Chicken/Egg: Improvements, Pushing tenant out

[Matt Liu]

I am looking at many deals where the condition is very sub-par and the rents are accordingly far below market. I know that I have to do improvements to the units to raise rents to market. At the same time... I have to raise the rents to get them to go so I can do work (if that even makes them go). So it'd a catch 22!

Should I just count on doing work in the units with them there? Are there any tenant protection laws I should know about that might get in the way of me bringing in painters, tilers, carpenters, etc.

Thanks!