You need to know your tenant’s rights when selling a rental property in order to protect yourself as a landlord. You also want to be fair to the tenants.
If you want to sell a rental property, with or without tenants, learn all of your options first. Selling to a cash buyer is a lot easier than listing your rental with an agent. Selling to a cash home buyer means you don’t have to deal with any of the complications that tenants present.
Depending on the state or county you are renting out your property in, tenant-landlord rights might be different. As a legal landlord, you should always be clear of all tenant’s rights when selling rental property with tenants in Cleveland, Ohio or any other city.
Tenant Rights and Landlord Guidelines When Selling a Rental Property
- 60-day notice is required to be given to the tenant once the landlord decides to sell the property.
- The tenant needs to be aware of all dates and times of viewings and given advance notice.
Unless the tenant gives their consent,
- You must not enter the property before 8am or after 8pm.
- Schedule an appointment on a Sunday or holiday.
- You are not allowed to take photos of the tenant’s personal property.
- You must not put up the ‘for sale’ sign.
- You must not hold an auction on the site.
House viewings of a tenanted rental
Can a landlord show a house while occupied?
Here’s how to handle house viewings while your tenants still live in the property:
- Communicate all dates and times with the tenant
- You must get consent at least 24 hours in advance
- All communication must be done in writing
- You must not take photographs of the property and personal belongings without the tenant’s consent
Please note that your tenant is legally allowed to refuse viewings or visits for an agent if they do not agree with the times of the viewing, making it very convenient to show. To avoid legal issues, you must respect their decisions and act accordingly. A tenant has as many, if not more, rights as the landlord when it comes to selling rental property with tenants in [target_city].
What happens if a tenant is uncooperative?
If the tenant refuses house viewings, you must arrange a time that’s best suitable for them. If they are refusing to communicate, you can apply to the court.
If a tenant refuses to leave the premises, you can try cash-for-keys method. Your other option is to evict the tenant.
So how do you evict a tenant?
- Give notice.
You are legally obliged to give notice to your tenant.
- Possession order
If the tenant doesn’t move out on the time of your notice you are allowed to seek possession order at the court.
- Get professional notice servers
When giving an eviction notice, bring a witness with you.
- Take it to court
Consider taking it to court if everything else fails.
MY TIP: Communication is key. Make sure your tenant receives everything in writing and don’t promise what you can’t deliver. As much as you’d like to sell your house fast, make sure your tenant is happy and agrees to the decision. Selling rental property with tenants in [target_city] can become a headache if not done properly.
Consider Selling Your House to a Cash House Buying Company
Many cash house buying firms will pay you cash for your house and buy it as-is. As-is means with the tenants in place and all. This can significantly reduce the issues discussed above. In turn, exploring this option could be a good idea. Click here to get a cash offer for your rental property.
Our company buys houses for cash in Cleveland and throughout Ohio.
The information presented in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or as any other type of advice.
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