Sell Tenanted Property
Sell a Tenanted Property (2026 Rules)
You have two routes: sell with tenants in situ to a property investor (no notice, no void — the quickest, cleanest option), or gain vacant possession first. Since 1 May 2026 the Renters’ Rights Act abolished Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, so to sell empty you now need a valid ground — Ground 1A (selling) — which carries conditions and a re-letting restriction. For most landlords, selling tenanted to an investor is now the fastest, lowest-risk exit. This guide walks both routes, the paperwork to have ready, and how to compare genuine investor and cash offers safely.
What is your property worth?
Get genuine offers from checked & vetted buyers.
- In situno notice, no void
- 1 May 2026Section 21 abolished
- Ground 1Aneeded to sell empty
- £0fees to you
In situ or vacant — which route fits?
Five quick questions on your tenancy, your plans and your timescale — then a clear recommendation and the safe way to act.
Is the property tenanted right now?
Do you actually need it empty to sell?
How many properties are you selling?
How soon do you need to sell?
What matters most?
Selling tenanted to an investor is your fastest route.
With Section 21 gone, an in-situ sale avoids notice, voids and the slow Ground 1A process entirely — and a paying tenant is income from day one for an investor, so your “problem” is their ideal buy. Compare several vetted investor and cash offers so they compete.
Find vetted investors →You could sell in situ or seek vacant possession — compare.
Your situation could go either way. Put a couple of genuine in-situ investor offers next to what a vacant-possession sale might achieve, and weigh the extra time and risk of regaining possession against the price difference.
Get offers to compare →A vacant home may sell well on the open market.
If the property is already empty and you have time, an agent sale could net you more. Keep a vetted cash or investor sale in reserve for certainty. A free valuation frames the decision.
Get a free valuation →The big 2026 change — Section 21 is gone
Since 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act has abolished Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, and all tenancies have converted to assured periodic tenancies. You can no longer simply serve notice to get an empty property to sell. To recover vacant possession to sell, you must use the new Ground 1A, which comes with evidence requirements and a 12-month restriction on re-letting if you don’t end up selling (penalties up to £40,000). This has made selling with tenants in situ the simplest route for many landlords.
Route 1: sell with tenants in situ (fastest)
You can sell the property tenanted, to a buy-to-let investor, with no notice and no void period. The tenancy transfers to the new owner on its existing terms, the tenant stays, and you keep receiving rent until completion. For an investor, a paying tenant is income from day one — so a tenanted property is often more attractive to them, not less (see selling to an investor).
- No notice, no eviction
- No void — rent until completion
- Tenancy transfers as-is
- Often the higher price for a let unit
- Days to weeks to complete
- Needs valid Ground 1A
- Not usable in first 12 months
- Evidence and correct notice required
- 12-month re-letting restriction
- Court if the tenant doesn’t leave
Route 2: sell with vacant possession (Ground 1A)
If you need the property empty, you must regain possession using a valid ground. Ground 1A covers selling, but it can’t be used in the first 12 months of a tenancy, needs the correct notice and evidence, and restricts re-letting for 12 months. If the tenant doesn’t leave, you apply to court. This route is slower and more involved than it used to be — which is why many landlords now sell tenanted instead. Take legal advice before serving any notice.
What to have ready for a tenanted sale
Clean paperwork speeds the sale and reassures the investor, who takes on your obligations and the deposit:
Exiting several at once
Selling more than one tenanted property? An investor can take the whole portfolio in a single transaction, tenants in situ, with one completion date — far simpler than selling each unit separately on the open market.
Getting the best, safest offer
Whether in situ or vacant, the discipline is the same: know the real value, get several vetted offers so they compete, check each for proof of funds (or finance), NAPB and TPO, and use your own solicitor. To a buy-to-let investor the rent makes a tenanted unit more valuable, so comparison is how you capture that.
We match tenanted sales to vetted investors
Tell us about the tenancy and we’ll put several checked & vetted investor and cash offers side by side, so the right buyer competes for your let property. Free, no obligation, no lock-ins.
Find vetted investors →Sell a tenanted property — in situ or vacant
Several checked & vetted investor and cash offers, side by side. Free, no obligation, no fees.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
Can I sell my house with tenants still living in it?
Yes — and since the Renters’ Rights Act abolished Section 21, selling with tenants in situ to an investor is now the fastest route. The tenancy transfers to the new owner on its existing terms, with no eviction and no void period.
Can I still evict tenants to sell with vacant possession?
Not with a Section 21 notice — it was abolished on 1 May 2026. To sell empty you must use Ground 1A, which can’t be used in the first 12 months of a tenancy, needs evidence and correct notice, and restricts re-letting for 12 months (penalties up to £40,000).
Will I get less for a tenanted property?
Not necessarily. To a flip-focused cash buyer a tenant can reduce the offer, but to a buy-to-let investor the rental income makes it more valuable. Comparing both routes is how you find the best price.
Do my tenants have to move when I sell?
No — if you sell tenanted, the tenancy simply transfers to the new owner and the tenants stay on the same terms. Being upfront with them keeps the process smooth.
What is Ground 1A?
A ground under the Renters’ Rights Act that lets a landlord recover possession in order to sell. It has conditions: it can’t be used in the first 12 months, requires correct notice and evidence, and restricts re-letting for 12 months if you don’t sell.
