Seeking Advice on Tenant Payment History Verification and Next Steps

[Sanya Wu]

I’m currently under contract for a rental property, which is a duplex, and one of the units is occupied by a tenant. We’ve repeatedly asked the seller to provide the tenant’s rental payment history, but there has been no response.

I asked my realtor how we can verify the payment history, but she didn’t directly answer and simply mentioned that I can either accept or deny the lease (it’s a month-to-month lease, which I’m fine with).

Should I move forward with the sale? What can I do to protect myself, as I want to avoid inheriting a tenant who may not pay rent on time or may need to be evicted after closing?

Any advice is appreciated!