What to expect if your landlord decides to sell

Communication is so important during the sale process, and it will always be less stressful if everyone knows what is happening.

Here are 6 main points to help you understand, as a tenant, what happens when the house goes on the market.

1. You should receive written notice from your landlord that they wish to place the property on the market for sale.

2. The real estate agent may get in touch with you to come and view the property.  Photos will also need to be taken of the property for any marketing material, you should get plenty of notice beforehand.

I always make a point to introduce myself to the tenants and advise them of the sale process before the property goes on to the market.  It is important to me to make sure that the tenants are as comfortable as can be during this period.

3. As the tenant, you do not have to agree to open homes or to having an auction onsite at the property and insist that the property be shown by appointment only.  If a landlord wants to include open homes or an on-site auction in their sale plan, they should discuss this with you first and get your prior consent for specific dates and times for these to occur.

4. The real estate agent or landlord must obtain prior consent from you before entering the property.  As the tenant, you cannot unreasonably refuse consent but may attach reasonable conditions to your consent.

5. If the tenancy is for a fixed term, the property must be sold tenanted, unless the you and the landlord come to an arrangement for early termination of the tenancy.

6. If the tenancy is on a periodic term, the landlord is required to give you 42 days notice from the date an agreement goes unconditional.

You can view more information on the Department of Building and Housing website – http://www.dbh.govt.nz/tenancy-sale-of-premises-info

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an email at anita.dobson@harcourts.co.nz or give me a call on 021 337 093.  I am more than happy to help!

© Anita Dobson – Harcourts Whangaparaoa, Tandem Realty Ltd