So you have made the decision to dispose of a buy-to-let property. Now for the next question. Is it better to sell with tenants or with vacant possession?
Your choice will depend on how quickly you need to sell, the sales price you need to achieve, the condition of the property, the pedigree of your tenants and local demand. Weighing up the pros and cons of selling with sitting tenants versus selling with vacant possession will help you come to the best conclusion.
What are the pros of selling a buy-to-let with vacant possession?
- Bigger audience of buyers, including owner-occupiers
- Wider choice of estate agents willing to handle the sale
- Potential for a higher sales value
- No issues with access for viewings
- Ability to fix problems and redecorate before going on the market
- Simpler conveyancing
What are the cons of selling a buy-to-let with vacant possession?
- An empty property can look unappealing and be slow to sell
- May need to spend money on ‘staging’ the home
- Loss of rent between tenants leaving and a sale completing
- Wear, tear and damage the landlord can’t afford to fix
- Eviction process set to get harder via Section 8 notices
What are the pros of selling a buy-to-let with sitting tenants?
- Ready-made investment for a fellow landlord
- Immediate income for the new landlord
- Ability to charge rent right up until completion
- Reduced need for multiple viewings
- Continuity for tenants so they can stay in their home
What are the cons of selling a buy-to-let with sitting tenants?
- Small buying audience, almost exclusively comprising landlords
- Viewings and access may be difficult or impossible
- Lower sales value, especially if it’s a problem property or has protected tenants
- Non-compliant lets or gaps in paperwork can cause sales to collapse
- Red flags such as a short lease, negative equity or below-market-rent are deterrents
If you are selling with sitting tenants, fellow landlords will scrutinise every aspect of the sales proposition, including:
- Yield prospects: evidence that there is room to increase the rent
- Appreciation prospects: evidence that house prices in the area have the potential to rise
- Property condition: no major structural or condition flaws
- A good EPC: with all private rentals requiring an EPC of at least a C by 2030, a property that’s already energy efficient
- Impeccable tenants: those that pay on time and keep the property in a good condition
- Healthy tenant demand: with the end of fixed term tenancies on 30th April 2026, reassurance that landlords could relet with ease
- Ability to add value: scope for an extension or conversion that may increase the rent and the home’s value
Many landlords find themselves in a catch 22 situation and it’s these landlords we specialise in helping. Our clients can’t afford void periods, nor can they wait for tenants to leave or spend thousands on property maintenance.
Sell with sitting tenants: the best solution for the worst situations
We help all landlords – even those with the most dire circumstances. Take this case study for example. We bought this buy-to-let from a landlord, complete with sitting tenants, rising damp and historical subsidence.
Destructive tenants? Arrears? Threat of repossession? Spray foam insulation? EPC about to expire? In all these situations, LandlordBuyer will make a cash offer with sitting tenants for a quick house sale. In return, landlords can expect an average of 35 days between offer and completion – faster if required.
A landlord can also choose to sell with sitting tenants because of any on the cons listed earlier – there’s no need to evict or disturb tenants, no voids and no loss of rent. And as LandlordBuyer is the buyer, there are no estate agency fees to pay.
Can I sell with vacant possession?
Of course! LandlordBuyer welcomes ex buy-to-let properties where the tenants have moved out. We make offers on all types of property, no matter their condition. Get your online cash offer now if your empty property has been sat on the open market with no interest.
Who should I contact to sell my buy-to-let?
Contact the LandlordBuyer team today. We’re professional yet friendly, and experts in asset disposal.