Buying a house which is currently tennanted

wearethedogs

Please can someone offer some advice on the following.

I am currently house hunting and have arranged some viewings which the EA said they would have to contact the tenants to find a suitably time. When I queried that the property being tenanted may cause an issue the EA explained that the tenants would be long gone before completion.

My question is therefore, if I want to buy one of the tenanted properties, what can I do to ensure this is the case? Can I make an offer which is subject to the property being vacated and left in the same condition as when viewed? What can I do to prevent issues? The EA did say that they were good tenants and were currently looking for somewhere else, however my instinct tells me to take this with a pinch of salt.

Any advice is welcome even if it simply "steer clear".

Thanks.

Werdnal

You are correct that you should take the agent's comments with a bucket full of salt.

You cannot exchange on the property until you can confirm vacant possession. The agent can tell you tenants are looking for somewhere else, but how do they know how long that will take?

LL can issue them notice, but cannot end their tenancy until 2 months after that notice is issued, and a possibly lengthy court case to evict them.

You cannot prevent any problems, you either make and offer and sit back and wait until they can prove the place is empty - preferably you should view it again to verify this and check the tenants have not done any damage in the meantime, or you do not view tenanted properties.

You have no control over the tenants leaving, neither does the agent, and nor (to a certain extent) does the landlord ...

G_M

If you are not in a hurry, then by all means view. And if youlike the property, make an offer.

But make clear to the agent/vendor that you will not start spending money (eg on mortgage aplication, survey, solicitors etc) until the tenants have actually left and you have viewed again to verify.

If you are in a hurry, donot even waste your time viewing.

the EA explained that the tenants would be long gone before completion.

The EA cannot guarantee when the tenants will leave. But yes,of course they will be gone before Completion- because you willnot Exchange until they are gone!

thelem

I think the key point is:

You cannot exchange on the property until you can confirm vacant possession.

(unless you're prepared to become a landlord)

Until exchange all you have to lose is your time and the fees you pay to solicitor, surveyor etc. If you really love the property and can afford to lose these fees should the transaction fall through then go ahead and start the buying process, otherwise put in your offer and explain you'll only start once the tenants have left.

NowRetired

have a read of this


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

wearethedogs

Thanks for the replies, all are very useful.
I am not in any particular hurry to purchase or complete on a house as I am currently renting with friends which is fairly cheap.
I will therefore view the properties and any offer that I make will be under the conditions that the tenants have vacated the property and that I am able to verify this.

Thanks