Foreclosure Article


WHAT IF I RENT A HOUSE THAT'S IN FORECLOSURE - The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act

 The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act

This law expired on December 31, 2014

 

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: The Federal Law, Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, expired and is no longer valid as of December 31, 2014. While there were some attempts in the House to revive this law in 2015 none have been successful. Arizona State Law, A.R.S § 33-1331, gives tenants of foreclosed properties some limited protections; information about these protections can be found in this article. This article remains on AZLawHelp.org purely for historical value for those interested in how the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act operated from 2009 through 2014.

There are legal protections for tenants renting a house that is in or goes into foreclosure. The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA) was passed by Congress signed into law by the President Obama in 2009; subsequently the law was extended in 2010. The PTFA expired on December 31, 2014. The PTFA, depending on the facts in a particular situation, requires that renters in foreclosed homes be allowed to stay or given sufficient notice under the law.

  

Who qualifies for protection under the PTFA?

The tenant protection provisions apply in the case of any foreclosure on a “federally related mortgage loan” or on any dwelling or residential real property. The tenant must also be “bona fide.” A lease or tenancy is “bona fide” only if:

  1. The mortgagor or a child, spouse, or parent of the mortgagor under the contract is not the tenant;

  2. The lease or tenancy was the product of an arm’s-length transaction; and

  3. The lease or tenancy requires the receipt of rent that is not substantially less than fair market rent or the rent is reduced or subsidized due to a federal, state, or local subsidy.

In other words the lease must be made with another person and not with oneself and the rent payments must be a fair amount for the property that is not supplemented by the government.

  

When do renters in foreclosed homes get to stay and when do they have to leave?

Renters Get to Stay IF:

Renters get to stay for the duration of the lease, if all of the following requirements are met:

  1. There is a valid lease (not the end of the lease term),

  2. The lease was signed before receiving notice of foreclosure (whether judicial foreclosure or trustee sale), and

  3. The new owner does not intend to occupy the property as a primary residence.

Renters Cannot Stay But Must Be Given Notice IF:

In most other situations, the renters will have to leave, once the foreclosure is complete, and upon receiving 90 days notice from the new owner. The common situations where a renter will have to vacate after the foreclosure upon receiving notice are:

  • Renters must vacate if there is a valid lease and they had notice of foreclosure before signing the lease; or

  • Renters must vacate if there is a valid lease, and even if there was no notice of foreclosure but the new owner intends to occupy the property as a primary residence; or

  • Renters must vacate if there is no valid lease, including where a lease expires and the renter is paying month-to-month. 

Why does the law end December 31, 2014?

The law has what is called a sunset provision, meaning it has an expiration date. The original date was extended in the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act”, so that the law will be repealed on December 31. 2014. When laws are written, the legislative body writing the law may set a date of when that law will end, referred to as a “sunset” clause or provision (Note: Not all laws have sunset provisions, it is not required). The PTFA is a federal law, Congress would have to authorize and extension or make the law permanent and the President would have to sign it into law.

 

 

Source:  See 12 U.S.C. 5220 or search the US Code online with the US House of Representatives website. For additional information see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website.


Comments:

QUESTIONS

  • Can the lender force foreclosure on my home when my ex-spouse got a 2nd mortgage in his name showing him as the borrower while we were married on this home And now I own this property from the divorce?
  • I have a 3plex in AZ that is about to go into foreclosure. I was told by an Attorney that if the lender does not come after us with in 90 days of the foreclosure date by law they cannot come after us in other words sue us. Is this true?
  • We received a tro from district court on our foreclosure it was mysteriously remanded to state court then dismissed by state court we are under appeal to 9th circuit. It turns out opposing counsel clerked for judge at the AZ supreme court and US court of appeals for the ninth circuit. Neither the judge or opposing counsel disclosed there past relationship! Is this not a conflict of interest? Is the judge not required to disclose there past relationship? Is the lawyer not required to disclose there past relationship? Is it of any use in a dismissal?
  • i have purchased a home about to be auctioned off I paid off mortgage and the owner signed over the house on a quit claim I am having trouble getting her to remove her stuff from property how long do I need to give her and what is the process I need to follow
  • There is a scam going on with my house and reference for foreclosure need legal assistance ASAP I am disabled and need help my phone number is I need immediate help. Thank you
  • If both parties names are on the house if one party stops paying am I responsible for all of it.
  • Due to piling credit card debt and a recent diagnosis of cancer I may be headed towards foreclosure on my condominium. My question is if I cannot save my home will I be subject to any deficiency judgments against me because my residence is a condominium? I've read about if the property being less than 2.5 acres and a single family dwelling is safe from deficiency judgments. Do condos fall under the same protection? Is there anymore light you can shed on this situation for me?
  • My father passed away in September, 2016. I am the executor of his estate and I have a lawyer representing me and the estate. His house is paid off but he has a 7,000 home equity line of credit. There is no money in the estate to pay any bills except the utilities. It is for sale and hopefully will be sold soon. I received an Act 91 notice. Can a house be foreclosed on that is in probate? There is no money to pay the home equity line of credit bill or the taxes owed till the house is sold
  • I put my Fathers name on the Deed to my house in hopes of refinance. This fell through for many reasons. I am now pending a foreclosure. Will he be affected in any way with his name on the deed??
  • Are purchase money mortgages limited to no recourse notes?

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HUD in Arizona

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