City of Ottumwa building and rental inspections
Use the City’s inspections page for building and rental-inspection questions.
Ottumwa, IA · Tenant-occupied property
You're done — no turnover, no repairs, no more bad tenants.
Yes. You can sell your Ottumwa house with tenants still there. We buy the house as-is and talk through the lease, access, repairs, and deposits with you.
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Ottumwa and Wapello County. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
Call 888-274-5006 or tell us about the house and tenancy in the form.
Talk through your Ottumwa rental
Share the address and what you know about the lease, occupancy, access, repairs, deposits, or timing.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Start with what you know; you do not have to resolve the tenancy before calling.
What we do
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. Tell us about the property and tenancy.
We talk through the house as it stands and the tenancy: who lives there, what the lease says, how access works, and what concerns you about repairs or deposits. If a tenant move-out may work better for everyone, we can discuss cash-for-keys.
Bring us the problem
Lease timing, limited access, overdue repairs, or a difficult tenant conversation getting in the way? Tell us what is happening with the house and tenancy. You can call while the property is occupied; you do not have to settle every detail first.
Call 888-274-5006 and talk it through.
What happens next
1. We discuss the house and tenancy
We talk through the Ottumwa house, who lives there, the lease, access, repairs, deposits, and when you would like to sell.
2. You review the written offer and terms
We discuss the house in its current condition and how the occupancy affects the handoff.
You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
3. We close through a title company
The buyer becomes the successor landlord. We talk through the lease and deposit handoff before closing.
Local help for an Ottumwa rental
For a rental within Ottumwa city limits, the City’s Building and Code Enforcement office handles building and rental-inspection questions. The office is at 105 E. Third St., Ottumwa, IA 52501.
City of Ottumwa nuisance abatement
For a nuisance-abatement or code concern within city limits, use the City’s nuisance page to contact staff.
Iowa leases, sale notice, possession, and security deposits
The lease continues through a sale; tenants do not have to move just because the house sold. The buyer becomes the successor landlord and takes over the rights and obligations for the tenant’s rental deposit.
Unless you agreed otherwise, after a good-faith sale you are relieved of lease obligations for events after the tenant receives written notice of the sale.
Within a reasonable time after your landlord interest ends, you or your agent must either transfer each deposit, minus any lawful deductions, to the buyer and notify the tenant of the transfer and the buyer’s name and address, or return the deposit, minus any lawful deductions, to the tenant. Doing either ends your deposit liability.
If a tenant does not object within 20 days after written notice of the amount transferred, the buyer’s duty to return the deposit is limited to that amount. The transfer notice must include a stamped envelope addressed to the buyer.
Iowa Code: § 562A.12(5)–(6), rental deposits when the landlord’s interest ends and § 562A.16, limitation of liability after sale.
Compare the numbers for your house
Compare a written offer with your own estimate of listing price, repairs, selling costs, and mortgage payoff. Adjust the numbers for your situation.
Ottumwa home-sale net proceeds calculator →What our sellers say
Ottumwa tenant-occupied seller questions
Can I sell my Ottumwa house while tenants are still living there?
Yes. We buy houses with tenants in place. The lease continues through a sale, and Iowa law sets how the tenant’s deposit transfers or is returned.
Do I have to evict before I call?
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. Tell us about the property and tenancy.
What happens to the security deposit when I sell?
Within a reasonable time after your landlord interest ends, you or your agent must transfer each deposit, minus lawful deductions, to the buyer and notify the tenant of the transfer and buyer’s name and address, or return the deposit, minus lawful deductions, to the tenant. The Iowa section below explains the written notice, 20-day objection, and stamped-envelope details.
Does the sale end my lease obligations?
Unless you agreed otherwise, after a good-faith sale you are relieved of lease obligations for events after the tenant receives written notice of the sale.
Talk through the tenant situation
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Tell us what is happening with the lease, access, repairs, or deposits.