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How to sell your house and rent it back

Selling your property and renting it back means you can free up cash without uprooting yourself.

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If you need to sell your home but don’t like the idea of moving, you could consider a situation where you rent the property back off the new owners. This option can enable you to stay in your current home, while also freeing up funds for other purposes.

Why would I sell and rent back?

There are a number of reasons you might wish to sell your home and then rent it back, including:

1. Freeing up funds for investment

You might want to free up some capital to invest in another property or perhaps in shares. If you want to do so without having to move, you could consider a sell and rent back situation.

2. Difficulty servicing a mortgage

If you’re in over your head with your mortgage and have exhausted other avenues to keep your home, you might have to sell to avoid foreclosure. Entering into an agreement to rent the property back can potentially minimise the upheaval of this situation.

3. Building a new house

The process of building a new house can take many months from start to finish. Selling your current property and then renting it back can provide you with funds to finance your new home, and gives you a place to live during the construction period.

4. Flexibility of renting

Home ownership simply isn’t for everyone. You might find you don’t want the long-term commitment of owning a home, or the associated repair and upkeep costs. A sell and rent back arrangement takes away the commitment of home ownership without the stress of moving.

How can I do this?

While rent and sell agreements are common in some countries, only a few companies in Australia specialise in these arrangements. It’s more likely that you’ll have to make renting a condition of the sale. You’ll want to engage a solicitor to help draw up a contract stating that the buyer of your property will rent it back to you at an agreed price for an agreed period of time. You might also want the contract to stipulate that if the buyer decides to sell the property you’ll be given the first right of purchase.

The pros and cons of renting your old house back

Make sure you explore all the risks and benefits of sell and rent back agreements before deciding if this arrangement is right for you.

Pros

  • Allows you to free up capital
  • Allows you to stay in your current place of residence
  • Could negotiate below-market rent

Cons

  • Could limit the number of interested buyers
  • Could lead to a lower sale price for your house

It may be difficult to make the shift from owning your property to being a tenant

Should I buy a house and rent it back to the seller?

If you’re a property investor, it could be wise to explore arrangements where you rent a property back to the sellers. You can get the benefit of guaranteed tenants and rental income, and could possibly negotiate a lower sale price. You might also find tenants that previously owned the property will be more conscientious in the way they treat it. In some cases, though, they could still feel as if they have ownership of the property, so make sure you read and agree to all the contracts and conditions before buying a property under this type of arrangement.

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    EnaFebruary 13, 2019

    I need money immediately. so want to sell my house and still stay in it paying the buyer rent, without moving

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JohnFebruary 14, 2019Staff

      Hi Ena,

      Thank you for reaching out to finder.

      It’s more likely that you’ll have to make renting a condition of the sale. You’ll want to engage a solicitor to help draw up a contract stating that the buyer of your property will rent it back to you at an agreed price for an agreed period of time. You might also want the contract to stipulate that if the buyer decides to sell the property you’ll be given the first right of purchase. The page provides you with a selection of companies that assist you in finding the right agent and maximizing your profits. Kindly review and compare your options on the table displaying the available providers. Once you have chosen a particular provider, you may then click on the “Go to site” or “Enquire now” button and you will be redirected to the provider’s website where you can proceed with the application or get in touch with their representatives for further inquiries you may have.

      Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

      Reply
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