Buying a house that has tenants in it

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

When we last bought, from offer being accepted to move in day was 30 days, with pretty much zero chance on either side of there being gazumping, gazundering, buyer or seller pulling out because they felt like it, or any of the other nonsense we see on here.

But that's in Scotland, where our system for buying and selling houses is much more civilised.

kwmlondon

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

When we last bought, from offer being accepted to move in day was 30 days, with pretty much zero chance on either side of there being gazumping, gazundering, buyer or seller pulling out because they felt like it, or any of the other nonsense we see on here.

But that's in Scotland, where our system for buying and selling houses is much more civilised.

Sounds civilised indeed. Well done!

kwmlondon

fc123 wrote: »

Well we went down on the morning of completion to check tenant had def gone and vendor was there cleaning out the house of rubbish. Looked in the loft (:)) called the solicitor and we completed.

Locksmith came and we changed all the locks.

Good luck with your sale KWM

Fantastic, well done!

kwmlondon

I've had the full structural survey done. A few issues that I'm going to have to keep an eye on but there are only two that I am going to ask my solicitor to specifically enquire about. The first is that the conservatory has a radiator in it making it heated, this means it requires building reg approval. Not the end of the world if it doesn't have it, but would be easier if they did. The other issue I need cleared up is to know that there is no access to the sewer through the conservatory, certainly not for a shared sewer. It's a 1988 building so I would expect the services to be at the front but I'm going to ask for this to be cleared up. Apart from that the conclusion is that condition is broadly in line with a building built in 1988. Some upkeep required but nothing standing out as a major issue.

Jonesy_McJones

This.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4663325

kwmlondon

Update - the worlds of some posters earlier that 2 months notice would be required were absolutely correct. I called the estate agents this morning about something and asked when notice would be served. They said that as the notice period was 2 months they'd pushed the vendor into serving notice last month and they expect the process to be concluded by the end of this month, early August at the latest.

I've spoken to my conveyancer who is waiting for confirmation of this from the vendor's solicitors. My conveyancer said that it's perfectly reasonable and normal to request to inspect the property before exchange of contracts, not just to be sure the tenants have left, but to see that the place is in the same condition as when I last viewed it.

I'll also ask that a new barrel be put in one of the locks just for my own peace of mind.

I know that there's a chance that the tenants will refuse to leave, but the document I had from the vendor did indicate they'd signed a form to confirm they were leaving. Again, this is no assurance but at the moment there is nothing I can do to mitigate against them not moving out so I'm going to see how things pan out.

Will keep everyone posted.

PancakeP

An update on mine, as I also made a small contribution to this thread. I had an offer accepted on a property with tenants in situ, that "had been served notice" according to the EA, which I was taking with a pinch of salt after lots of reading on here! But, tenants did leave on the day they were supposed to leave, left property in a very presentable condition and exchange/completion went through nice and smoothly, so there's not always a horror story attached to buying a tenanted property.
Good luck with yours kwm.

kwmlondon

PancakeP wrote: »

An update on mine, as I also made a small contribution to this thread. I had an offer accepted on a property with tenants in situ, that "had been served notice" according to the EA, which I was taking with a pinch of salt after lots of reading on here! But, tenants did leave on the day they were supposed to leave, left property in a very presentable condition and exchange/completion went through nice and smoothly, so there's not always a horror story attached to buying a tenanted property.
Good luck with yours kwm.

Thanks for sharing the good news! I have taken all the advice onboard, thanks to everyone for sharing, and it's proceeding as it ought, so far. I'm trying to plan for all the problems people have pointed out could occur, but there's not much I can do at the moment except be patient!

kwmlondon

Does anyone have any thoughts on these issues with the house I'm buying?

1. Please provide EPC (EA says this is sorted)
2. Please confirm you have produced to your client the title
register and also the Transfer dated 11 December 1989 and advise whether your client is aware of any breach of covenant contained therein.
4. Your client indicates no building works have been carried out.
We are aware, however, of a conservatory and a porch extension. Save for these two alternations which we are aware of, has the property been altered / extended since the original construction. If so, confirm what works have been completed, the date of completion and provide planning permissions, building regulation approvals and covenant consent however they may apply. If no documentation is available, we require you to indemnify our client and lender by provided indemnity insurances.
5. Please confirm ***** ****** has signed the Contract to vacate
the property on completion. (They've also been asked for the date this was issued so we can potentially get an exchange date on the table. Also, the signs are good that the tenant is intending to move out as the EA has been dealing with them searching for new property - no guarantee, but a positive, to be sure.)
6. Please provide central heating service records.
7. The property benefits from a heated conservatory. Please confirm when the conservatory was erected, provide guarantees, planning permission, building regulation approval and covenant consent.
9. 2003 Fensa Certificate for the replacement windows

Any advice gratefully received, as always.

BitterAndTwisted

These are questions being asked of your vendor. Precisely what is it you are asking of us?