Landlord in foreclosure, HELP!

[shawnoverman]

I signed a sixth month lease which will be up at the end of March, however the house is scheduled to be sold at auction at the first week of February. The homeowner says she is trying to work something out with the lending company so the house wont go to auction. I would never have rented from her had I known the situation and the homeowner failed to clue us in upon siging the lease. I have tried telling her that we would withhold paying the the rent until we got adequate confirmation that she would still own the house at the end of our lease and she said that we our bound by the contract to pay her until March and nothing can get us out of it. She says that if we withhold rent then she will take us to court. If the house is sold in February, why would we pay rent to HER for March? Or for February for that matter! Doesn't foreclosure void a lease? Everett, WA

 

[jacksgal]

No it does not. Your Landlord is due rent until house has new owner and that owner decides what to do. You are bound by terms of lease you signed

 

[Duranie]

foreclosure does not void a lease but I would not pay feb or march rent until you get proof you are not getting evicted. There is no reason to withhold dec or jan rent.I would not pay each month starting Feb until you know you are staying in the house. Tell the landlord to bring you proof it is safe to pay her. If I were you, I would start looking for another place to live.

 

[jacksgal]

Where I see Duraine's point I think it would still be wrong to withold rent. Reason there is no legal means to do so. Witholding of rent, depending on state, is about repairs most of the time

 

[Duranie]

Yes but this landlord is flat out lying. There is a huge risk that this man pays Feb rent and then is immed. evicted. He can pretty much likely forfeit any deposit too. I would keep close eye on when this house is going to auction. If he pays rent late this LL can't do anything. It does not man free rent for this man but double check you get to stay the whole month before he pays it.

 

[ndragon]

I think you should just play this by ear. Pay your rent each month and follow up on the status of the situation. As soon as you find out the house has changed ownership, stop paying rent to the old owner. It may also be beneficial to contact the new owner and ask if they will continue your lease. Be proactive.

-Nick