buying tenanted house query

mutley74

We are in the process of buying a decent house with tenants over the past few months. Discussions are quite late stage and from the start we have been requesting if we can meet the tenants.

Just recently vendor sol said it it possible to meet tenants with the agent present. That seemed fine and wewere just waiting to fix a date with the agent.

Now all of a sudden get a letter from vendor's sol stating tenants feel unsettled and dont want to meet the new landlords (us) until after exchange of contract!
Vendor sol if we do not agree they are prepared to give notice to tenant and they want exhcnage straight after they move out!

Seems a bit harsh and change of direction, just wondering if something sounds fishy?

(tenants are a family with kids and i hear they are very settled in the house and area).

thanks.

G_M

Most sensible landlords vet their tenants before granting a tenancy. It seems sensible when taking over a tenancy by buying a BTL property with tenants in situ to want to know something about the tenants you are inheriting. I assume you are happy with the legal side (AST? Fixed term? Periodic?) and the property, but this refusal, whether coming from the tenants or the current LL is strange.

Surely the tenants would be interested in meeting their new LL too? After all, they will be dependant on you for repairs, lease extensions etc, so surely would like to know if you are likely to be easy to deal with, just as you want to know the same.

Alarm bells ringing! If in doubt, insist on eviction then you can find your own tenants.

mutley74

G_M wrote: »

Most sensible landlords vet their tenants before granting a tenancy. It seems sensible when taking over a tenancy by buying a BTL property with tenants in situ to want to know something about the tenants you are inheriting. I assume you are happy with the legal side (AST? Fixed term? Periodic?) and the property, but this refusal, whether coming from the tenants or the current LL is strange.

Surely the tenants would be interested in meeting their new LL too? After all, they will be dependant on you for repairs, lease extensions etc, so surely would like to know if you are likely to be easy to deal with, just as you want to know the same.

Alarm bells ringing! If in doubt, insist on eviction then you can find your own tenants.

Vendor sol will only start eviction if we start exchange of contracts prior, then completion after 2mths of notice date.

muskoka

I'd say alarm bells ringing also. Maybe send a friend round to knock on tenants door (unbeknown to you of course) and ask tenants about the property & have a chat. Nothing ventured, nothing gained

taxsaver

To blazes with doing it 'incognito'.

I'd pop round and introduce myself to them, have a chat and see how they seem. If they are difficult and evasive then there is an issue that 'someone' is hiding; if they are pleasant and fine and the property in good order then problem solved!

BitterAndTwisted

Good Lord, you know the blessed address so there should be nothing stopping you popping round for a chat. I suspect that the vendor is hiding a great deal more than you can imagine. Things which the current tenants could tell you if given half the chance.

mutley74

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Good Lord, you know the blessed address so there should be nothing stopping you popping round for a chat. I suspect that the vendor is hiding a great deal more than you can imagine. Things which the current tenants could tell you if given half the chance.

i was thinking of doing that, but i dont want to be thought of harassing the tenant and muddle the legal side.

Its weird but we have been asking for 2mths to meet the tenant, last letter vendor agrees, and then a last minute letter from them they change mind!

BitterAndTwisted

You cannot be accused of harrassment of a tenant if you are not their landlord. You're just an interested buyer popping round for a chat. Take a bottle of wine with you when you go round.

Yorkie1

mutley74 wrote: »

Vendor sol will only start eviction if we start exchange of contracts prior, then completion after 2mths of notice date.

Vendor's solicitor is bonkers. They cannot guarantee vacant possession for the date of completion. What will they (and you) do if the tenants fail to leave at the expiry of the s.21 notice? The vendor will then need to apply for a possession order and, if the worst comes to the worst, eviction followed by bailiffs. And that's before any of you consider the state in which the property might be left.

Standard advice on here, if the sale is going to be with vacant possession, is for this to be obtained before exchange.

mutley74

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Vendor's solicitor is bonkers. They cannot guarantee vacant possession for the date of completion. What will they (and you) do if the tenants fail to leave at the expiry of the s.21 notice? The vendor will then need to apply for a possession order and, if the worst comes to the worst, eviction followed by bailiffs. And that's before any of you consider the state in which the property might be left.

Standard advice on here, if the sale is going to be with vacant possession, is for this to be obtained before exchange.

yup they are bonkers and even my sol thinks the same 9although not in those words!).
I am thinking of writing back to them stating if they go ahead with vacant possesion it is with conditions i.e. vacant in 2mths, and if still not vacant or in decent condition we get our money back with interest! (hopefully we can make this condition?)

I agree with others something does not seem right as agent did say before no meeting of tenants until after exchange, then they changed mind, and now changed again!

Yorkie1

I don't think your suggestion of agreeing to exchange but with conditions attached is a good one. Do not exchange until there is vacant possession. The seller won't facilitate your meeting the tenants, and yet wants you to commit to a contract - he wants his cake and to eat it.