Tenant-occupied · Houston, TX
Sell a house with tenants in Houston — lease in place, no eviction, no waiting.
A tenant in the house scares off most retail buyers and makes showings a headache. For a buyer who expects to own rentals, a tenant in place is normal. We buy occupied properties and take over the lease.
What the law says
Texas basics on selling an occupied rental
General information for Houston-area homeowners, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm details for your situation with a Texas attorney, title company, or tax professional.
The lease survives the sale
A written lease generally binds the new owner. Your tenant keeps their rights and their rent terms; the buyer steps into your shoes as landlord.
Month-to-month tenancies
Without a fixed-term lease, Texas generally requires at least one month's written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. A buyer who wants the house vacant would need to give that notice after closing — or you can, before.
Security deposits transfer
Texas Property Code requires the deposit (or an accounting) to pass to the new owner, who becomes responsible for returning it. The title company typically handles the credit at closing.
Entry for showings
Texas has no statute setting notice for entry; it's governed by your lease. We keep it to one walkthrough, scheduled with the tenant.
Why it's hard to list
The problem with listing a tenant-occupied house
Owner-occupant buyers — the majority of the market — usually want to move in, which means the house has to be vacant at closing. That forces you to wait out the lease or negotiate a move-out, possibly with cash for keys, while the house sits. Showings with a tenant in place are limited, the house is rarely show-ready, and an unhappy tenant can quietly kill deals.
Selling to a buyer who intends to keep it as a rental removes all of that. The tenant stays, rent continues, and the sale is mostly paperwork.
Situations we handle
Tenant situations we buy through
- Good long-term tenants on a lease you don't want to disturb
- Tenants behind on rent, or paying partially
- Month-to-month tenants with no written lease
- Family members or former partners living rent-free
- Tenants who've stopped communicating or refuse access
- Occupants who aren't tenants at all (squatters), where we'll discuss the legal process after closing
- Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher tenancies
What we'll ask for
Documents that make this easy
- The current lease (or a description of the verbal terms)
- Rent amount, due date, and payment history for the last several months
- Security deposit amount
- Any notices you've sent or received
- Contact information for the tenant, so we can coordinate a single walkthrough
How it works
How selling to us works in Houston
- 1
Tell us about the property
Enter the address and answer a few quick questions. It takes about two minutes, and you don't need to know anything about the market.
- 2
We review it and talk
We look at the property and comparable sales, and may reach out for a few details or a quick walk-through. No pressure, no obligation.
- 3
Get an offer and pick your closing date
If the property fits what we buy, we'll make a clear cash offer. Accept it or not — and if you do, close on the timeline that works for you.
FAQ
Questions Houston homeowners ask
Do I have to tell my tenant I'm selling?
It's not required in Texas, but it's practical — you'll need their cooperation for a walkthrough, and after closing they'll need to know where to pay rent. We can help you communicate it in a way that doesn't alarm them.
What if the tenant is behind on rent?
We buy properties with non-paying tenants. It affects how we price the property, and we'll handle the situation lawfully after closing — you don't have to start an eviction.
Can I sell if the tenant refuses to let anyone in?
Often, yes. We'll do what we can from the exterior and any information you have, price conservatively, and proceed. Your lease may also give you entry rights with notice.
Will you keep the tenant after closing?
Frequently. If the tenant is paying and the property makes sense as a rental, we'd rather keep a good tenant than have a vacant house.
Related
Other Houston situations we help with
- Rental property
Timing an exit, the tax points to know about, and how to sell an investment property directly to a buyer who understands rentals.
- Tired landlord
For owners who are done: how to exit a rental without turnover work, showings, or evicting anyone.
- Vacant house
What an empty house costs and risks, what Houston expects of vacant-property owners, and how to sell it without going back to fix it.
- Cash home buyers
How direct buyers calculate offers, what to ask any cash buyer, and red flags to watch for.
See everything we buy in Houston and Harris County.
See what we could pay for your Houston house.
Enter the address. It takes two minutes and there's no obligation.