Is it possible to have a 2 or 3 year tenancy agreement?

daphne_descends

I rent a lovely house for a good rate - it's not a steal but it is below market value as it's highly convenient for the landlord.

However the house is in disrepair, nothing major... a new bathroom suite would make a world of difference, and a couple of kitchen cabinets could do with replacing, that kind of thing. New skirting would be good in some rooms etc. Really nothing major. But the landlord doesn't want to spend money here and that is fine - but I don't want to if we're going to be out in a year.

Do you think it is worth proposing a longer tenancy so we have security, and doing some of the smaller things ourselves? IF the rent was secured it would feel like it was worth putting a new bath in for example.

We could get somewhere for the same money that would be a higher quality of finishings etc but we are in love with this house and the road and don't want to leave. We want the landlord to be happy as well as ourselves. Long term we're sort of hoping to ask if we can buy it, which is another reason for being willing to do little things now. The landlord has made it clear that if we moved out it would go on the market so we think he would be happy to sell. But we don't have a deposit yet

Any thoughts?

poppysarah

If you do it up then you're putting the price up. If he won't do big repairs how will he be with smaller important ones?

You need to save a deposit before you fall in love with houses.

silvercar

I would ask the landlord for a longer contract. Explain why and he might be agreeable.

daphne_descends

I don't doubt that he'd do anything that was important regarding safety but the bathroom, while awful, is functional and not hazardous, so I don't blame him for not wanting to pay to do it.

I see your point about improving it, which I guess may backfire if we negotiated a selling price with him?

We didn't mean to fall in love with it but it all happened so perfectly - honestly - we never dreamed we would live somewhere like this - went from a 2up/2down terrace with no parking and a stampsized garden to a 3bed semi on a private road with a 100foot garden and red kites circling above... this could be the house my children grow up in - it's hard not to get attached!

barnaby-bear

daphne_descends wrote: »

Do you think it is worth proposing a longer tenancy so we have security, and doing some of the smaller things ourselves? IF the rent was secured it would feel like it was worth putting a new bath in for example.

We could get somewhere for the same money that would be a higher quality of finishings etc but we are in love with this house and the road and don't want to leave. We want the landlord to be happy as well as ourselves. Long term we're sort of hoping to ask if we can buy it, which is another reason for being willing to do little things now. The landlord has made it clear that if we moved out it would go on the market so we think he would be happy to sell. But we don't have a deposit yet

Any thoughts?

Does the LL have a mortgage? most mortgage companies insist the liquidity of the asset is protected by issuing contracts of maximum 12 months. Long term contracts seriously devalue houses.

carolt

Don't decorate if you plan to buy - you'll only pay for the decor twice.

LoopsYorkshire

It is possible to have a 2 or 3 year tenancy agreement which would potentially give you some security in the property but as previously said a lot of mortgage co's wont allow landlords to give that kind of agreement to their tenants - mine wanted a max of 6 months.

You need to be careful if you sign a fixed term as sometimes landlords still put in what are called break clauses that can be operated after 6 months etc - this then really takes away the 2 or 3 year agreement if that makes sense.

If there are no structural issues re: the skirting board etc and if the place could do with a little sprucing up (what would be classed as improvements) then this wouldnt be classed as disrepair and whilst renting a property a landlord isnt oblidged to make improvements - hope this makes sense.

daphne_descends

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Does the LL have a mortgage? most mortgage companies insist the liquidity of the asset is protected by issuing contracts of maximum 12 months. Long term contracts seriously devalue houses.

Thanks BB - he does. Um, I think it's interest-only. If that matters.

Will stick with 12 months then as yes a break clause might sort of defeat the point. We won't do too much and save like crazy to try and buy it. I know he has owned the house for 10+ years so hopefully he isn't worried about the market at the moment.