By John Voket
With the trend in foreclosures showing no signs of letting up, I am taking an opportunity to review the rights renters have when their landlords fail to pay their mortgage.

According to the national Office Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), as the number of foreclosures increase across the country, some renters in good standing have received a nasty surprise—immediate eviction—when the houses, apartments or condos they rented went into foreclosure.

Fortunately, federal law helps protect the rights of tenants in properties facing foreclosure. The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 established national standards to provide renters sufficient notice when foreclosure happens. This national standard ensures uniform protection to renters who are vulnerable to sudden eviction.

The law states:

• In all cases, renters will get at least a 90-day notice prior to eviction.
• Renters can stay until their lease runs out except when the new owner will occupy the home as a primary residence, when renters have no lease or when renters have only a month-to­month lease. Even for these three exceptions, the 90-day notice still applies.
• The new law applies only to a “bona fide” lease or tenancy. Bona fide means:
• The tenant is not the landlord or a child, spouse or parent of the former owner.
• The rent is not substantially less than the fair market price.
• The rent is sharply reduced because of a government subsidy (tenants in Section 8 subsidized housing have separate protections under this law).

OCC experts advise renters to always be aware of their rights, and protect these rights by making sure they stay in good standing with regard to their rental property. Some tips on how to prove you are in good standing include:

• Sign a written lease.
• Pay your rent on time and in full.
• Use checks rather than cash to provide a record of payment.
• Pay your rent at the market rate. Paying a lower rent to a friend or family member will cut your costs, but may weaken your legal standing during a foreclo­sure or legal dispute.
• With all legal matters, the OCC encourages you to consult a lawyer.

And remember, the OCC says paying a below-market rent can weaken a renter’s legal standing during a foreclosure. To learn more about foreclo­sures and banks in general, go to www.HelpWithMyBank.gov.

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