, the new lease is a new and separate contract from the existing lease. The new lease can contain new terms such as cost of rent, term of lease, tenant and landlord obligations. Therefore, the landlord is not obligated to offer a new lease with the same terms as the existing lease. To find out how the law applies to a specific situation, contact an attorney directly. Visit www.AZLawHelp.org. In the window frame located on the right side of the page, look for the Find Free Legal Help section. Select the appropriate county and the search results will show a list of organizations that provide legal assistance.