If my tenants wanted to buy the rental and decided to put substantial money intoit with my permission before closing, am I obligated to reimburse them?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If my tenants wanted to buy the rental and decided to put substantial money intoit with my permission before closing, am I obligated to reimburse them?
This went as far as a legal purchase and sales agreement. They were then denied a mortgage with documentation from their lawyer. They now want to be reimbursed for the money they put into the house. I gave them permission to do this work but never said I was going to reimburse them. In fact their is no written agreement at all. They now refuse to pay rent. Do they have a case?
Asked on July 14, 2010 under Real Estate Law, Massachusetts
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Property law in the state of Massachusetts is different from other states. Often general rules that apply in property law come with the disclaimer: "but not in Massachusetts." Therefore, I think that it would be best for you to seek help from an attorney in your area as the stakes here are high if the improvements were substantial. I would first direct you to your lease and the purchase agreement and see if either addresses the matter. Were the improvements done under the lease or purchase agreement? These are questions to be answered by your attorney. You will have to deal with bringing an action in Landlord Tenant Court if the purchase agreement is now void. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.