Renters in Foreclosure Toolkit

On May 20, 2009, the President signed into a law a bill containing provisions protecting tenants living in foreclosed buildings. (The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act is Title VII of Public Law 111-22).

These provisions immediately went into effect and are "self-executing", so no federal agency (such as HUD) is responsible for making them work.  It is up to advocates to make sure that tenants, landlords, public housing authorities, courts, the legal community, and others involved in the foreclosure process are aware of these new rights for tenants.

The following are documents that can help you spread the word about the new law:

Report on Compliance with PTFA in Connecticut - click here

Sample Notice for Tenants to be Used by Successors in Interest - click here

NLIHC's One-page Explanation of the New Tenant Protection Provisions - click here

Questions and Answers For Tenants Of Buildings At Foreclosure After May 20 - click here

NHLP Cover Memo, Tenant Protections - click here

Letter from a Section 8 Tenant to Landlord - click here

Letter from a Non-Section 8 Tenant to Landlord - click here

Sample Notice for all Tenants - click here

Sample Notice for Section 8 Voucher Hodlers that a PHA Could Send - click here

Sample Letter to Send to Judges who handle Landlord Tenant Cases - click here

Sample letter to Send to Public Housing and Section 8 HCV Administrators - click here

HUD Notice on tenant protection provisions - click here

701-704, Public Law 111-22 - click here

Tenants in Foreclosure - Webinar

Special thanks to the National Housing Law Project 

If advocates don't inform all of the actors in the foreclosure process, many tenants will be unaware of their new rights and could end up being evicted far too soon.  In addition to keeping your members and networks informed, please think about notifying:

  • Media
  • Tenant organizations
  • Neighborhood organizations
  • Legal services
  • Local Bar Association (which might have a pro bono legal program)
  • Community Action Agencies and social service providers
  • Local courts and other official entities involved in the foreclosure process
  • Local sheriff's offices and others that carry out foreclosures
  • Local elected officials
  • Local associations of landlords/property owners
  • Other community groups/individuals


Thanks for your advocacy to help protect renters facing foreclosure.