Can Your Landlord Make You Move if They Sell the Home You're Renting
A tenant signed a three year lease with her landlord, and is presently in the first year of the lease. The landlord has told the tenant that the house is up for sale, and has given the tenant two options: (1) Buy the house; or (2) Accept $500, and relocate to a different house owned by the landlord for the duration of the lease. There is no provision in the lease allowing for early termination of the rental agreement in the event of a house sale, or that would require the tenant to accept a transfer. What are the tenant's rights under Florida law?
Re: Can Your Landlord Make You Move if They Sell the Home You're Renting
Keep in mind up front that the landlord can make an offer of the type that was made, and see if the tenant accepts one of the proposed resolutions. If the tenant opts to buy the house, or opts to take $500 and move to a different house, then that will resolve the landlord's problem whether or not the landlord could impose one of those resolutions if the tenant says "No". If the tenant would be content to move, but not for a mere $500, then the tenant can negotiate for more money. The tenant can also negotiate for a lump sum payment and a complete release from any obligation under the lease, rather than moving into a different property owned by the landlord.
Absent something to the contrary in the lease agreement, the lease will carry over to the new owner. With a long-term lease, that's likely to affect the marketability of the property, hence the landlord's concern; but that's not the tenant's problem.