Selling a Flat with a Tenant 

We’re often asked by flat owners whether it’s best to sell a flat with a tenant in place versus evicting the tenant and selling with vacant possession.

The simple answer is that you will typically expect to achieve more for your flat if you sell without a tenant. However, when selling a rented flat, it’s important to weigh this against the cost of maintaining a vacant property without rental income. These costs can include council tax, service charges, ground rent, insurance, utilities, and ongoing mortgage payments.

If you can’t afford to miss mortgage payments but need to sell with vacant possession in order to achieve the highest possible sale price, it may be worth exploring options such as agreeing an early surrender with the tenant, offering a financial incentive to leave, or considering a specialist buyer who can purchase the flat quickly and handle the tenant situation as part of the sale.

Ultimately, the right approach to selling a rented flat depends on your financial position, the terms of the tenancy, and how quickly you need to sell.