Utah Landlord Selling the House
Utah 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: Whoever holds the owner's (or the owner's agent's) interest in the rental when the tenancy ends is bound by Utah's renter deposit law, so a buyer who owns the property at move-out is responsible for handling the deposit under that law. Utah Code § 57-17-4; Title 57 Ch. 17, Ch. 22 and Title 78B Ch. 6 Part 8 (reviewed)
The rules in Utah
| If the landlord sells the property | Whoever holds the owner's (or the owner's agent's) interest in the rental when the tenancy ends is bound by Utah's renter deposit law, so a buyer who owns the property at move-out is responsible for handling the deposit under that law. Utah's deposit and landlord-tenant statutes do not say whether a sale ends the lease and do not require the seller or buyer to notify the tenant of the sale. Reviewed Utah Code Title 57 Chapter 22 (Utah Fit Premises Act), Title 57 Chapter 17 (Residential Renters' Deposits) and Title 78B Chapter 6 Part 8 (Forcible Entry and Detainer) on 2026-10-28; no provision on the effect of a sale on the lease or a sale notice was found. |
|---|---|
| Tenants in foreclosure | Utah incorporates the federal PTFA: a bona fide tenant under PTFA Sec. 702 is in unlawful detainer only if the tenant stays after the effective date of a notice to vacate given in accordance with Sec. 702. A former owner/mortgagor who stays after a trustee's or sheriff's sale and a purchaser's notice to quit commits unlawful detainer. No additional state tenant protections found. |
Related questions
Utah vs. neighboring states
| State | If the landlord sells the property | Tenants in foreclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | Whoever holds the owner's (or the owner's agent's) interest in the rental when the tenancy ends is bound by Utah's renter deposit law, so a buyer who owns the property at move-out is responsible for handling the deposit under that law. Utah's deposit and landlord-tenant statutes do not say whether a sale ends the lease and do not require the seller or buyer to notify the tenant of the sale. Utah Code § 57-17-4; Title 57 Ch. 17, Ch. 22 and Title 78B Ch. 6 Part 8 (reviewed) | Utah incorporates the federal PTFA: a bona fide tenant under PTFA Sec. 702 is in unlawful detainer only if the tenant stays after the effective date of a notice to vacate given in accordance with Sec. 702. A former owner/mortgagor who stays after a trustee's or sheriff's sale and a purchaser's notice to quit commits unlawful detainer. No additional state tenant protections found. Utah Code 78B-6-802 (PTFA bona fide tenancy subsection); 78B-6-802.5 |
| Arizona | When a landlord sells a rental in a good-faith sale to a genuine buyer, the seller is relieved of liability under the lease and the landlord-tenant act for events after the tenant gets written notice of the sale, unless otherwise agreed; the seller stays liable for the deposit money and property the tenant is owed under the deposit statute. Whoever holds the landlord's interest when the tenancy ends is bound by the deposit-return rules. When an apartment community is sold, the landlord must hand the buyer at closing the security deposit records, each tenant's file including rental agreements, and other required documents it has. A.R.S. §§ 33-1325(A), 33-1321(H), 33-1330 | If a lease is signed after a foreclosure has started, the owner must include a written notice that the property is undergoing foreclosure. The notice must say whom to contact (court, trustee or attorney) and the sale date, or that no date is set. If the owner first gets a trustee's sale notice or foreclosure notice after the lease is signed, the owner must give the tenant that notice within 5 business days. If the owner fails to do so, the tenant may give a written notice under § 33-1361 (landlord noncompliance), recover damages and get an injunction, and must get the security deposit back under § 33-1321. This does not apply to buildings with 4 or more connected units. A.R.S. § 33-1331 |
| Colorado | When a landlord's interest ends by sale, assignment, death, receivership or otherwise, whoever holds the security deposit must, within a reasonable time, either transfer it (less lawful deductions) to the new owner and notify the tenant by mail of the transfer and the new owner's name and address, or return it (less lawful deductions) to the tenant. Once that is done, the former holder is relieved of further liability, and the new owner takes on all the rights and duties of a landlord holding the deposit. A lease clause waiving these protections is void. C.R.S. § 38-12-103(4)-(7) | Colorado's foreclosure law gives tenants notice rights but does not let them stay after the sale. A lessee is treated as a lienor (with no lien amount) in foreclosure proceedings. A lessee with an unrecorded possessory interest in a single-family or multi-unit residence must be mailed the foreclosure notices by regular mail, which is complete when sent to the lessee at the property or to 'Occupant' at the address. The foreclosure mailing list must also include 'occupant' at the property address. Rights of a lessee whose lease is recorded are not affected. Beyond this, tenants rely on the federal PTFA 90-day notice. C.R.S. § 38-38-305(1), (1.5); § 38-38-100.3(14)(c)-(d) |
| Idaho | If a rental changes ownership during a tenancy, the new owner is liable for refunding the security deposits paid on it. A buyer of rented property gets the same rights to collect rent and enforce the lease that the seller had, and a tenant has the same remedies against the buyer for breach of the lease that the tenant had against the original landlord (except on covenants about title, encumbrances or possession). Idaho Code §§ 6-321(3), 55-301, 55-303 | Not verified yet |
| Nevada | Yes, the lease continues. Unless the new owner and tenant agree otherwise, a new owner after a voluntary sale takes on the previous landlord's rights, obligations, and liabilities under the existing rental agreement, and the tenant keeps theirs. The new owner must notify the tenant within 30 days of the sale where to pay rent, that the lease continues, and how much deposit the new owner holds. The selling landlord must, within a reasonable time, either tell the tenant in writing who the successor is and that the deposit balance was transferred, or return the deposit balance to the tenant; before recording the deed, the seller must transfer the deposit to the buyer in writing or notify the buyer in writing that it was returned. NRS 118A.349, 118A.244 | Before renting, a landlord must disclose in writing if the property is in foreclosure; a willful violation is a deceptive trade practice. After a residential foreclosure sale, a tenant in possession (not the borrower) can be removed only after notice of the change of ownership. The notice period is at least 60 days for month-to-month or longer periodic tenancies and at-will tenancies, or one full rental period for periods under 1 month. During that period the lease continues, the new owner takes on the old landlord's ch. 118A duties, and the notice must say where to pay rent. NRS 118A.275; NRS 40.255(2)-(5) |
| New Mexico | Unless otherwise agreed, when the owner's interest in the rental ends by sale (or assignment, death, bankruptcy, receivership, or otherwise), the selling owner is released from liability under the rental agreement and the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act for events after the resident receives written notice of the change. The successor in interest becomes liable for all obligations under the rental agreement and the Act. After the resident gets written notice, future rent is paid to the successor. NMSA 1978, § 47-8-21(A) | No New Mexico statute protects residents in foreclosure beyond federal law (federal PTFA applies). When the owner's interest ends (by sale, receivership or otherwise), the successor owner is liable for all obligations under the rental agreement and the Act. After written notice of the change, the resident pays future rent to the successor. NMSA 1978, § 47-8-21 |
| Wyoming | Whoever holds the owner's (or designated agent's) interest in the rental when the rental agreement ends is bound by Wyoming's deposit rules, including returning the deposit balance with a written itemization of deductions. Wyoming's residential rental statutes do not say whether a sale ends the lease and do not require a notice of sale to the renter. W.S. 1-21-1209, 1-21-1208 | No state tenant-protection statute for foreclosures was found; the federal PTFA (90-day notice; bona fide leases honored) applies. State law lets a purchaser use forcible entry and detainer after a judicial foreclosure sale (against a judgment debtor in possession) or after a power-of-sale (nonjudicial) foreclosure once possession has been demanded. On a sale or transfer, the new holder of the owner's interest at the end of the tenancy is bound by the deposit-return rules. Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1002(a)(ii)-(iii); § 1-21-1209 |
City rules that may add to state law
More Utah rental law
- Utah Security Deposit Law
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- Free legal help in Utah
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Utah Landlord Selling the House FAQ
What happens to my lease if my landlord sells the house in Utah?
Whoever holds the owner's (or the owner's agent's) interest in the rental when the tenancy ends is bound by Utah's renter deposit law, so a buyer who owns the property at move-out is responsible for handling the deposit under that law. Utah's deposit and landlord-tenant statutes do not say whether a sale ends the lease and do not require the seller or buyer to notify the tenant of the sale. (Utah Code § 57-17-4; Title 57 Ch. 17, Ch. 22 and Title 78B Ch. 6 Part 8 (reviewed))
What are tenants' rights in a foreclosure in Utah?
Utah incorporates the federal PTFA: a bona fide tenant under PTFA Sec. 702 is in unlawful detainer only if the tenant stays after the effective date of a notice to vacate given in accordance with Sec. 702. A former owner/mortgagor who stays after a trustee's or sheriff's sale and a purchaser's notice to quit commits unlawful detainer. No additional state tenant protections found. (Utah Code 78B-6-802 (PTFA bona fide tenancy subsection); 78B-6-802.5)
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.