Inheriting tenants after landlord death. No documents

[Tom Hejnas]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the real estate business. My wonderful fiance and I were fortunate enough to recently acquire a multi family estate. The previous landlord passed away just this September and left some tenants behind. We've contacted the tenants to explain what has happened and to collect back rent which they had no problem paying.

I did some research and most people recommend filling out an Estoppel Agreement but the previous landlord passed away so what is keeping the tenants from lying about a security deposit or who owns the appliances? They were on a month to month lease and everything was done verbally to my knowledge. Do we just assume everything is ours and that there was no security deposit if they are unable to prove otherwise?

We are trying to protect ourselves in the case that they decide to move out and demand a lump sum of money and claim that all the appliances are theirs.

Any advice is much appreciated.