The death of realtor Gabriel Omo-Osagie, landlord of Gabe’s Place, has raised questions about tenant-landlord relationships, especially when one party passes away.

Tenants may believe they are no longer responsible for their rent when a landlord passes away. This is not the case.

“Whether the landlord dies or the property is sold or the management company changes, the lease that was signed is still binding on the tenants,” said Esther Patt, coordinator of the Tenant Union. “I think that maybe people perceive it as a personal relationship rather than a real estate contract.”

For example, tenants may overlook their contractual obligations when a roommate dies and believe their personal relationship is enough to get them out of the lease.

Although students may try to get out of their lease with a landlord death, others said they would be content with their situation.

“If the quality of life did not change if my landlord died, that would be fine, and I would not try to get out of my lease,” said Matt Grobis, sophomore in LAS.

Tenants of Gabe’s Place are not likely to see a large discontinuation of service as a result of Omo-Osagie’s death, Patt said.

Although it is not typical of the age group here on campus, there have been instances when roommates have passed away. This can lead to an equal amount of confusion.

When someone passes away, their estate is responsible for their debts, Patt said. An estate is all of someone’s possessions, especially all the property and debts left by one at death.

“When someone dies they still have their debts, which would be balances on their credit cards and that would include contractual obligations like a lease,” Patt said.

If the deceased does not have an estate, the other roommates are responsible for the rest of the debts, but local realtors have been known to make exceptions due to the emotional trauma, Patt said.

“I have only had to deal with it a couple of times,” said LaDonna Wrzosek, manager of the Tri County Management Group. “There is really nothing in our lease that specifies, but it kind of depends on the situation.”

Some students said they believe they could get out of the lease.

“I would try and talk to my realtor, CPM, to try to get them to pay for theroommate that died,” said Roman Vovchak, junior in engineering.

If the realtor insists the roommates pay, they can bring a claim against the estate to defer from paying the deceased person’s rent, but this is rarely done by the realtor because of the emotions due to the death.

Students may look for other reasons to attempt to sever their ties with their lease.

“If I were to study abroad, if I did not like the neighborhood or if I had a major conflict with my roommate I would try to get out of my lease,” Grobis said.

Realtors may offer new contracts after a landlord’s death, a change in management or if property is sold. Tenants with Gabe’s Place may be offered new contracts and do not have to accept. Gabe’s Place refused comment.

“If the tenant doesn’t like the terms of the new lease, they should say ‘no thank you, I am not accepting your offer for a new lease,’ which is totally different from a new lease for the next year,” Patt said.

Omo-Osagie, 51, was pronounced dead by Champaign County Coroner Duane Nothrup on Feb. 27. An investigation into the death is continuing.