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JULY 2009
The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act: Changing the Rules of the Game
For tenants without a written lease, a prudent approach for a lender or purchaser would be to provide the 90-day notice to vacate regardless of whether the tenant meets the “bona fide” requirements
In May 2009, as part of
the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-22), President
Obama signed the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 (the “Act”). The
Act, which went into effect May 20, 2009, and does not expire until December 31,
2012, substantially alters the treatment of tenants after foreclosure of a
residence. The scope of the Act is broad, applying to any residential real
property and any person who acquires the property, whether a lender who acquires
it via a credit bid or a third party investor at a foreclosure sale.
Lenders, purchasers of
foreclosed properties, and residential tenants should be aware of the rights and
obligations contained in the Act. Pursuant to the Act, an immediate successor in
interest “of any foreclosure on a federally-related mortgage loan or on any
dwelling or residential real property” is required to (i) honor the remainder of
the term under a “bona fide lease” entered into prior to the notice of
foreclosure and (ii) give at least 90 days notice to vacate to a “bona fide
tenant” who does not have a lease or has a lease terminable at will.
A “bona fide” lease or
tenant is one in which (a) the borrower or his/her child, spouse or parent is
not the tenant, (b) the lease or tenancy is the result of an arms-length
transaction; and (c) the rent is “not substantially less than fair market rent”
or is reduced or subsidized due to federal, state or local subsidy. In the case
of a bona fide lease, the successor in interest may terminate the lease, subject
to the 90-day notice requirement, only upon the sale of the residence to a
purchaser who intends to occupy it as a primary residence (presumably, this
applies if the purchaser at the foreclosure sale meets this criteria as well).
By its terms, the Act
will only replace state or local law to the extent it offers less protection
than the Act. Any state or local laws that provide longer time periods or
additional protections for tenants in this situation will remain in effect.
Under Arizona law, there are no special protections offered to tenants after a
foreclosure sale; lenders or third party purchasers at a foreclosure sale could,
in most cases, opt to honor the lease or institute eviction proceedings. As a
result, the Act will completely subsume Arizona law on this issue.
Undoubtedly, the passage
of the Act will spur a flurry of litigation regarding whether a lease or tenant
is “bona fide” – in particular, whether the tenancy or lease is the result of an
arms-length transaction and whether the rent is not substantially less than
“fair market value” (a particularly difficult determination in today’s market).
As a result, for tenants without a written lease, a prudent approach for a
lender or purchaser would be to provide the 90-day notice to vacate regardless
of whether the tenant meets the “bona fide” requirements. Dependent on the
remainder of the term of the lease and how clear it is whether the “bona fide”
requirements are met, a cautious approach would dictate honoring the remainder
of the lease as well – or, at the very least, calling your attorney to discuss
whether the requirements are met.
These materials
are designed to provide general information prepared by professionals in regard
to the subject matter covered. It is provided with the understanding that the
author is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional
service. Although prepared by professionals, these materials should not be
utilized as a substitute for professional service in specific situations. If
legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the service of a
professional should be sought. |
