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Notice of Ownership Change Requirements for Landlords
Jul 1, 2025
If you’ve recently purchased a rental property, there’s an important legal step you can’t afford to overlook: notifying your tenants in writing of the change in ownership.
Hi, I’m Edrin Shamtob, a California real estate attorney and partner at SNS Law Group. When working with landlords over the years, I’ve seen how easily this requirement is forgotten, and how costly that mistake can be.
Under Civil Code Section 1962, you must provide tenants with written notice within 15 days of a change in ownership or management. This ensures tenants know who to pay rent to and protects your right to enforce lease terms.
Transcript:
If you’ve recently purchased a rental property, there’s a crucial step you can’t afford to skip, and that’s notifying your tenants in writing of the change in ownership of your property.
Hi, I’m Edrin Shamtob, a California real estate attorney and partner at SNS Law Group. I’ve been representing landlords for over 11 years, and the notice of the change in ownership is one of the most overlooked compliance issues I see in my practice.
Notice of Ownership Change
Under Civil Code section 1962, any new owner, or even any new property manager, must notify the tenant in writing within 15 days of a change in ownership or a change in management. This notice isn’t optional and has to include the name and phone number of the person authorized to receive rent, the form and method of rent payment by the tenant, and the name and address of the manager authorized to act on behalf of the owner.
Why Notice of Ownership Change is Required
The policy behind this law is that tenants need to know who their new landlord is. Without this written notice, you may not be able to collect rent, enforce lease terms, or serve proper legal notices. Worse, it can delay an eviction case or lead to dismissal of your court case if the notice requirement isn’t met.
How to Notify the Tenant of New Ownership
I always recommend serving the notice in writing, post a copy at the property, and keep a record for your files. This may be critical evidence later on in your eviction or breach of contract case.
Contact Us If You Have Questions About a New Rental Property
If you’ve acquired a rental property or changed property managers and aren’t sure if you’re fully compliant, give my office a call. At SNS Law Group, we help landlords across California stay protected and avoid costly mistakes.
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I enlisted their services for a commercial tenant eviction, and the process went smoothly with no inconvenience to me. They maintained excellent communication throughout the entire procedure. Overall, the quality of service and the value it provided were exceptional. I'll certainly consider engaging this firm again in the future, though I hope I won't have the need to.
I retained SNS to evict a tenant in Beverly Hills. The partners, Bijan and Edrin, personally handed the case. They were frank, clear, and realistic about the case and possible cost. They took care of every aspect (calls, emails, dealing with the city, and opposing council). I only wish I had know of them years ago. I highly recommend them to anyone with an eviction and I would definitely use them again.
I highly recommend the SNS Law Group for their exceptional expertise and professionalism in handling my recent eviction case as a landlord. Their responsiveness to text and email made communication easy and efficient. I appreciated their clear guidance and timely updates throughout the process, making it stress-free and straightforward. Overall, a standout law group in this area, and I would not hesitate to work with them again in the future.
