Buying Property w little info on tenants - in rent control area

[Susan O.]

Hi everyone I am purchasing a property and in escrow.  The old owner doesn't have all the info (like SS Drivers license, and list of all occupants) Does anyone recommend a form I can give to get all this from the tenants?  I dont want a normal estoppel form but sort of a 'tenant information' form that has the old tenants list this info?

I  want to get their Drivers license, SS, Employer, emergency contacts, etc (and most of the info you get when a tenant applies to a renta)l

Unfortunately this is in LA City under RSO rent control, so the tenants might not even have to provide this.  

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Susan O.:

An estoppel can be customized to include whatever information you want, but I would focus primarily on their lease terms. My basic guide and example is below.

Once you purchase, I would require all renters to submit to your application screening. Only keep the ones that meet your standards, then sign a new lease.

Your offer to purchase should include a requirement that the Seller provide all documentation and agree to sign an estoppel certificate (also called estoppel form or agreement). The estoppel is a form filled out by the tenant, then confirmed by the Landlord, then accepted by the Buyer. It's supposed to ensure there are no surprises after closing. For example, I often see Buyers purchase property thinking there is a $1,000 deposit but then the tenant claims it was actually $2,000 because they paid the last month's rent. How will you know? An estoppel certificate fixes this problem.

Some things it may include:
1. Tenant name, contact information, and address
2. Occupancy date
3. Is there a written lease? If so, review it to ensure it matches the estoppel certificate
4. Are there any modifications to the written lease?
5. Are there any verbal agreements or arrangements between the current Landlord and Tenant?
6. Current lease term (expiration date, month-to-month)
7. Current rent rate
8. Rent due date
9. Security deposit amount
You can find plenty of examples by searching for "tenant estoppel certificate doc" or exchange "doc" with "pdf" for more options.

Here is an example and explanation: Sample Estoppel

Some have a lot of legal jargon but this document does not need to be so detailed. This is an important tool for anyone buying a tenant-occupied property.