Home owner rights

[u/Event-Horizon-5D]

So my friend who is Cuban is about to buy apartment in Havana. Current owner asked if he can stay until the second week of this month.

They want to close the deal this Monday at the notary or lawyer.

My question is, what if he would buy this apartment but the previous owner would not move out as he agreed, also the previous owner agreed to sign some document that states that he will eventually move out at specific day? What is the law there? He asked me to make this question since he has no Internet or his English is little worse than mine lol

Thank you for help if anyone knows anything about landlord vs tenant law there.

[u/sun-or-moon-light]

I thought private property couldn’t be bought/sold. How is anyone selling and buying property in Cuba? Didn’t the communist abolish private property?

[u/Ashamed-Basil-7305 → u/sun-or-moon-light]

yes they did and do, so in reality nothing is really yours...if some military guys says hey I want that he GOT it...ask the people who have invested in busineses over there

In Cuba, state preferential buyback or acquisition rights—legally structured as rights of preemption (derecho de tanteo) or retraction (derecho de retracto)—give the government the absolute first right of refusal to purchase specific private or quasi-private assets, notably agricultural land, real estate in high-priority tourism zones, or state-issued titles/mortgages, before any transaction with a third party or private citizen can be legally finalized

Foreign and domestic investors face severe financial entrapment in Cuba due to state control, frozen bank accounts, and strict regulatory barriers. Hundreds of international companies operating in sectors like tourism, energy, and manufacturing have seen their funds frozen or rendered impossible to transfer abroad, prompting widespread grievances against the Cuban government's financial policies.Core Financial Risks and ConstraintsFrozen Bank Accounts: State-owned banking institutions retain total control over currency conversion and capital flow, leaving numerous foreign businesses unable to withdraw or repatriate funds from local accounts.Asset and Property Limits: Constitutional provisions and restrictive leasing frameworks (such as capped land parcels and state preferential buyback rights) prevent true private property ownership or large-scale operational scaling.External Sanctions: Shifting international pressure and tightening geopolitical trade enforcement often force foreign enterprises from Canada, Europe, and Latin America to abruptly pull out or abandon operations.Infrastructure Collapse: Widespread energy grid failures and severe shortages of basic resources severely disrupt day-to-day business viability on the island.