Just moved in - Landlord wants to sell

jaffy1229

I have just heard from my letting agent that the landlord want to sell the property and that potential viewers will be turning up on Monday and Tuesday morning.

Obviously this is annoying for me but I understand the landlord has the right to sell the home, but is he allowed to sell the home within the 6 month of the tenancy agreement? Or is there a law that he has to wait after the tenancy agreement?

If I knew he was going to sell up just as I moved in, I would not have rented the place.

Thanks for any advice

Pixie5740

That's ridiculous. The LL must have had the intention to sell whilst searching for tenants. Your LL is trying to have their cake and eat it.

Your LL could only complete the sale of the property during your tenancy if it's being sold to another BTL investor or a cash buyer as your LL can't sell with vacant possession if you're living there. The sale of the property would not terminate your tenancy.

I would contact the letting agency, and follow this up in writing (letter) saying that you are not permitting the viewings. If necessary change the locks as your LL is taking the pi$$.

You have the right to quite enjoyment of your home. If your LL was proposing viewings at the end of the tenancy that would be different but as you've just moved in tell your LL to poke it in the nicest possible way.

cloo

Regardless of whether he's selling he has to give you the minimum length of tenancy granted, usually 6 months. He can give you two months' notice with a section 21 note in 4 months' time if wants you out (provided he's protected your deposit), though you're under no legal onus to move unless he gets an eviction order.

He can also start marketing the house now, but any buyer will have to understand they must wait at least six months for you to see out your tenancy (which could be more if you were to wait out for an eviction, and it's their guess as to whether you will or not).

You also don't have to accept viewings, and if you do you'd be within your rights to ask for rent reduction when the house is being shown, especially given the way your tenancy is being cut short.

SeduLOUs

I'd be asking for rent reduction to allow viewings so early into the tenancy.

If they won't agree, refuse all viewings for the time being and state that you will reconsider allowing viewings in 4 months time closer to the end of the tenancy.

You have all the power here, don't let them take advantage.

jaffy1229

SeduLOUs wrote: »

I'd be asking for rent reduction to allow viewings so early into the tenancy.

If they won't agree, refuse all viewings for the time being and state that you will reconsider allowing viewings in 4 months time closer to the end of the tenancy.

You have all the power here, don't let them take advantage.

Whats the going rate for viewings?

jaffy1229

Pixie5740 wrote: »

That's ridiculous. The LL must have had the intention to sell whilst searching for tenants. Your LL is trying to have their cake and eat it.

Your LL could only complete the sale of the property during your tenancy if it's being sold to another BTL investor or a cash buyer as your LL can't sell with vacant possession if you're living there. The sale of the property would not terminate your tenancy.

I would contact the letting agency, and follow this up in writing (letter) saying that you are not permitting the viewings. If necessary change the locks as your LL is taking the pi$$.

You have the right to quite enjoyment of your home. If your LL was proposing viewings at the end of the tenancy that would be different but as you've just moved in tell your LL to poke it in the nicest possible way.

I heard he had tried to sell it before but could'nt find a buyer. I accept he can sell, but it seems unfair to sell it after I move in ( I have been he just over a month)

If he had trouble selling it before, I could have people turning up constantly

pmlindyloo

Options are:

Allow viewings
Negotiate a reduction in rent (something you are happy with for the inconvenience and loss of quiet enjoyment)
Allow viewings at set times
Don't allow viewings and change the locks
Find somewhere else to live and ask for an early surrender of the contract

One of these/combination

Whatever happens get everything in writing to both LA/LL, keeping a copy and free proof of postage.

I hate landlords who do this!

SeduLOUs

jaffy1229 wrote: »

Whats the going rate for viewings?

Whatever you deem acceptable. If they don't like it then simply refuse to allow the viewings altogether until a more appropriate time towards the end of the tenancy.

Even if you do allow the viewings (with or without a rent reduction for the inconvenience) they still have absolutely no legal power to kick you out before the tenancy is up anyway.

[Deleted User]

Completely agree with what is being said. My LL said in September that he wants to sell. Had some viewings happen, each of which I had the place in tip top condition for (took a lot of time etc) and its still unsold. The LL is asking too high a price and well, any fool can see it needs some major attention.

So I've now refused to allow viewings. And it feels like such an invasion having strangers walking through my home, with my things in it, looking at it in the way buyers do. I have tended to want to say 'get a full survey' as a warning lol.

haras_nosirrah

I would say something like you will allow viewings between 3 and 4 on a Saturday and give then one after work viewing time on a weekday and want to be compensated £10 per viewing for loss of quiet enjoyment

If they don't like it then you will not allow any viewings until you have left the property at the end of the six months

anotheruser

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Whatever happens get everything in writing to both LA/LL, keeping a copy and free proof of postage!

Proof of postage is not proof of receipt.

Emailing a PDF or these days, Word Documents is much better as it can be traced (if on the odd chance it comes to that!).
While Word Documents can be changed, this will show in the properties of the document. PDFs are more difficult to change but then the signature of the file would be wrong.

Either way, protecting yourself with Royal Mail is like an umbrella with holes in the top for wind.