tenancy issue

adampugsley120191

hi there i live in an annexe situated next to the landlord. however i have just recived a letter telling me that she has sold the annexe and her house with surrounding buildings. she has said that there happy to keep her current tenants in place. is this all legitimate. i dont want to find out the day she moves out that im kicked out. thanks

Werdnal

When you say you are "next to the landlord" is the annexe totally self-contained, own entrance, kitchen, bathroom etc? Does your agreement state that it is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy or AST?

If you have a valid tenancy agreement, then the new owners will become your landlord and have to honour the fixed term (if you are still within it), or give you 2 month's notice to seek possession if you are on a periodic tenancy, if they wish you to leave. Alternatively, they may indeed be happy for you to stay and your tenancy agreement continues, unless you wish to sign a new one with them - the original agreement is still valid and all terms and conditions in it are still binding on both of you. If they offer you a new agreement and it has less favourable terms, you can refuse to sign, but of course, they then have the option to evict you through due process.

If you share any part of the LL's home and are therefore a lodger, your "tenancy" is not as secure.

Did you pay a deposit and has it been protected in a scheme? New owners will have to obtain this and re-protect within 30 days, or the old LL can give to you to pass onto the new LL, and again they must protect it. You should receive a new copy of the PI from the scheme the LL used, as they have to serve this to you also within 30 days, to comply with the regs.

G_M

adampugsley120191 wrote: »

hi there i live in an annexe situated next to the landlord. however i have just recived a letter telling me that she has sold the annexe and her house with surrounding buildings. she has said that there happy to keep her current tenants in place. is this all legitimate. i dont want to find out the day she moves out that im kicked out. thanks

Perfectly legitimate. Nothing to stop an owner selling his property.

The issue, as werdal says, is: are you a tenant or a lodger? Broadly, a lodger lives in/at the landlord's home and shares facilities. A tenant lives in a self-contained house/flat.

A tenant has strict rights/protections.

A lodger has few rights /no protection.

These 'annexe' set-ups can be ambiguous as to which you are. It depends on many factors, and ultimately only a court can decide.

However, provided the new owners are happy for you to stay, does it matter?