Tenant is Dying

Werdnal

Like GM, our house is over 200 years old, and it that time there have no doubt been many births, deaths and marriages connected to it. I know for a fact that a member of a previous family committed suicide. I don't think it would put me off renting or buying. You don't tend to ask when viewing "Has anyone died here?" so not something that would likely be mentioned (or should be for that matter).

Terminal cancer (as mentioned above), means its incurable, but not that the end may necessarily come quickly. It may indeed be the tenant's wishes to stay until the end, but their own ability to look after themselves and remain there may become compromised as their condition progresses, so they may actually need to be taken into care before the time comes anyway.

silvercar

tunnel wrote: »

I've just found out my tenant is dying from terminal cancer and he's asked if i mind if he sees his days out in my property.I don't personally have a problem with it but does anybody think it would put future tenants off a property if they knew someone had spent their last days in the house they were considering renting? Would i have to disclose it to any potential future tenants? I know probate houses are from desceased estates and as such it happens all the time,just wanted other peoples take on it?

Don't really think you have much option but to agree. It's hardly grounds for eviction.

LandyAndy

My cousin is buying a house whose previous owner died there.

Lots of people buy houses out of estates. Many of them must have had the owner die there. There's no saying your tenant will actually expire in the house.

PasturesNew

I am female and lived alone in my house and found out somebody had hung himself in one of the bedrooms.... might have been mine, might have been the other one .... didn't bother me.

Werdnal

OP, in your position, I would perhaps be asking what happens to the tenancy when the tenant dies? Not something I have come across myself but there are probably things to consider when that situation does arise in your case. As I said in my earlier reply, it is possible that tenant will find they are unable to continue in the property and need to go into care, which will obviously bring the tenancy to a natural end, but if they do stay until their eventual death, I would be asking what happens to their possessions, how long you need to keep them in the property and how it affects you rent wise, until you can clear and re-let it.

Do you know if the tenant has family that would deal with their estate when they do pass away? If so, this would ease the situation for you, but if not, probate can drag on for some time. Leaving aside my compassion for the tenant at this difficult time, I would be more concerned on how that would affect my property, than the actual death of the tenant on the premises. There must be a standard procedure for dealing with this occurence - perhaps someone more knowledgeable on the situation can advise?

erdd2

tunnel wrote: »

I'm not throwing him out,he's been a pleasure to have in my property,a model tenant and as far as i'm concerned can live out his final days there. I'm not that callous,i just wanted other peoples views as its not something that has happened in any of my properties before,maybe never will again.

This was clear from your original post, as was your concern regards others and your "dilemma"

I am in agreement with other posters that say you need declare nothing regards previous tennant and why property is "up for" new tennancy.

flappy_mcwarbucks

Werdnal: wouldn't the tenancy just end? It's a rented flat, so nothing to go over in probate. The only things in there are the (deceased) tenants possessions. Which can be put into storage until probate is completed, leaving the o/p to rent out again fairly sharpish.

As a side note: Would it not be interesting that the next tenant could be a clairvoyant? Fancy showing them around, and the prospective new tenant says: "Mr X told you he was ill"

Werdnal

flappy_mcwarbucks wrote: »

Werdnal: wouldn't the tenancy just end? It's a rented flat, so nothing to go over in probate. The only things in there are the (deceased) tenants possessions. Which can be put into storage until probate is completed, leaving the o/p to rent out again fairly sharpish.

I don't know, thats why I asked! If T has no family, who would deal with the possession storage, who would pay for it etc. Never been in this position and hope I never will! Until OP's post it never crossed my mind, but I guess with the amount of rental properties in the country, it is happening every day somewhere!

may_fair

flappy_mcwarbucks wrote: »

Werdnal: wouldn't the tenancy just end?

A tenancy doesn't end when the tenant dies.

flappy_mcwarbucks

may_fair wrote: »

A tenancy doesn't end when the tenant dies.

This is getting complicated.

A tenancy is a contract is it not? So if person X dies, this then makes the contract void does it not?

I mean, you could hold the guarantors liable of the rent for the remainder of the tenancy, but i would consider that contract ended the moment the box went in the ground. (it would be cold hearted if we're honest to pursue family members for the remaining rent, when you could just rent it back out)