“How REI Branded Home Buyer Can Help”
Trying to sell a house in Spokane with a tenant who refuses to move out? You’re not alone. Many landlords find themselves stuck—wanting to move on or cash out, but facing delays, legal risks, and emotional stress due to an uncooperative occupant.
In this post, we’ll break down your legal options, your rights under Washington landlord-tenant law, and how to still sell your house even if your tenant won’t leave.
First, What Are Your Rights as a Landlord in Spokane?
Washington law protects tenants—but it also gives landlords certain rights. Here’s what matters:
- If the tenant is on a fixed-term lease: You usually can’t remove them until the lease ends unless they violate the lease.
- If the tenant is month-to-month: You can issue a 60-day notice to terminate the tenancy—but it must follow strict legal requirements.
- If the tenant refuses to leave after the notice expires: You’ll need to begin the legal eviction process through Spokane County courts.
Want to review the rules? Here’s Spokane’s official landlord-tenant resource.
Common Reasons Tenants Refuse to Leave
Sometimes it’s not personal—it’s just life. But it still affects your ability to sell. Common reasons tenants refuse to leave include:
- Fear of homelessness or difficulty finding housing
- Misunderstanding of their lease or legal rights
- Past trauma with eviction
- Anger about the sale
- Refusal to pay rent and playing “squatter”
Can You Still Sell a House With a Stubborn Tenant?
Yes—but your buyer matters.
Most traditional buyers (especially retail homebuyers using financing) won’t touch a property with a tenant who won’t leave.
But experienced cash buyers like REI Branded Home Buyer specialize in these exact situations. We’ve bought tenant-occupied homes in neighborhoods like Hillyard, Garland District, and Downtown Spokane—even when the tenants wouldn’t move out before closing.
3 Real Options If the Tenant Won’t Leave
🔑 1. Cash for Keys
One of the most effective ways to solve the problem is to offer the tenant money to leave voluntarily.
Cash for keys avoids court and gives the tenant a financial incentive to move. It’s faster, cheaper, and more peaceful than eviction.
We can even structure the sale so we provide the “keys” payment as part of our offer.
⚖️ 2. Legal Eviction
If the tenant absolutely refuses to go, and they’re violating the lease or overstaying after proper notice, you can move forward with a legal eviction.
This requires documentation, court filings, and potentially a few months of time. It’s wise to consult a Spokane landlord-tenant attorney for this route.
🏠 3. Sell As-Is With the Tenant In Place
This is the easiest path—sell to a local cash home buyer like us who can take over the property with the tenant still inside.
You don’t have to clean, fix, negotiate, or deal with the tenant’s attitude. We handle it.
Real Story From Spokane
We recently helped a seller in the Logan Neighborhood whose tenant stopped paying rent and threatened legal action if she was asked to leave. She was emotionally drained and had already postponed selling for months. We made her a cash offer, took over the property as-is, and handled the tenant situation ourselves. She walked away with peace of mind—and her equity intact.
You Don’t Have to Deal With This Alone
If you’re trying to sell a Spokane rental and your tenant is standing in the way, we can help. At REI Branded Home Buyer, we work with landlords across the region every week. We’ll buy your house even if the tenant won’t leave.
We’ll handle:
- Difficult tenant conversations
- Legal or cash-for-keys negotiations
- Any needed clean-out or repairs
- Closing on your timeline
Let’s Talk Today
📞 Call or text us: 509-769-3439
📧 Email: info@reibrandedhomebuyer.com
💬 Or contact us online
We’re based right here in Spokane. We’ll treat you like a neighbor, not a transaction.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For matters involving tenant rights, lease disputes, or eviction, consult an attorney licensed in Washington state.
Sell Your Spokane House Fast Today
About REI Branded Home Buyer
Real People. Real Stories. Real Solutions. We’re George and TJ — two regular guys who teamed up to create REI Branded Home Buyer, a local company with one simple mission: to help people sell their homes without stress, games, or pressure. We actually met at a local real estate meetup. A mutual friend randomly shouted, “Hey George, do you want to be this guy’s mentor?” George laughed and said, “Just give him my cell!” A coffee meeting later, and the rest is history. We've been working together ever since. Our passion for helping homeowners comes from personal experience. George was once homeless, so he deeply understands what it’s like to face housing uncertainty. TJ’s family went through a crisis and had to sell their home fast — with the help of a cash homebuyer. Those experiences shaped who we are and inspired us to create a company that treats people the way we wish we’d been treated. Let’s be real: the real estate world is full of shady companies, pushy salespeople, and sleazy homebuyers who care more about profit than people. We started REI Branded Home Buyer because we believe it should be the other way around — people first, profit second. We’re proud to call Spokane home. Our wives, Jenny and Michelle, love the slower pace of life here and all the outdoor beauty Washington has to offer. George and Jenny have two amazing daughters and two dogs — they love to travel and recently visited Japan to see their daughter abroad. TJ and Michelle are outdoor lovers through and through — backpacking, hiking, hunting, fishing, even rock climbing. Michelle’s become quite the mountaineer! If you’re thinking about selling a house — no matter the reason — we’d love to hear your story and see how we can help.