I rent an apt. in a 2 family home in NJ which is being sold. My current lease has an option to renew, with notification 90 days prior. If the new owners decide they don't want to renew (i.e. because they want to use the space), can they just choose not to, or do I have the right to say the renewal clause means they have to renew?

I rent an apt. in a 2 family home in NJ which is being sold. My current lease has an option to renew, with notification 90 days prior. If the new owners decide they don't want to renew (i.e. because they want to use the space), can they just choose not to, or do I have the right to say the renewal clause means they have to renew?

New owners usually mean new lease. The NJ law says that they can evict you if they want to live there.

Sorry.

http://www.uslandlord.com/laws/njstatelaw.html

So the only sucky recourse I would have is if they failed to make notification properly and I would go month to month. Or even worse, I would end up having to get them to evict me if I stayed after the request to leave, and would be using the Anti-Eviction laws to do so (to stay until I find my next place)?

So the only sucky recourse I would have is if they failed to make notification properly and I would go month to month. Or even worse, I would end up having to get them to evict me if I stayed after the request to leave, and would be using the Anti-Eviction laws to do so (to stay until I find my next place)?

It could be that the building was bought because it had good tenants. :D Talk to the new owners before you get mad. If you leave on a good note, you will have your deposit back as well as a glowing recomendation for your next place. I would look into your chances of buying. You might be shocked what can be done now. I was renting myself 6 months ago. I never thought I could buy a house in such a nice neighborhood. Sellers are getting worried with the slow market.

Trying for an eviction is never a viable option. If your property owner follows through, you will ruin your credit and possibly even your chance of buying a home. Then there is the ding on your rental history. Many property owners and large rental corporations would never rent to someone with an eviction on their record. A little known fact is that we don't care if you were justified in fighting your case or not.