North Dakota Landlord Selling the House
North Dakota 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 a landlord sells the rental, the security deposit and any interest it has earned must be transferred to the buyer, and the seller stays liable for the deposit until it is transferred. N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-07.1(5), 47-16-28, 47-16-29
The rules in North Dakota
| If the landlord sells the property | When a landlord sells the rental, the security deposit and any interest it has earned must be transferred to the buyer, and the seller stays liable for the deposit until it is transferred. Whoever owns the landlord's interest when the lease ends is bound by the deposit-return rules even if that owner never received the deposit. A buyer of property subject to a lease gets the same remedies for rent and lease breaches that the seller had, and a tenant has the same remedies against the landlord's successors (assigns) that the tenant had against the original landlord. |
|---|---|
| Tenants in foreclosure | No statute — North Dakota adds no tenant protections beyond the federal PTFA. After a foreclosure sale and the end of the redemption period, the buyer may evict the occupant under the eviction chapter. Federal PTFA: a 90-day notice and existing leases are honored with limited exceptions. |
Related questions
North Dakota vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | When a landlord sells the rental, the security deposit and any interest it has earned must be transferred to the buyer, and the seller stays liable for the deposit until it is transferred. Whoever owns the landlord's interest when the lease ends is bound by the deposit-return rules even if that owner never received the deposit. A buyer of property subject to a lease gets the same remedies for rent and lease breaches that the seller had, and a tenant has the same remedies against the landlord's successors (assigns) that the tenant had against the original landlord. N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-07.1(5), 47-16-28, 47-16-29 | No statute — North Dakota adds no tenant protections beyond the federal PTFA. After a foreclosure sale and the end of the redemption period, the buyer may evict the occupant under the eviction chapter. N.D.C.C. § 47-32-01(5); chs. 47-16, 47-32 checked |
| Minnesota | When a landlord's interest ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, the landlord's successor takes on all of the landlord's rights and obligations for the security deposit. If the tenant gets written notice of the deposit amount being transferred or assumed (with a stamped envelope addressed to the successor) and does not object within 20 days, the successor's duty to return the deposit is limited to the amount stated in the notice. Minn. Stat. §504B.178, subd. 6 | After a foreclosure redemption period ends, the successor must give a tenant at least 90 days' written notice to vacate. A bona fide lease running more than 90 days past redemption must be honored to the end of its term, unless the new owner will live there (then 90 days). Contract-for-deed cancellation requires 2 months' notice. A landlord that has received a foreclosure or contract-for-deed cancellation notice may sign only short leases (no longer than the redemption period) and must tell prospective tenants in writing before taking rent or a deposit ($500 penalty). Minn. Stat. § 504B.285, subd. 1a, 1b; § 504B.151 |
| Montana | When a landlord sells a rental in a good-faith sale to a genuine buyer, the selling landlord is released from liability under the rental agreement and the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act only for events after the tenant gets written notice of the sale, unless otherwise agreed. The selling landlord stays liable to the tenant for all recoverable security deposit money and all prepaid rent. Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-304(1) | No Montana statute protects tenants in foreclosure beyond federal law (federal PTFA applies). On a good-faith sale, the selling landlord is released from future duties only after written notice of the sale to the tenant, but stays liable for the security deposit and prepaid rent. The duty to disclose the owner and manager applies to any successor landlord. Mont. Code Ann. §§ 70-24-304, 70-24-301(2) |
| South Dakota | South Dakota has no state law in its lease chapter (SDCL 43-32) that requires a selling landlord to transfer the security deposit to the buyer or to notify tenants of the sale. The chapter provides that a tenant has the same remedies against the landlord's assignees (such as a buyer of the landlord's interest) for breach of the lease as against the original landlord, except on covenants against encumbrances or relating to title or possession. SDCL ch. 43-32 (reviewed); SDCL 43-32-21 | No statute — South Dakota adds no tenant protections beyond the federal PTFA. After a mortgage or execution sale, once the redemption period expires and the deed is delivered, the buyer may bring an FED action against an occupant who stays. SDCL 21-16-1(5); chs. 21-16, 43-32 checked |
More North Dakota rental law
- North Dakota Security Deposit Law
- North Dakota Eviction Laws
- North Dakota Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in North Dakota
- North Dakota Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- North Dakota Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in North Dakota
- Squatters' Rights in North Dakota
- North Dakota Rental Fee Rules
- North Dakota Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- North Dakota Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- North Dakota Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- North Dakota Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- North Dakota Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All North Dakota landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in North Dakota
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North Dakota Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What happens to my lease if my landlord sells the house in North Dakota?
When a landlord sells the rental, the security deposit and any interest it has earned must be transferred to the buyer, and the seller stays liable for the deposit until it is transferred. Whoever owns the landlord's interest when the lease ends is bound by the deposit-return rules even if that owner never received the deposit. A buyer of property subject to a lease gets the same remedies for rent and lease breaches that the seller had, and a tenant has the same remedies against the landlord's successors (assigns) that the tenant had against the original landlord. (N.D.C.C. §§ 47-16-07.1(5), 47-16-28, 47-16-29)
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in North Dakota?
No statute — North Dakota adds no tenant protections beyond the federal PTFA. After a foreclosure sale and the end of the redemption period, the buyer may evict the occupant under the eviction chapter. (N.D.C.C. § 47-32-01(5); chs. 47-16, 47-32 checked)
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.