Buying a home that has tenants in it
Doorvia Guides · May 24, 2026
Ontario tenancies survive the sale, and the rules for a purchaser moving in are specific.
If a property is tenanted, the tenancy continues after closing on the same terms. Simply wanting the home for yourself does not end it automatically.
Where a buyer intends to occupy the unit personally, the Residential Tenancies Act sets out a process the seller must follow, using the proper form, notice period and compensation to the tenant. That process has requirements and timelines, and it can be challenged at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
If you need vacant possession, address it in the agreement of purchase and sale, get legal advice before you sign, and do not close on the assumption that the tenant will simply leave. Verify the deposit, the rent and the lease terms in writing.
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