Howard County Inspections & Enforcement Division
Rental-housing and inspection questions: 410-313-1830.
7125 Riverwood Drive, Suite D2, Columbia, MD 21046.
Columbia, MD seller help · Tenant-occupied property
Can I Sell My Columbia House With Tenants Still Living There?
You're done — no turnover, no repairs, no more bad tenants.
Yes, you can sell your Columbia house while tenants still live there. We buy houses with tenants in place.
We answer 24/7 at 888-274-5006. Tell us what is happening with the lease or occupancy, or use the form.
What we do
We buy houses in Columbia and Howard County with tenants still living there. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
You don't always need to evict to sell to us. We buy houses with tenants in place — we've done it many times, including cash-for-keys when that works better for everyone.
If helping a tenant move might work better for everyone, we can talk through whether a cash-for-keys agreement fits the lease and the people living there.
Bring us the tenant problem
Is access difficult, does the house need repairs, or are you unsure what the lease means for a sale? Tell us what is happening. We can talk through the house, lease, occupancy, and handoff with you.
Call 888-274-5006.
What happens next
1. We discuss the house and tenancy
We talk through the lease, who lives in the house, its condition, access, repairs, and the handoff you have in mind.
2. You review the written offer and terms
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
3. We work toward closing
Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate from closing costs.
No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Maryland's state transfer tax, recordation tax and any applicable county transfer tax.
Howard County rental and inspection help
Howard County’s Inspections & Enforcement Division handles rental-housing and inspection questions. Call 410-313-1830.
Maryland leases, tenant purchase rights, and security deposits
Selling the house does not end the lease. The buyer steps into the landlord’s place with the same rights under it, so the tenant does not have to move just because the house sells. Read Maryland Real Property § 8-101.
For a rental with 1 to 3 units, if a tenant named on the written lease has lived there at least 6 months, Maryland generally requires written notice of the tenant’s right to make an offer before you offer the property to anyone else. The tenant has 30 days to make an offer, and you must accept if the tenant matches the terms in your notice. An unsolicited third-party offer, or a price at least 10% below the lowest price previously offered to the tenant, can also give the tenant 30 days to match that offer. Exceptions include transfers to family, court-ordered and foreclosure sales, and certain estate and trust transfers. Read Maryland Real Property § 8-119 or the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s right-of-first-refusal guide.
Security deposits when the house sells
The security deposit goes to the buyer with an accounting that lists its amount and date, any interest-rate records, and the tenant’s name and last known address. Maryland sets no separate deadline for that handoff, but you remain liable for any deposit you do not pass along.
Maryland requires deposits to be returned with interest within 45 days after a tenancy ends. Read Maryland Real Property § 8-203.
Questions and contact
Compare a written offer with your own estimate of what you could keep after costs using the Columbia home-sale net proceeds calculator. Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above to talk through the house and tenancy.
Questions about selling a Columbia house with tenants
Can I sell my Columbia house while tenants are still living there?
Yes. You don't always need to evict to sell to us. We buy houses with tenants in place — we've done it many times, including cash-for-keys when that works better for everyone.
Does selling the house end the lease or require the tenant to move?
No. The buyer steps into the landlord's place with the same rights under the lease. The tenant does not have to move just because the house sells.
Can a Maryland tenant make an offer before the rental is sold?
For a 1- to 3-unit rental, if a tenant named on the written lease has lived there at least 6 months, Maryland generally requires written notice of the tenant’s right to make an offer before you offer the property to anyone else. The tenant has 30 days to make an offer, and you must accept if the tenant matches the terms in your notice. An unsolicited third-party offer, or a price at least 10% below the lowest price previously offered to the tenant, can also give the tenant 30 days to match. Exceptions include transfers to family, court-ordered and foreclosure sales, and certain estate and trust transfers.
What happens to the security deposit when the house sells?
The deposit goes to the buyer with an accounting showing its amount and date, any interest-rate records, and the tenant's name and last known address. Maryland sets no separate deadline for that handoff, but you remain liable for any deposit you do not pass along. Deposits must be returned with interest within 45 days after a tenancy ends.
What our sellers say
“My renters skipped out in the middle of my rental property needed 20k in work sold it to these guys instead good people”
“managing a rental in akron from out of state is impossible. tenants left dog poop and garbage everywhere. they bought it without me even cleaning it. highly recommend.”
“15 years of landlording in alexandria and i hit my limit. these guys gave me a clean exit. no realtors, no staging.”
Talk through the tenant situation
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Tell us what is happening with the lease, access, or repairs.