My son and two other males are students at the University of Alabama. They signed a one year lease for 3 bedroom house in Tuscaloosa last summer with a local real estate company who is acting on behalf of the owner of the property. The owner has recently sold the property to a new owner. The new owner is not asking the my sons or the others to leave the property prior to the end of the lease. However, he wants to begin renovations to the interior of the property prior the end of the lease. These renovations will entail disruption to the boys' schedules, specifically study schedules, and require that one of them be present while contractors are on site. My question is, are the tenants of the property required to provide access to the new owner and his contractors prior to the end of the lease to make major renovations? If they are, which I hope is not the case, is the new owner or the original real estate leasing company, required to provide written notification of the renovations prior to commencement?

Thank you in advance.

No, they would not be required to allow any renovations or construction that would interfere with their lives unless its for an emergency. The new owners are required to honor the lease. They can ask them to leave, but they can't require it and as long as the lease is in effect they have the right to quiet use of the property.

On the other hand, they could offer cash for keys, in other words, buy them out. Or they can offer reduced rent.

Why would one of them be required to be on premises?

It is absurd to require one of them to be there when the contractors are, and their belongings are at risk for dust and damage, and as was said, they can refuse since it isn't emergency repairs. It is customary to do renovations between one group moving out and another moving in. They are trying to get rent while renovating, and that's not allowed. They also sound clueless about how much disruption goes on, and how much delay, such as an unusable bathroom for 10 days when it was promised to be done in 1.

Thank you for your reply. We will be meeting with the new owner on Monday to discuss further, and this will be helpful.

The only reason they want to have someone during the work is to protect their belongings, computers, printers, electronics, etc.

Who wants someone there, the owners or your son and roommates? If they are concerned about theft, do a photo inventory and require the owners get an umbrella insurance policy.