Owner is selling the unit

If the reason for eviction is that the unit is being sold, this is not a valid reason for eviction and you can write a letter to your landlord stating that the notice is not valid and exercising your rights. Send your landlord the signed and dated letter via certified mail and keep a copy.

Under Oakland’s Just Cause Ordinance, tenants do not have to move after their building is sold. What should happen in these situations is that your lease, deposit and any verbal agreements should be transferred to the new landlord. The new owner/landlord should tell you the new procedure to pay rent and should continue to respect the lease agreement you made with the previous landlord. The new landlord may request a new lease signed by them, and that’s okay as long as they don’t change any substantial terms of you lease.

If the building has been sold and your lease is not honored, you can write a letter to your new landlord explaining what the original terms of your lease are and that you know your rights under the Just Cause ordinance.