Selling a House With Tenants in Place
A property with tenants in place is still occupied housing, and selling it doesn't erase the lease that governs it. In most states, a sale doesn't end a tenancy on its own — a new owner generally takes the property subject to whatever lease is already there, month-to-month or fixed-term.
Notice requirements for a landlord — to enter a unit, to show the property, or to end a tenancy — are set by state and sometimes local law, and they don't pause because a sale is underway.
Security deposits, current lease terms, and any rent already collected are part of what typically needs to be documented and handed off accurately, whichever direction a sale goes.
What this usually involves
- A lease in place usually transfers with the property rather than ending at closing; state law governs the specifics.
- Showing a unit to a prospective buyer, or a buyer's representative viewing the property, typically requires advance notice to the tenant.
- Security deposits and their documentation generally need to be accounted for and transferred correctly.
- Tenant rights and required notice periods vary significantly by state and, in some cities, by local ordinance.
- A fixed-term lease and a month-to-month arrangement carry different notice rules if either side wants to end it.
- Local eviction and just-cause rules, where they exist, apply regardless of why an owner wants to sell.
How it works
Tell us about the house
Address and rough condition, two minutes.
We introduce it to buyers in your area
Not to a single company.
Buyers reach out directly
They look at the house and handle their own offers. We're not on those calls and we don't set any numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Does selling end the tenant's lease?
Not by itself, in most states — a lease generally survives a change of ownership. What happens to the tenancy after a sale is a landlord-tenant law question, not something we determine.
Do I need to tell you a unit is occupied?
Yes — let us know when you reach out. We pass that along as part of what you tell us about the property.
Can you help me end the tenancy first?
No. We don't advise on notices, evictions, or lease terms. That's a landlord-tenant law question for an attorney in your state.
Do you need a copy of the lease?
No. We don't collect lease documents. We take down what you tell us about the property and pass it along.