Sell a Tenant-Occupied House in Lancaster

Owning a rental property in Lancaster doesn’t mean you have to force out a tenant before you can sell. Cash Home Buyers CA regularly buys occupied rental properties throughout the Antelope Valley, tenant and lease included.

Tenants’ Rights Survive a Sale

A new owner takes the property subject to the existing lease or rental agreement — a sale does not automatically terminate a tenant’s right to occupy. A fixed-term lease generally continues on its existing terms, and a month-to-month tenant is still entitled to standard statutory notice before the tenancy can be ended.

AB 1482 — California’s Statewide Rent Cap and Just Cause Law

The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local rate of inflation, up to a maximum of 10% total, for most rental properties that are more than 15 years old. It also requires “just cause” before ending a tenancy on a unit that has been occupied for 12 months or more. Single-family homes can be exempt from AB 1482, but only if the owner isn’t a corporation or REIT and has provided the tenant with the required written notice of the exemption. Selling the property doesn’t override a tenant’s just-cause protections on its own — a new owner intending to occupy the home themselves may be able to use owner move-in as a just cause, but only under the law’s specific conditions.

Notice Periods for Ending a Tenancy

• Tenants who have lived in the property for a year or more are generally entitled to 60 days’ notice for a no-fault termination; tenants there less than a year typically get 30 days.
• A cash-for-keys agreement — a negotiated payment in exchange for a tenant vacating and returning the property in good condition — is a common voluntary alternative that can move faster than a formal notice period.

Selling to Us With Tenants Still in the House

We can purchase your property with the tenant still in place, keeping it as a rental going forward, or work with you on a cash-for-keys arrangement before closing if an empty property is what you need. Either way, there’s no requirement to force an eviction just to get to closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell my Lancaster rental without evicting the tenant first?
Yes. We can purchase the property with the tenant and lease in place.

Does AB 1482 apply to my property?
It depends on the property type, its age, and whether a valid exemption notice was provided. A landlord-tenant attorney can confirm your specific situation.

What is cash-for-keys?
A negotiated agreement where the tenant agrees to move out by a set date, in good condition, in exchange for a payment — used as a voluntary alternative to a formal notice period.

Do you buy investment and rental properties?
Yes, occupied or vacant.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Notice periods, just-cause requirements, and any local rent control ordinances are fact-specific — a landlord-tenant attorney can advise on your particular property.

Get a free, no-obligation cash offer from Cash Home Buyers CA today.