The former landlord owed property fees.

Legal analysis: If the former owner defaults on the property fee, the property company has the right to ask the former owner to settle the original property fee. If the former owner refuses to pay the property fee, the property company has the right to bring a lawsuit according to law. The service contract between the original owner and the property management company does not involve the late buyers, so the new owner has no obligation to pay this part of the property fee. After the new owner buys a house, he establishes a new property service contract relationship with the property management company and only bears the property fee after moving in.

Legal basis: Article 937 of the Civil Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) is a property service contract in which the property service provider provides the owner with property services such as the maintenance of buildings and ancillary facilities, the management and maintenance of environmental sanitation and related order, and the owner pays the property fee.