Extending Lease Behind Owners Back?

The_Fat_el_Hombre

Last week I went to view a place and as I got there the estate agent rang me to say that the viewing couldn't go ahead as the tenant had extended the lease. The owner is unhappy as he wanted to sell. I'd tried to view the place earlier but the tenant was being awkward, saying that he had things on and that he wouldn't be in at reasonable times and that he didn't want anyone viewing it without him. It turned out he'd been buying time whilst he extended the lease with Bridgfords behind the owners back. Has anyone any experience of this sort of thing? I'm guessing that the owner uses Bridgfords to lease the place out and there isn't anything that anyone can do about it now, but thought I might ask someone to shed a bit more light on it as it is something that is new to me

katejo

Do you mean that the tenant had extended the tenancy (not the lease)?

The_Fat_el_Hombre

Yea, sorry! I think the estate agent described it to be as the lease on the fone but if you think it should be tenancy and not lease and that makes more sense, then I'm sure you're right

Landofwood

Riiiiiiiight

Voyager2002

Have you had any contact with the owner?

It is unlikely that the tenancy (or perhaps lease) could be extended without the owner's signature, so I suspect that the EA has been messing you around. Anyway, that situation would have been nothing but trouble so best to move on.

eddddy

It just sounds like they wasted your time by letting you view the property...

... so now an especially dim EA is making up nonsensical excuses about why it wasn't their fault.


(A couple of years ago, the same EA was probably saying 'I did do my homework sir, but the dog ate it!')

ognum

The_Fat_el_Hombre wrote: »

Last week I went to view a place and as I got there the estate agent rang me to say that the viewing couldn't go ahead as the tenant had extended the lease. The owner is unhappy as he wanted to sell. I'd tried to view the place earlier but the tenant was being awkward, saying that he had things on and that he wouldn't be in at reasonable times and that he didn't want anyone viewing it without him. It turned out he'd been buying time whilst he extended the lease with Bridgfords behind the owners back. Has anyone any experience of this sort of thing? I'm guessing that the owner uses Bridgfords to lease the place out and there isn't anything that anyone can do about it now, but thought I might ask someone to shed a bit more light on it as it is something that is new to me

I think the EA is talking rubbish, any reputable EA will check with the owner prior to issuing a new tenancy agreement.

They are messing you about!

The_Fat_el_Hombre

Thanks for the repsonses so far

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Have you had any contact with the owner?

It is unlikely that the tenancy (or perhaps lease) could be extended without the owner's signature, so I suspect that the EA has been messing you around. Anyway, that situation would have been nothing but trouble so best to move on.

No, I haven'had any contact with the owner. The problem is that I really like the look of this place, I don't really want to give up on it just yet if there's any chance I might still be able to buy it

It seems quite an elaborate thing for the EA to make up? The EA rang me when they got to the property to tell me that they were there for the viewing the EA was half an hour early), when they rang me again 15 minutes later I assumed they were checking I was still on my way so I was telling them that I was outside the place (which I was) but then they came up with all this

Is there no way at all that the tenant would be able to extend without the owner letting them? Could this ll be a ploy by the tenant to delay any viewings as they want to keep hold of the flat longer?

G_M

The only way the tenancy could be extended is:

1) the landlord agrees, either verbally or in writing
2) an agent acting with the LL's authority agrees, either verbally or in writing on behalf of the LL
3) the tenancy fixed term ends, the tenant stays, and a Statutory Periodic Tenancy arises. This can be ended by the LL serving a 2 month S21 Notice.

The_Fat_el_Hombre

Thanks G_M. I'll ring the EA back tomorrow and ask her to run it by me again, and if she says the same I'll explain that it isn't possible and ask if it's possible that the tenant is lying.

Is it possible for me to get in touch with the owner by the way? I'd assumed that the EA wouldn't be able to give me those details

Hoploz

How long is the lease extension? You could still agree a sale but leave the tenancy to run and exchange and complete after the tenant leaves.