Landlord sold property lease expired new lease never signed?

Question

we never signed a new lease and the landlord wont fix anything we have told him time after time, but he still wants us to pay rent. There is no binding contract what can I do or should I do?

We have never discussed any agreement with him, we had to hunt him down to pay the rent,

Answer 1

if your paying rent he or she should repair whatever is necessary. I'm pretty sure there are laws about that.

Answer 2

Your remedies depend on what state you are in but generally you can withold rent without a lease but he can also kick you out as of right on (generally) 30 days notice unless the state statute says differently.

Most states you become what is called a month to month tenant if you have no lease meaning that the term of your lease is monthly and your landlord can raise your rent, terminate your tenancy (ask you to vacate) and change the terms of your lease on 30 days notice. If he didn't put it in writing however he will have a hell of a time prooving it.

However it sounds like your new landlord didn't give you a new lease because he wants you out. Maybe he wants to turn the place into a condo or co-op. As a practical matter if this is the case you can essentially "hold up" the construction and you might be able to get "bought out" to leave rather than litigate, which you would lose if your goal is to stay put without a lease, but the time it would take that you could hold up the project could cost him more than it would be to offer a settlement.

Legal extortion. Poor people do it everyday with frivilous lawsuits against major companies. Thats why we need tort reform, but thats another issue, and this is a landlord-tenant issue.

Answer 3

He sold the property? If so, then the new owners will either keep you and ask you to sign a new lease with them or give you notice to vacate. (Michigan law is 30 day notice from either landlord or tenant to vacate) If you have a new landlord/owner you may not have a valid lease at all. But under some circumstances it would hold. If your old lease has a term in it called "holding over" (mine does and an attorney told me years ago that that means all terms of the lease are in effect after the expiration of it but only on a month to month basis. I would give my landlord 30 days notice of moving (in WRITING) mail it from the post office with return/reciept (cost a 2-5 dollars)and keep a copy of the letter. Make sure it has a date on it and your signature. That way if he doesnt return your deposit you have a leg to stand on in court. I will bet that all those repairs would be a valid reason to break a lease (especially health hazzards & safety issues) Try your State Web site because laws varry from state to state. There you should find all kinds of good info. GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

If you withhold rent your butt is going to get put out on the street. Look up the revised status for your state and find out what the laws are for leasing. In my state - on a month to month as you are now - I could have you removed with a 5 day notice for not paying your rent. If you pay then I could give you a 2 week notice. Which is really pretty short for you to get another deposit and find a place. But there are laws covering repairs. Make your repair request in writing - politely - keep a copy. Perhaps offer to have the repairs done and deduct the cost from the next rent check. When repairs are needed for safety hazards there is probably some law covering the time frame - where your written notice comes in! Keep it friendly if you want to remain there. Remember that the new buyer has just laid out his cash to purchase and may not be in great financial shape now - or he could just be a slum lord who just doesn't care. Good luck

Answer 5

He still has a responsibility to maintain the living conditions of the property if you are paying him rent, but be prepared he can also ask you to move out at anytime. On the other hand if the house is completely sold it is no longer his responsibility because whoever now owns the house is your new landlord! In which case you should be paying them rent! Hope this helps you out some :)

Answer 6

DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT SAID TO WITHHOLD THE RENT...THAT WILL GET YOU EVICTED which can KILL your credit and rental history!!!.
If the place sucks so bad, why are you still there???? Although your lease is MONTH TO MONTH, you are still obligated to all the orginal terms of the main lease minus the dates. Every month the lease starts over.
As another person said, to cover your tail, you need to put all of the neglected issues in writing... IN FACT, the new owner may have received money in escrow to make your repairs.
In my state, you can put your issues in writing with a ten day window to attend to begin repair. You may then terminate your lease LEGALLY if that is ignored as well.
AGAIN, THOUGH...I ASK....WHY NOT JUST GIVE 30 DAY NOTICE AND MOVE ON???

Answer 7

WITH NO LEASE SIGNED YOU ARE NOW ON A MONTH TO MONTH RENTAL WITH YOUR NEW LANDLORDS. EACH STATE HAS IT'S OWN LEGAL TIME LIMIT ON REPAIRERS. FIRST, YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR COMPLAINTS IN WRITING, DATED AND MAILED WITH A DATE RECEIVED RECITE FROM THE P.O. THAT'S WHEN THE " CLOCK STARTS TICKING" FOR THE LANDLORD. DO NOT WITH-HOLD YOUR RENT. YOU COULD PUT IT IN AN ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR THE LANDLORD IF IT COMES TO THAT OR YOU COULD TRY REPAIRING THE PROBLEM YOURSELF AND SEND THE RECITE WITH YOUR RENT MINUS THE COST OF THE REPAIR. ALSO, IF AFTER YOU SEND THE LANDLORD THE LETTER AND YOU GET THE RECITE THAT THEY RECEIVED IT, AND YOU GET HURT ( SAY THE STEPS ARE BROKEN AND YOU TRIP AND FALL) YOU CAN SUE THE LANDLORD FOR MEDICAL, LOSS OF WORK, AND PAIN AND SUFFERING. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 8

ask for your deposit back and move. Or you could tell him/her that you are not paying your rent until these items are repaired.Keep note of what it is and the date and time that you have asked him to repair them. If you go to eviction court you will have some backing remember the pen is mighter than the sword.

Answer 9

fix it yourself or find another place. before you yell at me
about what a pain that would be remember that your
landlord has probably thought of that too. if your rent is
low or if there aren't many places available he may not
care if you stay or go.

Answer 10

withold rent until things are fixed. tell him that if he refuses to fix the things then you will have to use the rent money to fix everything. that is what it is for.