Tenant Buyout Calculator

Voluntary buyouts clear a unit faster than eviction. This calculator structures buyout amount based on lease value, relocation cost, and statutory minimums.

Months left on lease

Below-market rent per month

Statutory minimum relocation

Tenant tenure years

Tenure bonus per year

Recommended buyout

$12,800

Lease economic value to tenant

$10,800

Tenure bonus

$2,000

How the math works

Buyout = max(statutory minimum, lease economic value + tenure bonus). Covers what tenant gives up, legally.

Offer enough that tenant has clear economic win. Document in writing with release. In sensitive cities, use local attorney to draft and file with rent board.

How to Use

Enter months remaining on lease.
Enter monthly rent below market.
Enter statutory minimum relocation (if applicable).
Enter tenant tenure bonus.
Read recommended buyout.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is buyout smart?

Rent-controlled units where market rent much higher. Difficult tenants where eviction cost > buyout. Condo conversion or major renovation. Win-win deals close fast.

Typical amount?

$5k-$50k for most buyouts. Rent-controlled NYC/SF: $20k-$100k+. Corporate or long-tenure tenants: higher. Always document in writing with release of claims.

Legal pitfalls?

Some cities (SF, Oakland) require disclosed statutory minimums and recording with rent board. Illegally small buyouts are void. Hire local counsel before offering.

What documentation matters here?

Written leases, move-in/move-out inspections with photographs, ledger entries showing every payment and charge, served notices with proof of service, and contemporaneous emails or texts. Courts weigh written evidence heavily; informal understandings rarely stand. Institutional operators run a monthly file audit to catch gaps before they matter. Good paper trails recover most of what's owed.