Cal. Civ. Code § 66-28-305
Limitation of landlord's liability.
Operative Text
Unless otherwise agreed, a landlord who conveys premises that include a dwelling unit subject to a rental agreement in a good faith sale to a bona fide purchaser, landlord or agent, or both, is relieved of liability under the rental agreement and this chapter as to events occurring subsequent to written notice to the tenant of the conveyance and transfer of the security deposit to the bona fide purchaser.
Under Tennessee Code § 66-28-305, when a landlord sells rental property in a good-faith transaction to a legitimate buyer, the original landlord can be released from obligations under the lease and the state's residential landlord-tenant law for events that happen after the sale. This release of liability takes effect once the tenant has received written notice of the ownership transfer and the security deposit has been handed over to the new owner. The provision essentially allows liability to shift from the old landlord to the new one upon completion of these two steps.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 66-28-305, a landlord selling a property with active tenants generally ensures two things are completed to achieve a clean transfer of liability: delivering written notice of the conveyance to each affected tenant, and transferring all security deposits to the new owner. Operators who document both steps—retaining copies of the written notices and records of the deposit transfer—create a clear record that the liability shift has occurred. Without completing both steps, the original landlord may remain exposed to claims arising after the sale date.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 66-28-305 means that when your rental property is sold, the original landlord's legal obligations under your lease and Tennessee's landlord-tenant law can shift to the new owner—but only after you have received written notice of the sale and your security deposit has been transferred to the new owner. If you have not received that written notice or have reason to believe your deposit was not properly transferred, those facts may be relevant to any claims you have against the original landlord for events occurring around the time of the sale. Tenant-rights organizations in Tennessee can help you understand how this provision interacts with your specific lease and circumstances.
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 29, 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.