Santa Cruz County Recorder's Office
The Recorder's Office describes its role in property and vital records. Use the official county link for the office's information; lease and tenant questions are addressed separately below.
Santa Cruz, CA and Santa Cruz County seller help · Tenant-occupied property
You're done — no turnover, no repairs, no more bad tenants.
Yes. You can discuss selling your Santa Cruz house while tenants still live there. A sale by itself does not cancel their lease.
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Santa Cruz, CA and Santa Cruz County. Tell us about the property and tenancy, or call 888-274-5006.
Talk through your tenant-occupied house
Share the property address and what you know about the lease, rent, deposits, access, tenant notices, condition, and timing. Start with the facts you have.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us the property address and what is happening with the tenancy.
What we do
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.
Sometimes keeping the tenant in place fits the sale; in other situations, discussing a move-out arrangement may work better for everyone. Tell us what you hope will happen. You do not have to settle the tenancy before you call.
Bring us the problem
Lease timing, limited access, repairs, rent or deposit questions, or a difficult conversation about the house can all be part of the discussion. Tell us what has happened and what agreements or notices exist. Call 888-274-5006 to talk it through.
What happens next
1. We discuss the lease, occupancy, and house
Tell us who lives there, what the lease says, how access works, what condition the house is in, and what timing you are considering. Lease and deposit records and tenant notices help describe the handoff.
2. We put the offer and terms in writing
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. You can read the proposed price and terms before you decide.
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
3. We account for the tenancy at closing
Bring the lease, deposit records, and any tenant notices into the closing discussion so the handoff can be accounted for.
Local help for a Santa Cruz County property
Santa Cruz County departments directory
The county directory lists the Recorder's Office and other county departments. It is a starting point for finding official county office information.
California lease, possession, and security-deposit rules
A sale does not by itself cancel a tenant's lease or rental agreement. The buyer takes the property subject to the lease and has the same rights to collect rent and enforce it. See California Civil Code §821.
When ownership changes, you have two choices for the deposit
After lawful deductions, you can transfer what remains to the buyer and notify the tenant, or return what remains to the tenant with an itemized accounting. California Civil Code §1950.5, subdivisions (i)–(k), describes the security-deposit transfer rules.
- If you transfer the remaining deposit, give the tenant notice by personal delivery or first-class mail. The notice must cover the transfer, any claims against the deposit, the amount transferred, and the buyer's name, address, and phone number.
- Or return the remaining deposit to the tenant with an itemized accounting.
If the deposit-transfer steps are skipped, the buyer can share liability for the deposit. The new owner must give tenants its contact and rent-payment information within 15 days; see California Civil Code §1962.
Local rent and eviction rules may also apply. Give the buyer the leases, deposit records, and any tenant notices so the closing can account for them.
Read the full statutes: California Civil Code §1950.5, §821, and §1962.
Questions and contact
Call 888-274-5006 to talk about the house and tenancy. You can also use the local resources below while you compare your options.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Santa Cruz tenant-occupied seller questions
Can I sell my Santa Cruz house while tenants are still living there?
Yes. You can start discussing a sale while tenants live there. A sale by itself does not cancel their lease, so the lease and occupancy need to be part of the handoff.
Does selling the house mean the tenant has to move?
No. A sale alone does not end the lease. California Civil Code §821 gives the buyer the same rights to collect rent and enforce the lease that the previous owner had.
What happens to the security deposit when ownership changes?
You can transfer the remaining deposit to the buyer after lawful deductions and give the required notice, or return the remaining amount to the tenant with an itemized accounting. California Civil Code §1950.5 describes the transfer and notice steps.
What should I share when we talk?
Start with the property address and what you know about the lease, who lives there, access, deposit records, tenant notices, repairs, and timing. You can call before you have everything organized.
What happens after I contact USA Home Buyers?
We discuss the lease, occupancy, access, and house. We give written cash offers in 24 hours, provide written terms before you commit, and close through a title company.
Talk through the tenant situation
Call 888-274-5006 or return to the form above. Start with the Santa Cruz address and what you know about the tenancy.