Cal. Civ. Code § 535.070
Purchaser of leased lands may recover possession
Operative Text
If any person purchases lands or tenements occupied at the time of such purchase by any tenant, lessee or sublessee, who shall, at any time thereafter, fail to pay rent to such purchaser, the person purchasing such property shall have the right, upon such failure, to commence proceedings before an associate circuit judge to recover rent and possession, under the terms of the prior owner's lease, for unpaid rent accruing after the transfer of title. The right to commence proceedings pursuant to this section shall exist regardless of whether the transfer was by private foreclosure, tax or judicial sale, or by any other means. The provisions of chapter 441 and this chapter shall apply.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 535.070 addresses what happens when property changes hands while a tenant is already living there. Under this provision, if a tenant fails to pay rent after the property is sold or otherwise transferred, the new owner acquires the legal right to pursue recovery of both unpaid rent and possession of the property through associate circuit court proceedings. This right applies regardless of how the transfer occurred—whether through a private sale, foreclosure, tax sale, judicial sale, or any other method—and the new owner may enforce the terms of the lease that existed under the prior owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.070, a property owner who acquires a tenant-occupied property through any type of transfer—including foreclosure or tax sale—generally has the authority to collect rent that accrues after the title transfer date and to pursue eviction proceedings if that rent goes unpaid. Compliant operators typically document the date of title transfer carefully, notify existing tenants of the ownership change and where rent should be directed, and retain copies of the prior owner's lease, since that lease's terms govern the proceedings. When pursuing recovery, operators generally follow the procedures outlined in Missouri chapters 441 and 535, which § 535.070 expressly incorporates.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.070 means that when a property you occupy is sold, foreclosed upon, or transferred by any other means, the new owner steps into the prior landlord's shoes and can seek unpaid rent and possession through associate circuit court. Tenants in this situation may have rights tied to the terms of the original lease, since § 535.070 requires proceedings to be conducted under that lease's terms. If you receive a notice or court summons from a new property owner, tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services in Missouri can help you understand what defenses or options may be available under chapters 441 and 535.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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