FTB advice regarding tenants

BeeBerry

Hi

Long-time lurker just wanted a rant and some advice. Posting here will stop me ranting at the EA – for the time being.

We put an offer in on a flat about 4 weeks ago for a 3 bed flat which was accepted very quickly for £4k under the asking price. All good. The flat currently has tenants who were due to move out this week. We made it clear when we offered that we wouldn’t exchange until after the tenants had vacated. We are FTB’s and currently in a rented flat and on a monthly rolling agreement so we were OK to hold on for a bit but not too long as decent properties get snapped up so quickly in London. In the meantime we got our mortgage agreed, solicitors ready to go etc. So for the last week and a half I have been chasing the estate agent to confirm a date when the tenants will definitely be moving so I can have a survey booked, and been pretty much fobbed off.

Finally after constant chasing the EA got back to me today and said the property the tenants were moving to has fallen through so the vendor has said it will be another 4 weeks before they go. I was pretty livid and feel they have been stringing us along and I don’t know if I can sit back for another month with absolutely nothing happening, with a big possibility we will be fobbed off for another month.

The flat had been on the market since January (according to Zoopla) and EA claimed it hadn’t sold because it was hard to do viewings with the tenant and her small kids in there. I thought at the time it was because it was on a busy road and a few other minuses which didn’t bother us. Now I am sure it’s because the vendor is just being greedy and keeping them in there as long as possible while trying to sell.

I’m not sure what to do at the moment, whether to just walk away, and wondered whether anyone else had the same experience or any advice?

[Deleted User]

It's normal not to exchange until the tenants are gone, but why wait for the tenants to leave before you even have the survey done? You still have to get your mortgage offer and do all the conveyancing - why not do that while you're waiting for the tenants to leave? If I were you (and I'm in a not dissimilar situation) I would worry about getting gazumped by someone who is willing to move things along more quickly - especially as you're in London and are paying below the asking price.

BeeBerry

[Deleted User] wrote:

It's normal not to exchange until the tenants are gone, but why wait for the tenants to leave before you even have the survey done? You still have to get your mortgage offer and do all the conveyancing - why not do that while you're waiting for the tenants to leave? If I were you (and I'm in a not dissimilar situation) I would worry about getting gazumped by someone who is willing to move things along more quickly - especially as you're in London and are paying below the asking price.

Thanks! I guess we were just getting such bad vibes and lack of information that we put off the survey and conveyancing not wanting to waste the money. I don't think there is a chance to get gazumped as it took so blooming long to get to view the property, good luck to anyone else trying to do the same!!!!! I haven't even been able to get a second viewing due to the really awkward PITA tenants who the vendor and the EA seem to be walking on egg-shells around.

p.s. it's in a pretty rubbish part of south London and most stuff is going for under the asking price....

Guest101

Have the tenants had their notice? Een so, tht doesnt mean they will jsut leave when its time. This could take months, just so you are aware.

BeeBerry

Guest101 wrote: »

Have the tenants had their notice? Een so, tht doesnt mean they will jsut leave when its time. This could take months, just so you are aware.

The EA is being really vague and it's hard to tell, we were originally told their contract ended on 18 June. Yes, that's why we are wondering whether to just walk away from it, I am concerned the tenants could make this drag on for months and months.... :mad:pretty sure my landlord would kick me out once my contract/notice was up if we were in the same situation!!!

Guest101

That's the problem, even if notice was given, that's 2 months, + another 2 in court. You could be witing until october

BeeBerry

Urgh that's what I was concerned about!

G_M

Read this thread:

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

Then walk away.

TopQuark

BeeBerry wrote: »

really awkward PITA tenants who the vendor and the EA seem to be walking on egg-shells around.

Sorry, you seem to have things a little muddled. It's the vendor, i.e. the landlord and not the tenants who is the PITA, by trying to sell with them in situ. Thus making life difficult for them (they are paying good money to have exclusive use of the property and will most likely have been evicted over this), you and anyone else involved.

I believe this is called 'having your cake and eating it'. Your vitriol is directed at the wrong party.

Oh and by the way, your own landlord can't 'kick you out once your notice is up'. Only a court can, and not at the expiry of the notice (S21) in any case.

Guest101

TopQuark wrote: »

Sorry, you seem to have things a little muddled. It's the vendor, i.e. the landlord and not the tenants who is the PITA, by trying to sell with them in situ. Thus making life difficult for them (they are paying good money to have exclusive use of the property and will most likely have been evicted over this), you and anyone else involved.

I believe this is called 'having your cake and eating it'. Your vitriol is directed at the wrong party.

Oh and by the way, your own landlord can't 'kick you out once your notice is up'. Only a court can, and not at the expiry of the notice (S21) in any case.

It's a fair comment. The tenants are probably unaware of whats going on. I would have some sympathy, forced to move, hassled all the time.

Imagine if in your own home, someone kept coming round to have a look.