A.D. Cantelmo Property Management
Our Business is Property Management in Orange County California
Getting a Tenant to cooperate with a sale
Selling a property that has a Tenant living there is not
always an easy proposition. I have had many people tell me that since the law
is on the Landlords side, just go ahead and do what you want. Many Landlords
get bad advice and sometimes forget that the Tenant pays to use the property
and has the right to their privacy. Yes, the lease says that they need to
cooperate, but what if they don’t?
Be smart, Negotiate
That’s the big question that Landlords have to ask themselves,
“What do I do if my Tenant does not want to cooperate with a sale”. The answer is not just marching into the
property and show it anyway, the answer is give the Tenant and incentive to
cooperate, because if they don’t, the only thing a Landlord can do is evict and
that is a road you as a Landlord, do not want go down.
I have had Landlords tell me, to show the property even
though we don’t have the permission of the Tenant to enter the property. My
answer is no, never. You never want to enter a property when the Tenant does
not give you permission unless it is an emergency. Negotiation with the Tenant
is the only way to make a Tenant who is reluctant to cooperate become more
compliant.
Understand the Tenants situation
I try and put myself in the Tenants shoes, first they
realize that if the home is sold, they will probably have to move once their
lease is up and if they like where they live, they will not be happy. Second,
they are paying for privacy and having people come into their home looking
around and poking into closets is not desirable for any of us and Third, the
whole thing is just annoying. So how do we make this bad situation livable?
Incentive
The answer is incentive. First, offer a discount on the rent
for the time the property will be shown. Since the Tenant is going to lose some
of the privacy they pay for, kick them some money back. Most of the time,
allowing the Tenant to save some money will work and the Tenant will have a
change of heart. If there is still some resistance, allow the Tenant to break
the lease and move out as soon as they find a new place. That way a Tenant who
is not comfortable with people entering their property can move without
penalty.
These two incentives should make the situation of a sale less
stressful for both the Tenant and the Landlord. If a compromise can’t be
reached and the Landlord is going to sell the property, then legal action must
be started to get the Tenant out of the property, but like I said before, do
everything you can as a Landlord or Property Manager to avoid the worst case scenario. No one wins when eviction is the only answer.
A.D. Cantelmo Property
Management Specializes in Property Management in Orange County
Ca.