Organise an existing tenancy before buying a home
A purchase subject to tenancy differs from vacant possession. Gather the agreement, payment and deposit records for checking against transaction and handover terms.
Identify the possession arrangement
An occupier's intention to leave is not a documented vacant-possession arrangement. EAA's conveyancing guidance distinguishes a sale subject to tenancy; have the actual occupation and agreement checked by the solicitor and agent.
Keep the original tenancy, renewals or changes, rent payments, deposit and unresolved repairs together. Check how each document or amount is handled at completion under the actual agreement.
Compare tenancy records with completion arrangements
Separate existing records from open questions.
| Item | Record | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Tenancy | Version, term and amendments | Refer for transaction review |
| Amounts | Rent, deposit and known outstanding amounts | Confirm transfer arrangements |
| Occupation | Current occupation and items | Check possession terms |
| Open matters | Repairs, notices and missing documents | Identify the follow-up contact |
Example: only an old tenancy is available
If an original lease is supplied but a later renewal is mentioned, list the renewal as missing. Confirm the current term and payments rather than relying on the original expiry date.
Review the complete tenancy file
- The current version is checked
- Possession and amounts have documented arrangements
- Verbal answers remain subject to confirmation