How to sell a house with tenants

Sell your Washington rental property with tenants still living in it

Do you have a rental property with tenants and need to sell?

You may need to sell a rental property before the lease agreement expires, have problems with tenants, or simply want to get out of the Washington real estate market.

Fill out the form and learn how much your home could sell for as-is for a cash offer or in a traditional home sale.

"Highest offer literally gave me my quality of life back."

Leia Poston

Sold a home to Highest Offer

Selling a house with a tenant in Washington

You have options when selling your rental property in Washington

Option #1: Cash Offer

We'll buy your inherited home as-is for a fair cash offer without having to do any repairs, pay closing costs, or deal with any agents.

Option #2: List on the MLS

We can have one of our agents list your home for a traditional home sale in as-is condition. You pay closing costs and fees.

Option #3: Renovated MLS

One of our agents will list your home after recommended minor or major repairs. You pay closing costs and fees.

Rental Home Sale Options

Cash Home Offer

Traditional Home Sale

Selling your occupied rental property

If you have questions about a property you own, just give us a call or shoot us a text at (253) 201-3000.

If you own an occupied rental property in Washington and might be interested in selling it, we’re here to help.

Highest Offer can assist homeowners who want to sell a property with a tenant as quickly and easily as possible.

Curious about what your house could sell for a cash offer or on the real estate market?

We’ll present you with all of your options in 24 hours or less, just give us a call or shoot us a text at (253) 201-3000.

Selling a House with Tenants Legally

You can, but timing is critical. To ensure a smooth transition, try to time the sale towards the end of the tenant’s lease.

As an alternative, if the new owner doesn’t intend on removing the tenant, the existing lease must be honored until the end of the term.

Month-to-month tenants must be given written notice of at least 20 days before the end of the rental period that the landlord is terminating their tenancy. Notices of termination with 20 days’ notice are sometimes referred to as “no cause” notices. It is not necessary for landlords in Washington state to give a reason for asking tenants to leave, and there are currently no extensions available. Tenants who fail to vacate following a 20-day notice can be sued for eviction if they remain on the property after the 20-day period.

For month-to-month tenants, the “Just Cause Eviction Protection” in Seattle requires landlords to show ‘just cause’ for eviction or termination of tenancy.

If you have questions about a property you own, just give us a call or shoot us a text at (253) 201-3000.

Selling a Washington occupied house with tenants legally involves several steps to ensure that the rights of the tenants and the landlord/seller are protected.

Provide proper notice: According to Washington state law, a landlord must provide at least 90 days’ written notice to the tenant before ending the tenancy.
Follow the terms of the lease: If the tenant has a lease, the landlord must follow the terms of the lease and cannot force the tenant to leave before the lease expires.
Use proper eviction procedures: If the tenant does not vacate the property after the notice period, the landlord must follow the proper eviction procedures as outlined in the Washington state Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.
Disclose the tenant’s status to potential buyers: The landlord must disclose to potential buyers that the property is occupied by tenants and provide the terms of the lease to the buyer.
Get the tenant’s consent to show the property: The landlord must obtain the tenant’s consent before showing the property to potential buyers.
Negotiate the terms of the sale with the tenant: The buyer and the seller should negotiate the terms of the sale with the tenant, including the moving out date, compensation for moving and security deposit return.

It is important to note that the laws and regulations surrounding the sale of a occupied property with tenants can vary depending on the city, so it is always best to consult with a real estate professional in Washington to ensure compliance with local laws.

Selling a rental property for a fair all cash offer

There are laws protecting the tenant from being removed from the premises, which may complicate your sale, but do not necessarily prevent it. Contact us to learn your options.

Selling a House with a Problem Tenant

Selling a house with a problem tenant can be challenging, but it is not impossible. Here are a few steps that you can take to make the process easier:

Talk to the tenant: Try to understand the problem and see if there is a way to resolve it.
Consult with a lawyer: It is important to understand your legal rights and responsibilities as a landlord, and a lawyer can advise you on how to proceed.
Give notice: If the problem cannot be resolved, you may need to give the tenant notice to vacate the property. This will depend on the laws in your state and the terms of the lease.
Evict the tenant: If the tenant does not vacate the property after receiving notice, you may need to go through the eviction process.
Disclose the issue to potential buyers: Be transparent about the problem tenant and provide any relevant documentation, such as eviction notices or police reports.
Offer incentives to the tenant: You can offer incentives to the tenant to move out before the sale, such as a monetary compensation or help with finding a new place to live.

Sell your house fast in

Pierce County

Bonney Lake

Buckley

Dupont

Eatonville

Edgewood

Fife

Fircrest

Lakewood

Milton

Gig Harbor

Orting

Pacific

Puyallup

Roy

South Hill

Spanaway

Steilacoom

Sumner

Tacoma

University Place

and more!

Kitsap County

Bremerton

Silverdale

Port Orchard

Poulsbo

And more!

King County

Auburn

Bellevue

Covington

Enumclaw

Federal Way

Kent

Kirkland

Maple Valley

Renton

Seattle

And more!

Snohomish County

Brier

Edmonds

Everett

Lynnwood

Marysville

Mill Creek

Mountlake Terrace

Monroe

Snohomish

And more!

Mason County

Shelton

Belfair

And more!

Don’t see your city on the list? No problem!

We buy homes all over Washington and will most likely buy yours too!
Contact us to receive your no obligation cash home offer!

Give Us a Call To Learn Your Home Sale Options (253) 201-3000

A fair guaranteed cash offer to move forward

We’re Highest Offer, a family-owned home buying company and real estate brokerage based out of Tacoma, WA. Our family has been buying and selling homes in Washington state for over 30 years. As second-generation cash home buyers, we’ve helped encumbered homeowners out of every situation possible and we can do the same for you.

The best choice when you need to sell a property

You can count on a fair market offer on your property that is transparent, is a win-win solution for us both, and will beat any other offer on your home.
We've helped hundreds of encumbered homeowners and can do the same for you.
Our company was founded on family values. We never exploit people or their situation!
The price we agree upon is the price you get. We never ask sellers for price adjustments after the've received an offer from us.

We've bought everything, from condemned properties to million dollar homes.

We get it, you need to sell your house and you want a fair offer. We're here to help.

Sell-Home-For-Cash-Fast-23307 SE 225th St - Pic 2

Why work with Highest Offer?

For over 20 years, we’ve built our business on a foundation of trust, experience, and knowledge.

We buy houses in all price ranges

Highest Offer will provide you with a free, as-is, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. There are also ZERO Realtor commissions, fees, or closing costs.

We buy houses as is in all conditions

Whether it’s a fixer-upper or in perfect condition, we'll buy your property 100% AS-IS. No need to clean, make repairs, or take unwanted items.

We buy houses on your timelines

Need to close really fast? We’ve got you covered. Need more time for closing? Not a problem, you pick the closing date and let us do the rest.

Get a cash offer on your property in 24 hours

Whatever life changes you are going through, whatever your story is, we are here to simplify the home sale process. We’ll help you achieve the Highest Offer on your home, work on your timeline, and support your move forward to the next thing.

If you need to sell your home quickly and find yourself wondering what your options are, get in touch with us today.

No fixing anything, no commissions, and no closing costs. Most importantly, our process is easy and we will treat you with honesty, respect, and kindness.

Frequently asked questions

What is an all-cash offer?

An all-cash deal enables us to buy your home without financing. To close, we typically transfer funds electronically or with a cashier’s check.

How are you able to close so much faster than a traditional home sale?

Because a lender isn’t involved, we’re able to keep closing timelines brief. Once we’re under contract, the sale can close in as fast as a week — just enough time for the title and escrow companies to clear any liens, etc.

How do you determine the price to offer on my house?

We look at the location of the property, the current condition, and values of comparable houses sold in the area recently.

Is there any obligation when I submit my info?

There is absolutely no obligation for you. Once you tell us a bit about your property and situation, we’ll make you an all-cash offer that’s fair for you and fair for us. From there, it’s 100% your decision on whether or not you’d like to sell your house to us.

Will you be listing my house on the MLS or actually buying it?

Great question. We are professional home buyers that can purchase homes in Washington for cash that meet our purchasing criteria. We also own a traditional real estate brokerage with which we can list your property on the MLS. Upon meeting, we can present you with the best options for your individual situation.

Can you also list my home on the Multiple Listing Service or MLS?

Because we also own a traditional real estate brokerage, we can list your property on the MLS. Top local real estate agent, Eli Hale has expertly listed and sold many homes.