Selling a rental property with tenants in place in Pennsylvania — the honest guide

Can I sell my rental property in Pennsylvania with tenants still in it?

Yes — a Pennsylvania rental property can be sold with tenants still in place. Under the PA Landlord-Tenant Act of 1951 (68 P.S. § 250.101 et seq.), the existing lease transfers automatically to the new owner at closing. If the tenant is on a fixed-term lease, the new owner must honor it until expiration; if month-to-month, PA requires 15 days' notice to terminate (or 30 days if the tenancy has been over a year) plus 60-120 days for any contested eviction.

Mortgage buyers typically can't close on tenant-occupied properties because owner-occupied loan programs require vacancy at closing. That leaves investor-financed buyers and cash buyers. Security deposits must transfer to the new owner at closing under 68 P.S. § 250.512 — the selling landlord cannot keep them. A legitimate buyer assumes the lease and the deposit transfers in writing at settlement; "we'll evict the tenants for you" promises before closing are legally messy and often misleading.