Inherited problem tenants

[Chris Bingham]

How would you handle an inherited Prima Donna tenant? I'm under contract to buy a duplex. I just stopped by to show a future potential tenant the other unit that is vacant. This tenant stepped out and freaked out that I was showing them the back yard in front of my future tenant. She is on a month to month lease with rent that hasn't been raised in 4 years. Would you...give her a 30 day notice so that she's gone when you take over the property? Raise her rent significantly to the point it is worthwhile to deal with her attitude? Raise it to market rates? Have her sign a new 1 year lease? Something else?

[JD Martin]

Simple: have the seller provide the unit empty upon possession. If that's not possible at this point, have the seller provide her 30 days notice. If that's not possible, you provide her 30 days notice on the day you close. 

PS:  You can't give her 30 days notice until you own the property. The seller can do it, though.

PSS: I personally wouldn't be showing a property that I did not yet own.