Sell a Tenant-Occupied Rental

Being a landlord is not for everyone, and sometimes the property itself is not the problem — the situation is. A tenant who stopped paying, a unit that needs work you cannot do while someone lives there, or simply a rental you no longer want to manage. We buy occupied rental property directly, as it sits, tenant included.

An important fact before anything else

Under California’s Tenant Protection Act (Civil Code § 1946.2), selling a property is not, by itself, a legal reason to end a tenancy. For tenants who have lived in a unit 12 months or more, a landlord generally needs a just-cause reason to terminate, and a sale alone is not one of the listed reasons. A buyer who intends to move into the unit themselves is a separate, specific exception with its own notice and occupancy requirements. Some properties are exempt from these rules, including most single-family homes with proper notice. The rules are detailed and city ordinances in places like San Francisco and Oakland can add further protections — this is general information, not a complete answer for your specific property or tenant.

What this means for selling

You do not need to resolve a tenancy before you talk to us. We review occupied properties regularly and can structure a purchase around an existing tenancy, including month-to-month and fixed-term leases. What happens with the tenancy after closing is something we discuss as part of reviewing the property — it depends on the lease, the city, and the buyer’s plans, and it is not something we can promise an outcome on before that review.

Situations we see often

• A tenant who has stopped paying and the landlord does not want to go through an unlawful detainer before selling.
• A long-term tenant at below-market rent, where the numbers do not work for a traditional sale.
• Deferred maintenance a landlord cannot fund and does not want to pass on to a new buyer without disclosure.
• An inherited rental with an existing tenant the new owner never intended to manage.

What we will not promise

We will not promise to remove a tenant for you, and we do not provide eviction services. Tenant rights in California are specific and enforced, and anything involving ending a tenancy needs to go through the lawful process, with proper notice, whether that happens before or after a sale. For questions about your rights or obligations as a landlord or tenant, talk to a California landlord-tenant attorney or a local tenant rights organization.

Questions people ask

Do I have to evict the tenant before you will buy?

Not necessarily. We review occupied properties as part of our process — tell us the situation and we will tell you what is workable.

What if the tenant is behind on rent?

Tell us the details. It does not automatically rule out a sale, but it is something we need to know up front.

Will the tenant need to move out right away?

That depends on the lease, local ordinances, and the buyer’s plans, and is not something we can answer generally. Proper notice and lawful process apply regardless of who owns the property.

Do you buy multi-unit rentals, not just single family?

Tell us what you have. We review a range of rental property types.

Talk to us

Call or text (510) 417-9089, or send the short form on this page, and tell us the city and your situation.

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Please read this part

This page describes general California tenant protection rules as of publication and is not legal advice; rules change, vary by city, and depend on your specific lease and tenancy. Property inquiries through this page go to the property division of Bay Area Services. Notary services on this website are provided separately by Notary Experts. A notary verifies identity and witnesses signatures and cannot give legal advice or take part in a property purchase. Nothing on this page is a promise of an offer or a price. For legal or tax questions about a sale, talk to a California attorney or tax professional.