Why a sale doesn't automatically end a tenancy
Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act protects a tenant's right to stay in the unit through a change of ownership. A new owner who wants to move into the property themselves can generally only do so through a specific, defined process — including proper notice — and that process has real requirements a landlord has to meet, not a shortcut a sale creates.
This surprises a lot of first-time sellers who assume closing day means the tenant leaves. In most cases, it doesn't — and marketing the sale honestly as tenanted, rather than assuming vacancy, avoids a difficult conversation with a buyer later.
What this means for how the house gets marketed and sold
Selling with a tenant in place is a real, common transaction — some buyers specifically want an already-tenanted property for the rental income, and won't be bothered by the situation at all. Others want to occupy the house themselves and will factor the tenancy into their offer or their timeline.
Being upfront with any buyer about the lease terms, the tenant's rent and payment history, and whether the tenant plans to stay is the fastest way to avoid a deal falling apart partway through — surprises here tend to kill sales, not vacancy itself.