Hello,

Our landlord is selling the house we're renting.

Our lease is March 1 2008 to March 31 2009.

He says any new owners will have to honor the lease till it expires.

Here's where I'm confused, as I was just reviewing our lease. It states:

"Landlord demises the above premises for a term of one year commencing March 1st 2008 and terminating March 31 2009 or sooner as provided herein at the monthly rental of $......."

What does "or sooner" mean?

Even though the lease states one year, March to March, that "or sooner" has me confused and concerned.

I know his lease template is a cookie cutter version he probably got online (as after Googling, I saw plenty that read verbatim like ours), but I'm worried now.

Also, later on in the lease, it further states:

"At any time, landlord may or may not choose to enforce any part of lease but does not allow that to be construed as acceptance or a waiver."

I hope I'm just being paranoid, but I just don't trust him and I know he is very eager to sell.

I am really not ready to be moving prior to March 2009.

Can our landlord or pending new owners try to get us out sooner?

Please advise, and thank you. :(

"Or sooner as provided herein" only applies if there is another paragraph in the lease giving either the landlord or the tenant the right to terminate the lease earlier. If there are no other paragraphs in the lease that give either party the right to terminate then the new landlord has to honor your lease until the term ends.

The only way they can get you out sooner is if you violate the terms of the lease in any way (such as not paying rent, destroying the place, etc.).