An essay on our buying and renting problems! Advice very welcome!

Pixie5740

dannyh wrote: »

So as long as a tenant keeps paying rent they can pretty much stay put?

No but even if a LL issues a Section 21 (surprisingly a fair number of Section 21s aren't issued correctly) it can take weeks if not months to get a court date. It can even come to bailiffs having to be appointed to physically remove the tenant from the property.

dannyh_2

I guess its an option, hopefully we won't have to consider that though..

Pixie5740

dannyh wrote: »

I guess its an option, hopefully we won't have to consider that though..

Hopefully your tenant doesn't try it either.

Pixie5740

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Nope. But a 'professional' tenant can spin things out for several months after the AST ends, using tricks they get from Shelter etc. The classic is for the women to get preggers and cry her eyes out in Court when you're seeking eviction. That can mean 6 months rent-free.

The AST won't have ended though that's the point. They're not tricks it's housing law.

Do you have any specific evidence of these women who get preggers getting 6 months rent free or is this something you heard from Katie Hoppkins?

franklee

Problem is if you rent again in Oxford and get another Tenant in Manc you will be in the same chicken and egg situation next year having paid more letting and removal fees.

Your priority should be selling the Manc property as all else hinges on that. Really to get the best results when selling you need the property without a tenant, which means some months without rent coming in on your Manc property while you still have to pay rent in Oxford.

It would seem most sensible to be living back in Manc if possible in order to cut costs by living there while any sale goes through. Can your wife and child stay there while you get cheap lodgings in Oxford by being a Monday to Friday lodger. That way you won't have another unexpected having to move house if given notice. If you have to move lodgings it's quick and cheap. Then you can concentrate on selling in Manc and buying in Oxford.

If you do have to rent again in Oxford you could look for a landlord who will be happy with a six month initial fixed term followed by a periodic tenancy. Alternatively look for a 12 month term with a break clause. Otherwise if you are tied into a rental and you find the house you want to buy you will be stuck paying rent till the end of the tenancy overlapping with home ownership. It would be a shame to miss the house you want due to being locked into a tenancy.