My landlord, who was diagnosed with bone cancer a few months ago, died in his sleep last night. He had lost a prodigious amount of weight since his diagnosis, and over the past few days, had spent most of his time in his wheelchair.
This is the same landlord from the “daffy landlord” threads I posted a few years ago. He was a conspiracy theorist Trump supporter, but he was a good guy and I loved him very much.
He was married to his wife for 51 years. She’s suffering from dementia and may need to move to an assisted living facility.
Her adult daughter lives with her, and adult son is nearby.
His body has been taken to a funeral home facility.
So, what do we do next?
Send the family a note of condolence, but continue to behave as if he was still alive. By that I mean pay the rent and do not curtail notices of maintenance needs or other deficiencies ‘out of respect for the family’. Yes, they - and you - are human and are worthy of respect, compassion, and empathy, but you also have a business relationship that continues after his death. Don’t do anything that could be detrimental to you WRT that relationship.
Depending on how rent was paid and who’s handling the business, you might need to open an escrow account at your bank and pay rent there until the details get worked out.
It could but it might not. If the heirs decide they don’t want the hassle of being landlords, they can likely put the place up for sale and terminate the lease when it sells regardless of how much time was left on the lease.
OP would be wise to start making contingency plans for this possibility.
Not in my jurisdiction. Here, a fixed term lease can’t be broken by the seller or buyer. If the lease is month-to-month and the buyer or their family want to move in for at least 12 months, only then can they start eviction proceedings.
Were you very good friends?
Pay the rent, of course.
Be as nice to the family as you feel lead to do. The Sister and Brother will have to deal with a bunch of unpleasant things.
You really have no standing, except being their friend.
The decision making will be for the family.
Are you interested in buying the place? If so, mention that to the landlord’s heirs – it might be the easiest way for them to go.
Probably not. In many jurisdiction, the lease continues after the sale so what some sellers will do is make sweetheart deals with the renters in order to cancel the lease early. When the owner of our house we were renting wanted to short-sell it, we had just started a year lease. We got our deposit back and 3 months rent free to cancel the lease.
Not a bad idea, but maybe wait a bit lest you come off as ghoulish. They’re grieving. Let them grieve.
Yes, we were good friends. Our situation was and is, we live in a trailer on their property. The trailer is attached to the house’s electricity and cable, and we get plumbing through them as well.
We have the right and ability to come into the house whenever we want, and often do to use the restroom in there, take showers, and utilize the kitchen, dining room, and living room.
My landlady is kind and shares her food with us as well. For several years, she would occasionally even cook meals for us; that stopped recently as she got older and run out of energy to do that. Now I cook occasionally for the entire house.
As far as being interested in buying the house: Nah, I haven’t that kind of money. We’ve just been renting the space for our trailer for years - $380 for me and Mom, and my sister (who moved in two years ago) pays her portion of $400.
I’m sorry for your loss. Make space for yourself to grieve the loss of a friend. If there are people in your life you can talk to about losing your landlord—therapist, clergy, friends, family—do so. Even posting here, if it makes you feel better.
For the business side of things, my advice is to be explicit about what you want. Do you want to keep the living arrangement you currently have? Then tell them. If there is a formal lease, then make sure the heirs get a copy. If it is informal, then let them know your understanding of the terms.
Ask who to pay rent to, and keep a record of each payment.