Trying to sell a "let out" Flat - viewings with tenants in place

Werdnal

Tenant have no obligation to allow viewings at all. Even if they do, you cannot gag them to prevent them talking to potential buyers - they are not going to do you any favours and sell their home out from under themselves are they. Think about it! They can tell buyers its a horrible place to live, antisocial neighbours, dogs barking at all hours, drunks outside all night - you name it!

They are also under no obligation to present the place well - unhoovered floors, unmade beds, dirty dishes in the sink, last night's curry still in the air - its their home, they can live how they choose!

Buyers can also be put off, as even if you only give a 6 month tenancy, there is no guarantee tenants will leave without a long, costly court possession application, and no-one can proceed to buy with a residential mortgage unless thye can guarantee vacant possession.

My advice would be to clean the place up, present it well and empty with a realistic price and sell it quickly. A fast, hassle free sale will far outweigh the rent you will get, versus the hassle of delaying or even preventing the sale if tenants are there.

amcluesent

Yep, best allow tenants to leave then get it into 'walk in' condition before offering for sale.

The last thing you need is 'professional' tenants who kick-off when you want to show the property

G_M

Even if you find tenants who say they only want a short term let, and agree to, say, a 3 month tenancy, you still cannot serve them a S21 Notice (step one in eviction) until 6months have passed.

Tenants can refuse access for viewings, for surveys etc.

Tenants do not have to keep the place tidy/clean and suitable for viewings.

Buyers (unless also landlords) will never Exchange contracts till the tenants are out. And for this reason most buyers won't waste their time even viewing a property with tenants, since they know it can take months to evict tenants.

You can't have your cake and eat it (rent income for mortgage AND find a buyer).

Either rent, or sell. Not both.

GDB2222

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

If you're that lucky, you might as well buy a lottery ticket :-)

I'm very lucky, but I've never won the lottery. However, your post does give me a clue as to where I've been going wrong.

Yorkie1

G_M wrote: »

Even if you find tenants who say they only want a short term let, and agree to, say, a 3 month tenancy, you still cannot serve them a S21 Notice (step one in eviction) until 6months have passed.

Tenants can refuse access for viewings, for surveys etc.

Tenants do not have to keep the place tidy/clean and suitable for viewings.

Buyers (unless also landlords) will never Exchange contracts till the tenants are out. And for this reason most buyers won't waste their time even viewing a property with tenants, since they know it can take months to evict tenants.

You can't have your cake and eat it (rent income for mortgage AND find a buyer).

Either rent, or sell. Not both.

One minor clarification. You can serve a (valid) s.21 at any time after any deposit has been protected and the prescribed information served on the T. You don't have to wait 6 months before you serve it. However, it can't expire until the end of the fixed term / break clause (6 months or whatever the term of the tenancy was).

G_M

Yorkie1 wrote: »

One minor clarification. You can serve a (valid) s.21 at any time after any deposit has been protected and the prescribed information served on the T. You don't have to wait 6 months before you serve it. However, it can't expire until the end of the fixed term / break clause (6 months or whatever the term of the tenancy was).

Yeah yeah you're right of course Yorkie - I was simplifying to get across the salient point: that a 3 month tenancy does not mean LL can start evicting at 3 months.

(Am I being condescending again? Must control keyboard!)

Yorkie1

G_M wrote: »

Yeah yeah you're right of course Yorkie - I was simplifying to get across the salient point: that a 3 month tenancy does not mean LL can start evicting at 3 months.

(Am I being condescending again? Must control keyboard!)

:rotfl:

Think my condescension filter must be switched off tonight :rotfl:

BitterAndTwisted

Any vendor who thinks they can collect rent from a tenant and find a buyer willing to both pay a reasonable price and wait months and months while the landlord gains possession is out of their mind. Or a damned fool who won't listen to sensible advice.

tbs624

Benji wrote: »

Buyers would not be granted a residential tenancy on a property that is let out at the time of completion.

??? My bolding. Mortgage rather than tenancy?

tbs624

Yorkie1 wrote: »

One minor clarification. You can serve a (valid) s.21 at any time after any deposit has been protected and the prescribed information served on the T. You don't have to wait 6 months before you serve it. However, it can't expire until the end of the fixed term / break clause (6 months or whatever the term of the tenancy was).

Worthwhile clarification because otherwise some poor numpty may wrongly believe that they cannot serve a s21 before the initial 6 month term is up