Q. Kvod Horav. We normally sell our entire house for Pesach. We go away and I just lock everything up and sell.
Someone asked me this year if her married kids could stay in my house because she doesn’t have room for them. I really want to help her but I’m not able to clean my entire house and I don’t want to throw out my food. Is there a way for me to help her?
Please let me know,
Thank you!
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that one may lock up the kitchen, dining room, family room, basement, garage etc., and sell them with a mechira mukdemes (early sell, see questions 68, 148 and 744), thus avoiding also the bedikas chometz search on those areas. One would exempt from the sale only the areas needed to enter and the bedrooms used by the guest.
The rooms and areas locked out and to be sold, should be taped closed with significant strips of noticeable tape and plastic sheets, from top to bottom on their entrances, thus also preventing children from entering them. Notices should be placed on them, mentioning that those areas were sold and are out of bounds.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a