Inheriting a tenant: do we need to sign a NEW LEASE?

[Edita D.]

Hey guys!

We just purchased a single-family home that has a tenant in it who would like to stay for another 6 months until his house gets built. There is a lease in place, with a security and pet deposit that was transferred to us at closing from previous owners.

Do we need to sign a new lease, or would the one that tenant signed with the previous owners suffice? (The less work for both of us the better, we don't want to be increasing the rent at this time, however we want to be legally protected).

Thanks!