Sell a Tenant-Occupied House in Clovis, CA

Clovis has a steady rental market, from smaller units near Old Town Clovis to single-family rentals in newer subdivisions housing tenants who work at Clovis Community Medical Center or commute into Fresno. If you own one of those properties and want out, Cash Home Buyers CA can buy it with tenants still living there.

AB 1482 Still Applies

California’s Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) requires just cause for eviction and specific notice periods for most tenancies that have run 12 months or longer, and it applies regardless of who owns the property. Selling the house doesn’t change the tenant’s rights under an existing lease, and a new owner generally takes the property subject to that lease and those protections.

Two Common Paths

• Sell with the tenant in place. We can purchase the property as a continuing rental, with the lease and security deposit transferring at closing. This is often the fastest path since there’s no vacancy gap to manage.
• Cash-for-keys, then sell vacant. If you’d rather deliver the property empty, a negotiated cash-for-keys agreement with the tenant (handled properly, and consistent with AB 1482’s just-cause and notice rules) can clear the unit before closing. We can walk through what a reasonable arrangement looks like.

What We Check Before Making an Offer

We’ll ask about the lease terms, monthly rent, security deposit amount, and how long the tenant has occupied the unit — all of it factors into structuring a clean handoff at closing, whether the property is a single-family home or a small multi-unit rental.

Security Deposits and Closing

Under California law, a security deposit belongs to the tenant, not the seller. At closing, escrow typically handles transferring the deposit (or an equivalent credit) to the buyer, so the accounting is correct and the tenant’s deposit is protected either way.

Why This Matters for Landlords Exiting the Market

Some Clovis landlords are selling because rising insurance costs, maintenance on an aging property, or simply wanting to exit rental ownership altogether have changed the math. A direct sale avoids the added complication of coordinating a traditional listing, showings, and buyer financing around an active lease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you buy the property while a tenant still lives there?
Yes. We regularly purchase occupied rentals and can structure the sale around the existing lease.

Do I have to evict the tenant first?
No, not necessarily. We can buy with the tenant in place, or discuss a proper cash-for-keys arrangement if you’d prefer the unit vacant.

What happens to the security deposit?
It belongs to the tenant and is typically transferred or credited to the buyer at closing so it remains protected.

Does AB 1482 change if I sell?
No. Just-cause eviction and notice requirements under AB 1482 generally continue to apply to the tenancy regardless of who owns the property.

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