Notice required for a landlord to give to tenants when selling off-market (WHOLESALE)

[Sham Haile]

Hey, BiggerPockets community I am curious about landlord-tenant laws in Seattle when it comes to giving a tenant notice to sell a home as a landlord. 

The tenants have been aware of the landlord's intent to sell for at least 3 months now. When asked how much time they need to move they brought up the 90-day notice law in Seattle and the requirement that it must be written. This in turn could turn away buyers/delay possession to a buyer who wants the home delivered vacant. 

For a month-to-month lease that isn't under any lease agreement, what could the seller legally do to get the home sold off-market?

[Jacob St. Martin]

Hello Sham, the fact that there is no lease agreement is really rough because that information is basically always in the lease. 

The way that things like this are typically handled is that if a lawsuit were to happen, since both people have been behaving under the assumption of a lease (the landlord renting their space and the tenant paying rent), they would probably treat it as if there was a standard month to month lease agreement. 

 I just looked online and saw that in Seattle for months to month lease the landlord is only required to give 20 day notice. I personally feel like 30 days is more courteous but as long as they abide by state/local regulations they should be covered

[John Barrett]

@Sham Haile you should look up the Tenants Union & RHAWA websites to review the notices and requirements for how notices need to be provided to tenants when a seller intends to sell a property.  These requirements will apply even if you do not have a formal written lease agreement.  Not following the requirements (within Seattle city limits will likely have additional rules and regulations) opens the seller up to liability.

Additionally, the seller always has the option of offering "cash for keys" arrangement but be sure that no funds change hands until after the property is vacated and locks are changed.

John