Skip to main content

How do I evict a tenant if I want to sell the property?

I have a tenant under an informal arrangement and now want to have her sign a lease. I am anticipating she may not leave the property willingly if we decide to sell the home, although we have no immediate need to do so. How can I word the lease to protect against this?

22

8

Dan
Dan

29,578 satisfied customers

View context
Solved

If you think you may want to sell during the lease term, best not to use a lease and continue month-to-month so you can end the tenancy faster.

Practically, you can often get a tenant to leave quickly by offering incentives — for example, rent credit and/or moving expenses.

You may also want to add a clause to the lease that reserves the right for the landlord to terminate on 30 days’ notice in the event the property is being sold.

0

Lease Termination

Full Conversation


I have a tenant under an informal arrangement and now want to have her sign a lease. I am anticipating she may not leave the property willingly if we decide to sell the home, although we have no immediate need to do so. How can I word the lease to protect against this?

Lexi

Lexi, Chatbot

I understand your concern about ensuring your tenant’s cooperation in the future. Have you discussed with the tenant the possibility of signing a lease agreement?

I’m doing that now — that’s what I’m doing.

Lexi

Lexi, Chatbot

How long has the tenant been living on the property under the informal arrangement?

5 years.

Lexi

Lexi, Chatbot

Is there anything else the Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with your lease agreement.

No

Dan

Dan

Hello and welcome. My name is Daniel, and I’ve been a licensed lawyer for over 21 years. I'm truly sorry you're going through this, and I'll do my best to provide clear answers and address your questions with care.

To get started and better understand your situation, I have a couple of quick questions:

  1. Is the tenant willing to sign a lease at all?
  2. You want to make sure the tenant cannot leave early?
  3. What is your main concern here? In other words, what's the biggest issue for you right now?

1 - Yes, she is.

My main concern is that in the future when we sell the place she will not leave willingly, and with no lease we will be in a worse position regarding getting her out — is that true?

Dan

Dan

Got it. Thanks! Please bear with me as I'm working on your answer. Thank you for your patience.

Dan

Dan

Thanks for sharing that with me. I really appreciate it. I’ve prepared your answer with your concerns in mind. Take your time reviewing it, and if anything is unclear or you have more questions, just let me know — I’m here to help.

Dan

Dan

If you think you may want to sell during the lease term, best not to use a lease and continue month-to-month so you can end the tenancy faster.

Practically, you can often get a tenant to leave quickly by offering incentives — for example, rent credit and/or moving expenses.

You may also want to add a clause to the lease that reserves the right for the landlord to terminate on 30 days’ notice in the event the property is being sold.

There are no incentives — she would prefer to stay. And the lease already stipulates a 30-day notice period; it’s a month-to-month lease.

Can you confirm that I am better off with a lease than with no lease?

Dan

Dan

Then if she does not leave, you would give such notice and file for eviction in court. A lease with a 30-day notice or no lease at all are effectively the same.

I want to make sure the answer is clear and that you fully understand it. If you have any follow-up questions or need clarification, please feel free to ask. Otherwise, if everything makes sense, just reply with “all set.” Thank you!

Just to be clear: if she has no lease, how do I file for eviction?

Dan

Dan

30-day notice and then petition in court. Typically, you would use an eviction firm to expedite for a flat fee.

Ok, all set.

Dan

Dan

Perfect, thank you! It’s been great chatting with you. Thanks so much for sharing your questions with me. Wishing you all the best — I hope you have a wonderful day!

Thanks.

Dan

Dan

Most welcome.

Dan

Dan

29,578 satisfied customers

Dan
Welcome! Have a similar question?

5 lawyers online now

Disclaimer


By messaging AskaLawyer.com, you agree to our Terms and have read our Privacy Policy.

The information provided on AskaLawyer.com is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information presented, we make no guarantees regarding its completeness or applicability to your specific circumstances.

Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and AskaLawyer.com or any of its attorneys. Communications through this website, including any responses from attorneys, are not privileged or confidential. For advice tailored to your individual situation, we recommend consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

AskaLawyer.com disclaims any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the content of this site. We are not responsible for any third-party content that may be accessed through this website. Reliance on any information provided herein is solely at your own risk.

Ask a Lawyer Logo
Ask a Lawyer Logo
Intake Questions
Step of 3
Loading...
Loading...

How do you like to pay?

By proceeding with payment, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. You authorize us to charge $ today and $ thereafter until canceled. You may cancel anytime in the My Account section to stop future charges.

Total Due:

After purchasing, your chat will begin with an attorney.

By proceeding with payment, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. You authorize us to charge $ today and $ thereafter until canceled. You may cancel anytime in the My Account section to stop future charges.

Total Due:

After purchasing, your chat will begin with an attorney.

It looks like you already have an account with Ask a Lawyer.

We have sent you a magic link to . Click the link in your email to sign in and continue your chat.

spin

Step of 6 •

You'll receive an email at as soon as the lawyer joins the conversation 🙏🏻😊

Over 90% of lawyers connect within 5 minutes. If you're not online at that moment, don't worry — the lawyer will reply to your message while you're away.

You're also welcome to stay in the chat while waiting to be connected 💬✨

Waiting for lawyer