Property now for sale says owner to tenants with no lease

[Frankin]

We took over dilapidated house from friends and continued paying monthly rental with no lease a few years ago. We live in Greece. Now the owner says the house is for sale and we have to get out when it is sold which could be quite soon. Apart from the fact that the owner who lives overseas has done nothing to the house which we have partly renovated, we want to know our rights. In Greece the tenancy is usually protected for 3 years but we have been here nearly 4 years. Any advice is appreciated.

[OHlandlord]

You will have to check your laws on tenant's rights. In the US, with a lease, the tenant's rights are usually protected. If the tenant has a lease and the house is sold through normal channels (not through foreclosure or tax sale) the tenant's rights are upheld and the new owner must honor the existing lease. If there is no written lease, when a sale goes through as above, the tenants are usually given a 30 day notice to vacate the premises. Since you have no lease, if you lived in the US, the owner (old or new) could give you a 30 day notice to vacate at any time with no reason. If you failed to vacate within that time, the owner could evict you. Research your local laws to see what the laws say there.

That law is similar to the situation in Greece...What was the agreement you had with him as to repairs, ownership and the like? What were you expecting?