Whatever the reason, selling a tenant occupied rental property is a little more complicated than selling a vacant house. There are certain things you need to consider to avoid potential legal complications. If you are thinking of selling a house with tenants on a lease, here’s a simple guide for you to assure that you comply with all legal regulations and requirements while still executing a profitable deal.
Related: 15 Tips for Selling Your Home in 2021
How to Sell a Tenant Occupied Rental Legally and Profitably
The first thing to consider when selling a house with tenants is the type of the real estate lease agreement. Is it a month to month lease or a fixed-term lease? Depending on the kind of lease you have, the selling process will be slightly different.
Month to Month Lease
Selling a tenant occupied rental property that is rented on a month to month basis is quite easy so long as the right procedure is followed. Landlords cannot think of evicting a tenant on the last day of the month before giving them proper notice. That would be a direct violation of tenants rights.
Researching and abiding by the local laws and regulations is a must when selling a tenant occupied rental property
If a landlord wants to sell a house before the lease is up, he/she is legally obliged to give the tenant a written notice to vacate well in advance. The required period for the notice to tenant to vacate due to sale may vary depending on the state you are in. Therefore, if you have tenant occupied homes for sale, be sure to check your local state laws first to ensure you are not acting against the law.
Fixed-Term Lease
Selling a tenant occupied rental property with a fixed-term lease is a little more complicated. A fixed-term lease is usually harder to terminate since tenants have the right to stay in the house until their lease ends. However, it’s still possible to sell your tenant occupied rental.
Here are options to consider:
1. Find Valid Reasons to Terminate the Lease
You can choose to wait until the lease expires and choose not to renew. However, this can take a long time. Although the tenants can choose to stay in the rental unit until their lease expires, you can legally terminate the lease in case they terminate any lease terms. In such a case, you can give them the notice to vacate.
Here are some possible valid reasons for evicting a tenant with a fixed-term lease:
- Failure to pay rent
- Violating of the no-pet clause
- Serious property damage
- Engaging in illegal activities such as selling drugs
- Being a nuisance to neighbors
- Engaging in prohibited subleasing
2. Offer “Cash for Key”
Another way to get the tenant to vacate the leased house before the end of the lease is to offer money or some other form of incentive to make up for the inconvenience of relocating early. While renters are under no obligation to accept your offer, it can motivate them to vacate. For instance, you can offer to pay their first month’s rent, pay for their moving costs, help them find a new house, or another incentive.
3. Sell the Rental Property to an Investor
Waiting until the tenant has moved out of the rental property before you sell it can help you sell for more than you would if it is occupied. You’ll have the opportunity to make any upgrades and stage the property for viewings. However, this is not always possible. If your tenant’s lease has yet to expire, and you can’t get them to vacate, you may have to sell the leased property with renters in. But is this even legal? And what happens to a lease when a property is sold?
To begin with, a landlord selling house with tenants is actually legal. In most cases, the lease and the security deposit are transferred to the new rental property owner. However, not every potential buyer would want to keep existing tenants in place. This means that, when selling a rental property with tenants on a lease, you want to target buyers who are ready to become a landlord. The new owner should be willing to let the tenant remain in the property until their lease ends. A real estate investor may be looking for a tenant occupied investment property for sale because rental income starts flowing right away. That’s why if you play your cards right, you might actually making a good profit.
To find such buyers, consider listing your property on platforms dedicated to rental properties for sale like the Mashvisor online marketplace. Consider posting the property off market on Mashvisor’s Property Marketplace. This makes it easier for you to find the right property buyers. Keeping the property out of the spotlight will also help to make the tenants more comfortable.
Related: The Pros and Cons of Buying a House with Tenants
Nevertheless, when a landlord wants to sell house before the lease is up, he/she has to check the local laws regarding landlord obligations and tenants rights when landlords sell property. Additionally, it’s important that you let renters know of the impending sale. You should also give them notice when you schedule viewings according to the local laws. Communicate with the tenants to ensure that property showings are scheduled at times convenient to them.
4. Sell the Property to Your Current Tenant
It is also possible to turn your tenants into buyers. If you are considering selling a tenant occupied rental property, first let your tenants know that you are selling. This can be a great option as you won’t have to search for potential buyers. You also don’t have to organize house viewings as the tenant is already familiar with the ins and outs of the property.
If your current tenants like the house and are in a good financial position, they may consider your offer. However, if the tenant is interested in buying the house but can’t get financing, you can consider an owner financing arrangement. This is where you assume the role of a lender and the tenant makes regular payments to you toward the purchase of the property based on the terms that the two of you agree on. The seller financing option is usually viable when you are selling to long-term tenants with good standing.
Related: How to Avoid Capital Gains on Rental Property When Selling
The Bottom Line
When selling a tenant occupied rental property, some legal factors come into play. Keep in mind that tenant rights when house is for sale vary from state to state. Therefore, before you take any action, familiarize yourself with your state laws regarding the sale of tenant occupied houses. It would also be wise to work with a qualified attorney and/or real estate agent who understands the local laws. This will help you avoid any legal consequences.
If you’re ready to list your income property for sale, sign up for Mashvisor.