(a) Rent may be recovered from the lessee, or other person owing it, or the heir, personal representative, devisee or assignee, who has succeeded to the lessee's estate in the premises. But no assignee shall be liable for rent which became due before his or her interest began. Subject to the provisions of subsection (b), nothing herein shall change or impair the liability of heirs, personal representatives, or devisees, for rent, to the extent and in the manner in which they are liable for other debts of the ancestor or testator; nor shall the mere merger of the reversion to which a rent is incident affect the liability for such rent.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, upon the death of a lessee of a residential premises, an heir, personal representative, devisee or assignee of the deceased lessee may terminate a lease prior to its expiration.
(2) Termination of a residential lease, as provided in this subsection, shall become effective on the last day of the calendar month that is two months after: