Saturday, October 17, 2009

Buyer Of Foreclosed House Ignores Existing Lease; Seeks To Immediately Boot Family From Home, Says Tenant

In Bakersfield, California, KERO-TV Channel 23 reports:
  • A southwest Bakersfield family renting a foreclosed home claims the new owner is unfairly trying to kick them out just four days after he bought the home. Earlier this month, Anthony Moore received notice the home he and his family had been renting for the past four years was foreclosed and would be up for sale at an auction. Moore said the home sold [...], and already the owner is pressuring him to get out in 90 days or sooner.

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  • Because of the new federal law Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, Moore said he has the right to stay in the home until April 2010, that's when his lease is up. Congress passed the law in May aimed at protecting renters in foreclosure situations. Under the law, tenants are able to stay in their home until the end of their lease term, except if the new owner has plans to occupy the home then the tenant has 90 days to vacate.

  • Moore said he has been in contact with Monique Cervantes, who identified herself as the landlord. He said Cervantes told him that the owner, Shae Mhlay has no intentions on living in the home. "She's saying that it's not legal, that they don't have to follow the lease and basically told me the first day that the new owner is lethal, is ruthless and wants us out," said Moore. On the County Assessor's Web site, ABC 23 found Mhlay had purchased close to 70 homes since January this year.

For more, see Renter Claims Rights Are Being Violated (Federal Law Aims At Protecting Tenants Rights). RentSigmaSkimming