Selling a home with tenants in place involves more than just putting it on the market. It’s essential to understand how this process affects the legal rights of your tenant and your responsibilities.
Selling the property doesn't automatically end the tenancy or give you the right to evict the tenant. You must still follow the proper legal steps, including serving notice and applying to court if needed.
In many cases, it’s more straightforward to sell when your property is vacant unless the buyer intends to rent out the property.
Tenant rights during a sale
Tenants have the legal right to quiet enjoyment of their home. You must get their permission before entering the property or arranging viewings. Even if your tenancy agreement allows viewings, they must:
- happen at reasonable times
- come with advance notice
- not cause unnecessary disruption
Any terms that don’t meet these standards may not be enforceable.
Letting tenants know about the sale
You don’t have to tell tenants before the sale goes through. But if the new owner will be their landlord, it’s strongly recommended that you write to the tenant:
- confirming the property has been sold
- giving them the new landlord’s name and contact details
If you don’t, you could still be held responsible for issues after the sale.