I am not sure if this question belongs in here or in the real estate forum, but I'll ask it here anyway.
My mom has been a long term tenant [we're talking 30+ years] and the woman who owned the building recently died. Her son has now inherited it, and while my mom is friendly with him and is confident he would never kick her out and/or sell the house, I just want to look into options in case it ever comes to that.
My mom had thought she read something about how Cambridge [where she lives] requires landlords to give tenants the option to buy their unit, if they're selling the house. It is a triple decker, my mom lives on the first floor. I am wondering if this fact is true, that if the son decides to sell the house, that he would have to give my mom 'first dibs' on her unit. Again, he is a nice guy, and considering my mom is in her 70s I would *hope* he would do this, or just keep collecting rent from her and the other tenant and just keep the house, since my mom does absolutely everything to keep it up [i.e. takes out trash, shovels, sands the sidewalk, arranges to have the porch painted, coordinates with the landscapers, PLUS she took care of his mom when she was sick].
I guess I am just looking for what my mom's options might be. Thanks!
Tenant rights in Cambridge Massachusetts
The landlord and tenant laws that are specific to Cambridge, and I know there are some, are not something that I can help you with. Sorry. Here is a link to a Cambridge community action site dealing with housing. Lots of useful information there. In general, if you search this forum you will learn that your mother, even if she is a tenant at will, does not have to go anywhere until a court orders her to move. In other words, the new owner would have to give a notice to quit and then go through the eviction process. Good luck.