Selling a tenant-occupied rental

Build a clear rental snapshot

Gather the leases, current rents, payment history, deposits, service responsibilities and known maintenance issues. Explain which units are occupied, which are vacant and whether any agreements have changed. A summary should distinguish actual collected income from asking rent or a hoped-for future figure.

Provide initial information without unnecessarily sharing tenants’ private details. Documents containing personal information should go through an appropriate secure process once there is a legitimate need to review them.

Coordinate access with care

Do not promise immediate access or vacant possession without checking the leases and applicable requirements. A sale does not, by itself, mean a tenant must leave. State and local protections, notice rules and specific agreements can affect what happens next.

California’s landlord-tenant guide is a starting point, not a substitute for advice about a particular tenancy. Obtain appropriate guidance before issuing notices, changing terms or making commitments to a buyer.

Evaluate offers on an occupied-property basis

Ask whether a prospective buyer intends to evaluate the property with existing occupancy. Compare the inspection process, document requests, deposit handling and responsibilities through closing. If a proposal depends on a change in occupancy, understand that condition before accepting it.

805 considers rental properties as part of its acquisition work. Sharing the current rental picture helps Eddie and Raul assess fit without assuming that every home will be delivered empty.

Questions worth asking