Throw in the microwave?

GDB2222

QTPie wrote: »

I had been advised to wait until immediately after exchange to negotiate a tenancy: to keep the sale and the rental completely seperate... Is that perhaps the wrong way to think about it? Would it be good to get into contact with him now, via the solicitors, and start talking now? I would be happy to complete on the 31st April IF we had a signed tenancy agreement at the same time as exchange of contracts: would it be worth talking about that now?

QT

I cannot see why it would be preferable to wait until after exchange to negotiate a tenancy. Who told you that? Just ask your solicitor for his advice. Once you have exchanged for sale, you really need to have a roof over your head, and you may not be in a good position to negotiate a tenancy.

twokcc

Negogiate a tenancy now, ask your solicitor to make sure that the tenancy agreement is in place upon completion. You will then have the security of somewhere to live for next 6 months and know how much the monthly rent will be. Always better to be in a position where you know exactly where you stand rather than rely on a possible vague verbal agreement.
If purchaser/new landlord is 100% legitimate there won't be any problem, if he is not willing to do this you can organise yourselt to complete on 9th april? but will know that you have to find alternative accomadation and make preparation to move.
Hope it all works out OK for you.

elona

Sorry for your loss.

If he has a picture of the microwave then I would replace it with a cheap one and if he questions it say the old one was five years old and had just conked out so you replaced it.

spuds_2

I reckon he wants the microwave so that there is nothing to get for the house and he can therefore get a tenant in straight away. I bet your house is immaculate and there is no work that needs to be done before renting it out. Let him have it. It's nothing. Sometimes when you feel a bit fragile, things seem a big deal when they aren't really.

Are you absolutely sure you want to rent back a house you used to own? I would put stuff in storage and rent somewhere smaller and cheaper if you can. I would feel like I wanted a fresh start somewhere new. If you definitely want to stay, you need to negotiate a tenancy asap as other posters have said. Good luck.

Conrad

Be aware these buyers can be problematic. If he gets into arrears for example, you will be turfed out. Another con Ive come accross is where these buyers suddenly increase the rent massively to force you to leave so they can sell the place.

Hopefuly not the case, but better to be aware of all pitfalls.

sarah_elton

Conrad wrote: »

Be aware these buyers can be problematic. If he gets into arrears for example, you will be turfed out. Another con Ive come accross is where these buyers suddenly increase the rent massively to force you to leave so they can sell the place.

But it depends how long they want to rent it back. They'll get a 6 month AST which guarantees them the property for six months at least...

QT - I'm so sorry to hear about your loss *hugs*

I would tell him (yourself or via solicitor) that you'd like to rent it back, and that if you can have a tenancy agreement in place you will complete as soon after exchange as he wants.

I did the same thing, and we ended up exchanging and completing on the same day. The night before, the buyer came round and we signed the agreement (which he'd previously shown me a draft of to run by my solicitor), and once that was done I gave the go ahead for exchange and complete.

If you do rent it out, there is simply nothing you need to do between exchange and completion. The only thing for you to do will be to phone your home insurer on completion day and say you're now a tenant, not an owner-occupier (it affects the contents cost) and cancel buildings insurance.

As others have said, sounds like a potentially problematic landlord. However, you know your house. Weigh up what could go wrong with it and the fact that in the very worst case scenario you might have to fix it yourself if he turns out to be completely useless.

I actually disagree about the clean break. I was surprised to find that I really didn't feel any different after the transition to tenant. It's still my home. We never hear from the landlord. The ownership was all a paper thing - the physical place and all my stuff didn't change and it didn't have the effect I thought it would.

As I said to you yesterday, he's not in as strong a negotiationg position as you think to try and force the rent up - so stand firm.

GDB2222

And it did not sound as though the OP was selling at below market value just on the basis that she was being offered a tenancy.

Strapped

pawpurrs wrote: »

He sounds unreasonable, and very odd!!!!
However if it came to it I wouldnt lose a sale over a microwave, however why not ask at your local freecycle for one, and leave that instead, how will he remeber what microwave you have?

That was exactly my first thought. He sounds a bit of a doorknob so I'd happily leave him an old microwave (or Tesco value one or something).

sooz

sorry for your loss QT.
If you are planning to rent back, do leave the microwave. All the other appliances too. Then, hopefully karma will come & bite your LL back, & they will all choose that point to break, & he will be responsible for providing new ones for you asap . Then when you come to move out, you'll have less to move, & can buy nice shiny new appliances for your new place. (after finding a great deal on here, with quidco & atleast several discount codes, of course)

AlwaysWorking

I worked in residential sales very briefly around 10 years ago and had a buyer make an offer on a house and then, just before exchange of contracts, ring to say that his offer included the vendor's antique bedroom furniture (which wasn't in any way 'built in'). The vendor thought I was joking when I phoned to let her know! She (quite rightly) refused and the sale went through. Some people, huh?!