Sell a Tenant-Occupied House in Malibu, CA

Owning a rental property in Malibu while wanting to exit the landlord business is a common situation, but selling with tenants in place raises real questions about leases, notice requirements, and California’s statewide tenant protections. Cash Home Buyers CA buys tenant-occupied Malibu properties directly, lease and all.

What AB 1482 Requires

California’s Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) applies statewide to most residential rental properties that aren’t otherwise exempt, and it generally requires “just cause” for ending a tenancy after a tenant has occupied a unit for 12 months or more.

Just cause falls into two categories: at-fault reasons, like nonpayment of rent or lease violations, and no-fault reasons, like the owner or a qualifying family member moving in, or taking the unit off the rental market.

Selling a property to a new owner does not, by itself, terminate a tenant’s rights under AB 1482 — the new owner generally takes the property subject to the existing lease and its protections.

Selling With a Tenant in Place

You do not need to evict a tenant to sell. Many buyers, including investors, are comfortable purchasing an occupied property and continuing the existing lease, particularly if the rent reflects current market rates. This avoids the notice periods, potential relocation assistance payments, and legal risk that can come with attempting to end a tenancy solely to sell the home vacant.

If You Do Need the Property Vacant

If a sale genuinely requires an empty property, for example the buyer plans to occupy it themselves, any notice to the tenant needs to fall under a valid just-cause category and follow the required notice period and, where applicable, relocation assistance rules under AB 1482.

This process takes time and needs to be handled correctly to avoid disputes, which is one reason many owners in this position prefer to sell to a buyer willing to take the property with the tenant still in it.

Why Malibu Landlords Choose a Direct Sale

• No lease disruption. We can close with the tenant in place and simply become the new landlord under the existing lease.
• No waiting on a vacancy. There’s no need to time a sale around a lease ending or attempt an early termination.
• No repair negotiations. Rental properties, especially older ones, often carry deferred maintenance that a cash sale doesn’t require you to fix first.
• Simpler paperwork. We can review the existing lease and security deposit records as part of a normal escrow process.

How the Sale Works

We evaluate the property, including its rental income and lease terms, and provide a written cash offer typically within 24 to 48 hours. Once you accept, escrow with a licensed Los Angeles County title company coordinates the transfer of the lease, any security deposit, and prorated rent, and we can close in as little as 7 to 14 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to evict my tenant before selling?
No. We regularly buy properties with tenants in place and simply take over as landlord under the existing lease.

Does AB 1482 apply to my Malibu rental?
It applies to most residential rentals statewide unless a specific exemption applies; we’re glad to talk through your property’s situation.

What happens to the security deposit when you buy?
It’s transferred and accounted for as part of escrow, consistent with California landlord-tenant law.

Can you close if the tenant is behind on rent?
Yes, that’s a normal part of many rental property sales and doesn’t prevent us from making an offer.

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