Alaska Landlord Selling the House
Alaska rules on landlord selling the house for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: When rental housing is sold, the new owner is responsible for refunding security deposits and prepaid rent owed to tenants who move out after the transfer. Alaska Dept. of Law, The Alaska Landlord & Tenant Act: What It Means to You (2024)
The rules in Alaska
| If the landlord sells the property | When rental housing is sold, the new owner is responsible for refunding security deposits and prepaid rent owed to tenants who move out after the transfer. If the previous owner properly transfers the deposits and prepaid rent to the buyer and notifies the tenants of the sale, the previous owner is relieved of further responsibility; if not, the previous owner stays responsible to the tenants for deposits and prepaid rent, even though the new owner is also responsible. Summary from the Alaska Department of Law's 2024 handbook, which says it is not the law itself; check the Alaska Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (AS 34.03) before acting. |
|---|---|
| Tenants in foreclosure | No separate state rule was found. The Department of Law points to the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act and adds three points. If the lender or foreclosure buyer keeps the leases going, or fails to notify tenants of the foreclosure, it becomes the landlord and is liable for security deposits. When a property is sold, a new owner must give the proper notice to end a tenancy. The seller remains liable for deposits it does not transfer to the buyer. AS 34.03 (read on akleg.gov) contains no foreclosure-specific tenant provision; the handbook relies on the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act. Re-verified and corrected 2026-10-27. |
Related questions
Alaska vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | When rental housing is sold, the new owner is responsible for refunding security deposits and prepaid rent owed to tenants who move out after the transfer. If the previous owner properly transfers the deposits and prepaid rent to the buyer and notifies the tenants of the sale, the previous owner is relieved of further responsibility; if not, the previous owner stays responsible to the tenants for deposits and prepaid rent, even though the new owner is also responsible. Alaska Dept. of Law, The Alaska Landlord & Tenant Act: What It Means to You (2024) | No separate state rule was found. The Department of Law points to the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act and adds three points. If the lender or foreclosure buyer keeps the leases going, or fails to notify tenants of the foreclosure, it becomes the landlord and is liable for security deposits. When a property is sold, a new owner must give the proper notice to end a tenancy. The seller remains liable for deposits it does not transfer to the buyer. Alaska Dept. of Law handbook (2024), pp. 8, 27, 34-35; AS 34.03.070 (deposits, as summarized) |
| Washington | If the landlord's role passes to someone else during the tenancy (for example, by sale), the security deposit money in the landlord's trust account must be moved at the same time to an equivalent trust account of the new landlord. The new landlord must promptly tell the tenant about the transfer and give the name, address and location of the new depository. If the unit is foreclosed on and the deposit is not passed to the successor, the former owner must refund the full deposit to the tenant right away or be liable for up to twice the deposit. RCW 59.18.270 | In a nonjudicial (deed of trust) foreclosure of tenant-occupied property, the trustee must post and mail a notice to the 'Resident of property subject to foreclosure sale' when posting the notice of trustee's sale, warning that the property may be sold in 90 days or more and the new owner may offer a new rental agreement or give a 60-day notice to vacate. A tenant or subtenant in possession when the property is sold in foreclosure must get at least 60 days' written notice to vacate before removal (eviction for waste or nuisance excepted); the rule does not apply to a borrower who stays on as a tenant. Separately, under just-cause eviction rules, an owner who elects to sell a single-family residence must give at least 90 days' written notice to end the tenancy. RCW 61.24.143; 61.24.146; 59.18.650(2)(e) |
City rules that may add to state law
More Alaska rental law
- Alaska Security Deposit Law
- Alaska Eviction Laws
- Alaska Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Alaska
- Alaska Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Alaska Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in Alaska
- Squatters' Rights in Alaska
- Alaska Rental Fee Rules
- Alaska Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- Alaska Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Alaska Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Alaska Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- Alaska Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Alaska landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Alaska
Compare landlord selling the house in all 50 states and DC →
Alaska Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What happens to my lease if my landlord sells the house in Alaska?
When rental housing is sold, the new owner is responsible for refunding security deposits and prepaid rent owed to tenants who move out after the transfer. If the previous owner properly transfers the deposits and prepaid rent to the buyer and notifies the tenants of the sale, the previous owner is relieved of further responsibility; if not, the previous owner stays responsible to the tenants for deposits and prepaid rent, even though the new owner is also responsible. (Alaska Dept. of Law, The Alaska Landlord & Tenant Act: What It Means to You (2024))
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Alaska?
No separate state rule was found. The Department of Law points to the federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act and adds three points. If the lender or foreclosure buyer keeps the leases going, or fails to notify tenants of the foreclosure, it becomes the landlord and is liable for security deposits. When a property is sold, a new owner must give the proper notice to end a tenancy. The seller remains liable for deposits it does not transfer to the buyer. (Alaska Dept. of Law handbook (2024), pp. 8, 27, 34-35; AS 34.03.070 (deposits, as summarized))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.