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Hubby and I live in SoCal. Our lease is up mid June and the owner informed us 2 days ago that they're putting the house on the market. They gave us the option to buy it, and we considered it for a moment until we discovered that, a) the home has monthly Mello Roos taxes on top of the HOA fee, b) the owner wanted us to forego getting our own agent and use theirs instead so they could save 2% on the commission, c) if we used our own agent the owner said we would have to pay his [our agent's] commission, and d) the house is overpriced by $15K based on recent comps. Our realtor advised us to just decline the purchase by saying we don't want to buy a house with Mello Roos taxes, and he'll start taking us house hunting next week.
In the meantime, there are going to be many showings with agents and buyers traipsing in and out of the house. I want to be helpful, but I also don't want my life turned upside down. I can be available, even at a moment's notice on occasion, but not necessarily all the time. I'm a clean person and I'll keep things picked up like I normally would, but I'm not staging the house for them and I'm not keeping it spit-shined like I did for my own house when it was on the market. That was unbelievably stressful. I also have a dog that I don't want to get out.
I want to know what the LL's here consider the reasonable and honorable thing to do as the tenant in this situation. I've read California Tenant/Landlord law for giving proper notice for showings, but it's still unclear to me. I know the LL is required to give 24 hours notice to show the property, but is that 24 hours notice for each showing, or just 24 hours notice on a Sunday that showings will start on Monday and go through the weekend any time between 9-5pm? Can I refuse to allow a lock box for safety or privacy reasons? Does the owner need to be present during showings? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
I think if you buy new house that would be great for you. This type of older has lots of complicated background and you'll have to pay so many unexpected prices to settle the complications.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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One of my co-workers is going through this right now in Seattle. They didn't have the down payment to buy it, and it sold for over asking during the first open house. He has taken 3 days of PTO so far to be there while various inspectors and contractors have gone through, as he doesn't trust anyone being there when he's not home. Lease language and local laws differ, but in most cases there does have to be advance notice. That only means that you can refuse, be prepared to get many calls at all hours as realtors try to get potential buyers in there as quickly as they can.
I know in my state it is 24 hours for each showing. The owner does not have to be present, neither does the occupant/tenant.
If your lease said (and most do) that you agree to cooperate with showings and/or sale of the property, then you can't decline to allow the lockbox or to allow the showings. You should have the place clean (like no dirty dishes in the sink or dirty clothes on the floor), but don't need to have it staged.
I would suggest keeping the dog either gone or crated for showings. If your dog decided he didn't like someone and bit them, you'd be liable.
I've always understood it to be 24 hours notice for each showing. Otherwise, you'd have people showing up at any old time.
I would recommend that you immediately pack up any valuables, medications, anything you would be disappointed to come back home and find broken or missing.
It happens and it's a bear trying to track down who was in the house when the stuff goes missing.
You already have a 60-day notice 'accommodation' and whatever else your lease stipulates. You probably don't have many options regarding the lock box, but, might be able to insist on the prompt and full return of your deposit, with no questions asked, in exchange for 'showing concessions').
(Are you interested in buying ... at the right price? -- If the price truly is $15K over market, this could drag-out for a while). If the house doesn't sell quickly, the price and terms may come down quickly, and you could probably continue to rent month-to-month. Even if it does sell, you will have another 30-45 days (except cash sale). In either case, it's time to find another place and move-on. Get a crate for the dog, lock-up your valuables, insist on 24-hour notice and keep the LL arrangement friendly.
Maybe you should reconsider buying the house you're in. You know the positives and negatives, a real plus. And no moving or storage costs, which could easily cost $15k.
I have a duplex for sale and am also a realtor. I text my tenants aND ask for permission to show at a certain time. I accompany all agents/showings. I try to give 24 hr notice for showings but sometimes it may only be the same day, but I am ASKING if u can show...not telling them.
I have told my tenants that in return for putting up with the inconvenience of showings and keepING house picked up, I will cut them cks for the amount equal to their sec deposits upon closing, so they can use it to help move or offset rent increases. Both tenants have been there over 6 yrs and been good tenants so I've never raised rent, so if a buyer buys it as investment property, they most likely will get rent increase to actual mkt value.
I'm not saying your landlord should do what I do, but that is how I am handling it. I felt it would encourage my tenants to cooperate with showings, and compensate them for the inconvenience. No open houses for rental property for sale that is occupied. That is too intrusive imo.
Hubby and I live in SoCal. Our lease is up mid June and the owner informed us 2 days ago that they're putting the house on the market. They gave us the option to buy it, and we considered it for a moment until we discovered that, a) the home has monthly Mello Roos taxes on top of the HOA fee, b) the owner wanted us to forego getting our own agent and use theirs instead so they could save 2% on the commission, c) if we used our own agent the owner said we would have to pay his [our agent's] commission, and d) the house is overpriced by $15K based on recent comps. Our realtor advised us to just decline the purchase by saying we don't want to buy a house with Mello Roos taxes, and he'll start taking us house hunting next week.
In the meantime, there are going to be many showings with agents and buyers traipsing in and out of the house. I want to be helpful, but I also don't want my life turned upside down. I can be available, even at a moment's notice on occasion, but not necessarily all the time. I'm a clean person and I'll keep things picked up like I normally would, but I'm not staging the house for them and I'm not keeping it spit-shined like I did for my own house when it was on the market. That was unbelievably stressful. I also have a dog that I don't want to get out.
I want to know what the LL's here consider the reasonable and honorable thing to do as the tenant in this situation. I've read California Tenant/Landlord law for giving proper notice for showings, but it's still unclear to me. I know the LL is required to give 24 hours notice to show the property, but is that 24 hours notice for each showing, or just 24 hours notice on a Sunday that showings will start on Monday and go through the weekend any time between 9-5pm? Can I refuse to allow a lock box for safety or privacy reasons? Does the owner need to be present during showings? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
I wouldn't start pulling the "my rights" talks just yet otherwise you might be served an eviction notice a lot sooner than you think. It's hard for a renter to show a property, I get that. It's harder for the home owner to sell his home with a renter in it, so keep that in mind that he may just decide to have the property vacated in order to sell faster.
You might want to expedite buying your own house.
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