Buying house from messy tenants!

londonmaiden

Bantex wrote: »

Also get a cat if you move in.

done and done!

45002 wrote: »

Maybe you will be lucky and get vacant possession

Or

They just doing that to keep you and currently LL/LA happy and delay the exit for as long as legally possible !

Yes only time will tell. House buying is not good for the old blood pressure let me tell you!

Better_Days

You can ask, and the vendor may agree. But a lot will depend on how much hassle you want if the vendor agrees to get the property cleaned and then doesn't follow through. Also depends on how short you are on funds.

We moved into a property last year that was filthy. In the grand scheme of things it was less hassle to arrange for a cleaner and to buy a vax for the carpets than it was to insist on cleaning which probably wouldn't be done to a very good standard anyway.

One good thing is that the property will be empty between exchange and completion. Perhaps mutually convenient cleaning could be arranged during this period?

mrginge

londonmaiden wrote: »

@mrginge clearly you have read I am a first time buyer, I have been trying to buy for a year and have had one sale already fall through (not our fault), missed out on countless properties by being outbid by cash buyers and the whole process has been incredibly stressful. Maybe it would be more helpful to give me advice seeing as you are so wise rather then just telling me I am not living in the real world? It's hardly like we are asking him to paint the house in magnolia or we won't move in for christs sake.

....
Mean spirited and unhelpful all of you.

Hi.
I am wise. Very wise in fact.
You stated in the OP that 'we are not happy to buy the house unless it is cleaned, fumigated and removed of all rubbish'.
So what you do is communicate this to their solicitor and state that you will not proceed any further until this has been carried out and you can view the property again to confirm.
Then you wait.
If they comply then that is fine. If not then you look for another house.

m_13

I've sat outside a house sobbing on completion day and refused to move in because of the state of it. It had tenants before and was left absolutely filthy and the carpets had needles all over them from her diabetes. There was rubbish everywhere, kitchen cupboards full of rubbish and a rock solid bowl full of weetabix with a spoon stuck in it. It didn't help that snow on moving day meant our removal van couldn't get to the house as so we had our first night with no possessions in the squalor. We took lots of photographs, complained via our Solicitor and to the estate agent and got absolutely nowhere.

We later found out a cat had been left behind when it arrived via the catflap expecting to find food but that's another story.

jjlandlord

m_13 wrote: »

We later found out a cat had been left behind when it arrived via the catflap expecting to find food but that's another story.

Well at least you had dinner!

OK, I'm out.

Ulfar

Was it a nice cat, if it was then there is always a silver lining.

fridge_raider

You may be surprised at what the tenants may do to retain their deposit, when they do move out. I remember a flat I rented at university; the place was absolutely squalid, stinking and filthy. A cleaning crew of around ten people appeared on 'moving out day', with a woman in charge who asked us to leave and let them clean it, as there was 'no way' we would be able to complete it in the time limit. This would, of course, have resulted in the loss of our deposit. We refused, and told them to return in 3 hours. When they did, it was gleaming. And we were in dire need of a beer.

G_M

Do not waste your money on a survey... yet.

Do not waste your money on a mortgage application... yet.

Do not waste your money on legals... yet.

Until the tenants are out, and you have re-viewed to confirm both that they are gone, and that the place is reasonable, you are thowing money away.

The tenants could be there another 6 months, and when they leave it could still be a tip.

londonmaiden

shi*! i would happily remain a tenant but our toilet seat has been broken for over a year! not for want of trying! i just want to own my own toilet! is that too much to ask for!!!!!

bris

jjlandlord wrote: »

Legally, I believe that 'vacant possession' also means that the property must not be left full of rubbish.
As such you would in principle be able to claim the costs of clearing it.

And where do you get that rubbish from (no pun intended).

You viewed a tip you offered on a tip, expect a tip.

The only obligation the seller has is to hand over the house in the same condition at the time of exchange, vacant possession means nobody living there that is all, if you want it cleared get it in the contract.