Cal. Civ. Code § 224
Attornment by tenant
Operative Text
§ 224. Attornment by tenant. The attornment of a tenant to a stranger is absolutely void and does not in any way affect the possession of the landlord unless made either: 1. With the consent of the landlord; or, 2. Pursuant to or in consequence of a judgment, order, or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; or 3. To a purchaser at foreclosure sale.
Under N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 224, an 'attornment' is when a tenant formally recognizes a new party as their landlord. This provision establishes that a tenant's unilateral decision to attorn to a stranger—someone who has no recognized legal claim to the property—is completely void and has no effect on the original landlord's rights or possession. Such a recognition only becomes legally valid when the landlord consents to it, when a court of competent jurisdiction orders it, or when it is made to a buyer at a foreclosure sale.
Plain English — not legal advice.
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 224 provides meaningful protection for property owners by ensuring that a tenant cannot unilaterally shift their tenancy obligations to an unauthorized third party without the landlord's involvement. Compliant operators generally document any consent they give to a tenant's attornment in writing to create a clear record, and they monitor for situations—such as foreclosure proceedings—where a court-ordered or sale-triggered attornment may arise. Being aware of these three recognized exceptions helps property owners and managers understand when a change in the landlord-tenant relationship may be legally recognized without their direct approval.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 224 means that if someone approaches you claiming to be your new landlord and asks you to recognize them as such, that recognition is legally meaningless unless one of three conditions is met: your current landlord consented, a court ordered it, or the person purchased the property at a foreclosure sale. Tenants who are uncertain whether an attempted attornment is valid may benefit from reviewing any court orders or sale documentation related to the property. Tenant-rights organizations or a local rent board, where applicable, can be useful resources for understanding how this provision may apply to a particular housing situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.