Apart from Peon’s advice above, I’m not sure most of the adice you’ve been given here is entirely accurate and legal. I’m a landlord now, and just had to evict some deadbeat tenants. I’ve learned a ton about the process, but I am also certainly NOT a real estate lawyer either.
However, unless there is something specific in your lease that grants you immunity from an eviction in the event the landlord goes into default, you not paying your rent is a simple default on your lease and your landlord can pursue you for that money. That doesn’t mean they will, and it doesn’t mean that if they do that it would happen before the NOT or Trustee sale or the 3 or 6 month periods being thrown about in here. Those are personal and timing issues which you may or may not find important.
But that’s not the relevent legal issue here. You owe your rent, and not paying it can bring eviction proceedings against you, regardless of the landlords troubles himself. Will they pursue you via the proper legal means? Probably not. Can they? Yes.
Its up to you to decide A) if you want to risk it, and B) if you risk it, will you win or lose. Chances are good that you won’t get caught and lose the legal process of eviction here. But you are not legally entitled to live rent free, unless there is a clause in your lease stating such.
Its all a question of what’s right, what’s legal, and what you can probably get away with. Don’t blur the issues, they are separate.
Good luck what ever you do.
EDIT: Peon’s latest advice is spot on. They can legally force you to pay or evict you, and that process can happen quicker than some people realize. After 3 days notice they can process eviction papers which you legally must respond to by paying, or appearing in court. Its a real risk that they can take this course of action.
