Delaware § 7108 - Option to purchase; right of first refusal; rescission of contract to purchase; nonpurchasing tenant with children attending school.

§ 7108. Option to purchase; right of first refusal; rescission of contract to purchase; nonpurchasing tenant with children attending school.

(a) Where there is a tenants’ association in existence at the time of the preliminary notice, the owners of the real property which is to be converted shall in a separate writing mailed to the association, upon approval of the plan by the Office of the Attorney General, grant to the association the exclusive option to purchase the community for a period of 90 days at the price set forth in the plan. If the tenants’ association should exercise its option, it shall have 120 days from the date of its exercise of its option to complete the purchase. If the tenants’ association decides not to exercise its options, upon the expiration of the 90-day period, the option shall convert into a right of first refusal meaning that the property shall not be sold to any other purchaser, at any time, at any price or terms, without first having been offered on the same terms to the tenants’ association.

(b) Should the tenants’ association fail to exercise its option to purchase within the 90-day period, the owner shall grant to the tenant the exclusive option to purchase the unit for a period of 90 days thereafter at the price set forth in the plan. Upon the request of a tenant, the owner shall provide the tenant with a listing of the types of units within the conversion project, and the price for each type of unit. If the tenant should exercise that tenant’s option, that tenant shall have 120 days from the date of the exercise of that tenant’s option to complete the purchase. If the tenant decides not to exercise that tenant’s option, upon the expiration of the 90-day period, the option shall convert into a right of first refusal, meaning that the property shall not be sold to any other purchaser at any time, at any price or terms without first having been offered on the same terms to the tenant.

(c) For a period of 60 days after a purchasing tenant has agreed in writing to purchase a unit within the conversion project, such tenant shall have the right to rescind such contract without the imposition of any penalty or fee. If the tenant rescinds, any renegotiation or new agreement signed by the owner and the purchasing tenant shall be valid and binding, if such renegotiation occurs between the time of rescission and the expiration of the 60-day period set forth in this subsection.

(d) Where the 3-year grace period has expired and a nonpurchasing tenant with children still attending school has failed to move, such tenant shall be permitted to remain until 1 week following the end of the school year; or if any of the children is about to graduate, 1 week after the graduation ceremony; whichever is later.

64 Del. Laws, c. 14, §  2;  70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  74 Del. Laws, c. 35, §  8;