Moving into an already rented unit?

[Jonathan V.]

Hello BP! This is my first post, and I'm really excited to become active on the forums.

I'm scheduled to close in one week on my very first property - a 4-plex in Beaverton, OR (just west of Portland).

All four units are currently rented; only one is mo-to-mo and has already expressed interest in moving out (at least according to the seller). This will be an owner-occupied investment, so whether the tenant actually wants to move or not they must vacate no later than 60 days after closing (seller has provided the written notice). This means I may have to manage the property for up to 60 days with a tenant who probably feels pretty indignant. What can I do to make the transition as smooth as possible?

Thanks in advance!

[David Faulkner]

Too late to do this in your case, but the thing to do would have been to write into your offer that 1 of the units (even a specific unit) be delivered vacant at close of escrow ... then you wouldn't close until/unless the unit was vacant, and it is the seller's issue to sort out, not yours. This becomes extra important if you have/had a tenant in that wasn't paying rent or otherwise breaking the terms of the lease, but can also be used as in your case to ensure you have the unit you want to move into vacant.