Eviction in Minnesota when threre is change of ownership

[Dan Wilson]

Hello BP.  Has anyone had experience buying a multi-family where a current tenant needed to be evicted ASAP?  I know there is ample information on the eviction process itself at my disposal, but wondering if there are some nuances when one is assuming ownership of a property and have no prior experience with the particular tenant.  Do you essentially have to have a clean slate with the tenant until they prove to be a poor tenant, regardless of past rental history? In this case the MF is a foreclosure with very little information available, other then that the tenant has been living rent free for a year. Thanks!

[David Moore]

@Dan Wilson

I've done a cash for keys before, and the tenant, who was not paying, actually appreciated it.  The key is to be a human being when you talk to them.  Start with, "I understand from the seller you haven't been able to keep up on your rent".  Paint them in the best picture possible.  Talk with any lawyer you know, even for 5 minutes, about the situation, on the phone, even during a golf game.  Then say you've been talking with your lawyer about the situation.  Say nothing else.  Then tell him you've got his damage deposit, and the apartment looks pretty good.  "How about we find a place better suited for your needs".  If you can move out on the last day this month, I will give you your damage deposit in cash after I just look through the place.  2nd carrot, I'll even throw in $100.00 to help you with moving expenses.   Do you have someone you can stay with for a while that is a better situation?

You can always go adversarial at the next level.  And make the seller pay for your fees.  You are taking on his problem after all.