Landlord wants to sell early in tennancy

NeverAgain_2

The landlady may not be a rogue, but just by asking, she is putting her tenant in an awkward and unpleasant position.

I've been in the tenant's position, and was surprised how wearing and stressful accommodating viewings became.

All things in proportion, of course, but it's not a nice way to live.

GDB2222

NeverAgain wrote: »

The landlady may not be a rogue, but just by asking, she is putting her tenant in an awkward and unpleasant position.

I've been in the tenant's position, and was surprised how wearing and stressful accommodating viewings became.

All things in proportion, of course, but it's not a nice way to live.

Out of interest, were you offered anything to allow viewings?

NeverAgain_2

GDB2222 wrote: »

Out of interest, were you offered anything to allow viewings?

No.

The landlord was a family I knew, so not a directly comparable situation to the OP.

I moved out before the property was sold, but there were a few tetchy exchanges with family in the preceding weeks.

To me the two things - a tenant and viewings - just don't mix.

Ulfar

I have to go with the view the LL in this case is taking the mick. If they are having money problems that didn't jump out at them all at once they have known about it for a while.

They shouldn't have rented the property out but continued to market it for sale.

The fact the OP advises they asked and were advised she wasn't going to remarket the property until spring 2013, would lead to a reasonable expectation for their tenancy to run without the imposition of viewings.

The LL lied about this.

Viewings are enough of a pain when selling your own house, why should the tenant have to put up with them after having told lies.

As others have said change locks, retain old ones to put back when leaving.

Moot

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I agree that the OP originally said that he/she would consider £100 a month but I think from the most recent postings the OP is beginning to be totally p**ed off with the LL and I don't blame her/him.

I'm not sure how talk about the LL being 'out of order' is emotional claptrap.

As far as I can gather from reading the OP's postings it is fairly obvious that the LL is trying to retain paying tenants whilst selling. If the LL wasn't going down this route why wouldn't they just offer the tenant a nice sum to leave the property early? So, far from being emotional claptrap it is just stating the facts, isn't it?

Correct, I did say I MAY consider £100 a month. However it was more of a passing statement. Yes we are getting annoyed at the landlord. We feel we have been mislead, as the LL never mentioned selling at this point! The only time LL mentioned selling was Spring 2013.

Why did the LL not offer us a 6 month contract or a contract with a 6 month break clause so we would be more aware of where we stood?

It is quite clear that the LL is trying to retain paying tenants whilst selling as LL has stated that they don't want the property to be vacant at any point. The pipe-dream is that it sells and the buyer waits for the end of our lease then moves in the day we move out.

Moot

GDB2222 wrote: »

I agree, it makes sense to try to reach a compromise. You may need something from the landlord soon, for example a repair done quickly, and there is no sense in making upset when none is needed.

You have explained here very clearly why you do not want viewings, and you need to explain that to your landlord, so that she understands. Possibly, you can arrange some compromise that will suit you both, or at least not be too bad for you both. For example, viewings every other Saturday morning between 9 and 11, so it does not eat into your weekends too much but gives the landlord some chance to sell the place. You can also ask for more money, if that will make a big difference to you.

At the moment, you are looking at this as an imposition, rather than as an opportunity. If the landlord does find a buyer, she is going to have to have to offer you big bucks to vacate early.

My advice to you is to stop feeling offended and start thinking constructively.

I have explained to my LL more clearly why we don't want want viewings than I have on this thread.

The LL has chosen to ignore our request for no viewings, returning with a reply that is based upon the assumption that we will go along with their demands. Language such as "when the viewings commence" and "you will be required to grant access 2 days per week".

Instead of asking IF we agree to this request. There are plenty more examples but I not willing to put the details of the discussion in the public domain.

Needless to say this sort of assumption whilst seemingly quite minor is actually quite irritating.

sariebeth

Is it worth giving a compromise to the LL whereby you will allow some viewings but they must be arranged with and agreed by you. If you state this in a letter, and also make it clear that the LL or EA has no right or permission to enter the property without your agreement then hopefully this will be a compromise and also a clear legal statement. You could also explain you are not happy with the assumptions made in the previous letter to you.

In all fairness, there may not even be many viewings - it is a tough market at the moment.

If they still persist then I agree with other posters on here - change the locks. But make sure you keep the old one to replace at the end of your tenancy.

jjlandlord

Indeed, many passing comments and rants in this thread.

OP has received all the advice possible, several times.

It is time for her to deal with the fact that her landlord has decided to sell, as is his right, and to make up her mind on how to deal with the requests for viewings, then to stick to it.

Mrs_Imp

Just for a different perspective, we were in the position of possibly having to rent out our flat until it sold (finances). We wanted to make sure the tennant kept the place reasonable (we weren't expecting spotless) so we were going to give £50 per viewing if the place was ok, £100 per offer, and then if an offer completed, a further amount to help with moving costs. Plus reduced rent in the first place. So to me, £100 is too little.

Luckily we dropped our price until the place sold. A vacant flat is much easier to sell.

It sounds as though the best option for everyone is for your LL to grant you early release from your tennancy. Then she gets vacant posession, can have viewings whenever she likes, and you get to move into a home, rather than be looking after someone else's house. If she needs the money that much, then she can always drop the price to sell quickly.

GDB2222

Moot wrote: »

I have explained to my LL more clearly why we don't want want viewings than I have on this thread.

The LL has chosen to ignore our request for no viewings, returning with a reply that is based upon the assumption that we will go along with their demands. Language such as "when the viewings commence" and "you will be required to grant access 2 days per week".

Instead of asking IF we agree to this request. There are plenty more examples but I not willing to put the details of the discussion in the public domain.

Needless to say this sort of assumption whilst seemingly quite minor is actually quite irritating.

I think your landlord is both very silly and very tactless. A bit of politeness would have cost her nothing. As it is, she has got your back up quite unnecessarily.

Anyway, you know your legal rights, and it's up to you whether you make a counter-offer. In this market, with very little selling and few viewings, it could be easy money for you.