Selling a property
Selling a house with tenants in place
If you no longer want to be a landlord, you may be able to sell without ending the tenancy first. The rules in Wales are different from England, so it is worth knowing how they work before you decide.
The rules in Wales
The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 came into force on 1 December 2022. Since then, tenancies in Wales are called occupation contracts, and tenants are called contract-holders.
Selling the house does not end the occupation contract. The buyer takes over as landlord on the same terms, and the contract-holder carries on living there.
That can suit both sides: the contract-holder keeps their home, and the buyer gets a house that is already let. It also means the house does not sit empty while it is being sold.
Let your contract-holder know you are planning to sell. Agreeing in good time how viewings or visits will work keeps things straightforward for everyone.
If you are thinking of ending the contract first
Ending a periodic standard contract with a no-fault landlord's notice generally needs at least six months' notice, and there are restrictions on when the notice can be given. The rules are detailed and can change, so check the current position and take advice before you serve any notice.
A notice that is served at the wrong time or in the wrong form may not be valid, which can cost you time. A solicitor or a letting agent who knows the Welsh rules can check it for you.
Paperwork a buyer will ask for
Whoever buys a tenanted house will want to see the paperwork. Getting it together early saves time later:
If anything is missing or out of date, it is usually better to sort it out before you agree a sale, so it does not hold things up later.
- The written statement of the occupation contract
- Deposit protection details
- Rent records
- The gas safety certificate
- The electrical safety report (EICR)
- Rent Smart Wales registration and licence details
- Details of any repairs that are outstanding or have been reported
Keeping the property in good order
If you are keeping the house for now, we also carry out maintenance for landlords across South Wales, from repairs to planned work.
If you are not sure whether to sell or keep letting, it can help to list the work the house needs over the next few years alongside the rent it brings in. That gives you a clearer picture before you decide.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Speak to a solicitor or qualified adviser about your own situation.
How we can help
We can sometimes buy with tenants in place, though a house with vacant possession is usually simpler. Tell us about the property and the tenancy, and we'll talk it through with you.
- We'll look at the property and talk you through the options.
- If a direct sale suits you, we'll make an offer.
- There's no obligation to accept it.
- Your own solicitor handles the legal side.
Questions sellers ask
Thinking of selling?
Tell us about the property and we will talk you through the options. There is no obligation.