Tenants when selling

>Can you be required to vacate for an open house??

Nope

I dont' know what the rule is, but I know that one apartment we were considering buying stopped having open houses for about 6 months since the renter recently had a baby that had complications. So I don't know if it was the owners being nice or if the rules were in the renters favor.

NYC law protects tenants

you should put a contingency offer to buy it vacant

the owner should pay about 20K (was market price before the bubble, now it should be 40K or higher) to make the tenant agree to move out

I agree with Brooks2.

Unless there is some type of agreement the tenant is not required to vacate apt. You really need to check what is in the lease agreement regarding the conditions for LL entering and showing premises.

Also I might add, If you are in apt while they are showing it to a potential buyer you should not scream out "this apt sucks" and how much you hate it.

nor should you be scratching yourself silly while you follow the Real estate agent and potential buyers around in your apt.

This all depends on the tenant-landlord-broker relationship, although I cant imagine one can "force" a tenant to leave during an open house. I have had sales exclusives where the tenants insisted on being present during showings and open houses, which can be difficult, but is also understandable since this is their home. I've also worked with great tenants who have slipped out for every showing or open house, even going so far as to leave fresh flowers out and lighting candles. Typically, if it looks like a tenant will insist on staying during showings, I'll ask the owner to knock off some $$$ on the monthly rent or chip in myself - this almost always does the trick.

>Typically, if it looks like a tenant will insist on staying during showings, I'll ask the owner to knock off some $$$ on the monthly rent or chip in myself - this almost always does the trick.

Well there you go, one way for renters to lower their rent.

I think brokers should try to get the tenants AND owners out of the apartment during 1st showings at all cost. If the potential buyer is seeing it for the second time, then it does not matter as much and in some cases, might even be helpful.