Think rented house is going to be sold, advice please.

debtmess

Will keep the background brief, rented a house under a fixed term (6 months last February) this was extended to a year and a new 6 month ast was signed this month all via lettings agency. Deposit is and has always been protected (again via letting agency)

11.32 yesterday I had a call from letting agents about the fence (it's always been beyond repair and they have been chasing for it to be done prior to us moving in) informing us that someone was coming out today to remove the broken fence and wanting to assess the roof on the outhouse. They asked if today was ok for someone to do this and hubby said yes. (They have a rough outline between 9 and 12)

This morning having just got out the shower at around 8.30 door went and I have come face to face with the landlord (whom I have never met but that's irrelevant) who is here to have a survey done on house, he parks his car on drive and sits in there until around 10 o clock when a man with ladders camera etc appears.

I now believe the house is being sold (fine it's his house he can do as he likes) they have been around house taking photos measurements and what not and same for front and back and the garden, but it was not anything to do with said fence nor has anything been done) he said little to me and had I have had a little more confidence or if hubby had been here I may have had the guts to ask him outright are you selling up when he asked if we like the house!

Our current 6 month term ends in February 2017 how soon can he issue is with a section 21 and does he need a reason beyond what looks like him selling up (no rent arrears never has been etc) all I can think this is due to the neighbours next door having a council enforcement offer around about said fence (we had a letter drop on door mat last week to do with it simply address to the occupants and our address) said neighbours did a council exchange 4/5 months ago and have constantly been on at our letting agents weekly since moving in. Fence is not great but even the neighbours the other side have said landlord could do as little as use string to create a boundary line and its up to neighbours to secure garden to keep their dog in.

We are now stuck between rock and hard place, we cannot look and view anything yet as we still have 5 months on fixed term but the area we are in is student populated so houses for families with 4 bedrooms come up few and far between within our budget.

G_M

debtmess wrote: »

Will keep the background brief, rented a house under a fixed term (6 months last February - date?) this was extended to a year and a new 6 month ast was signed this month - dates? all via lettings agency. Deposit is and has always been protected (again via letting agency)

11.32 (sure it wasn't 11.37?) yesterday I had a call from letting agents about the fence (it's always been beyond repair and they have been chasing for it to be done prior to us moving in) informing us that someone was coming out today to remove the broken fence and wanting to assess the roof on the outhouse. They asked if today was ok for someone to do this and hubby said yes. (They have a rough outline between 9 and 12)
Good

This morning having just got out the shower at around 8.30 (do you shower every morning? Is that the usual time?) door went and I have come face to face with the landlord (whom I have never met but that's irrelevant) who is here to have a survey done on house, he parks his car on drive and sits in there until around 10 o clock when a man with ladders camera etc appears.
I assume you asked him to make an appointment for another day. Wat did he say?

I now believe the house is being sold (fine it's his house he can do as he likes correct) they have been around house taking photos measurements and what not and same for front and back and the garden, but it was not anything to do with said fence nor has anything been done) he said little to me and had I have had a little more confidence or if hubby had been here I may have had the guts to ask him outright are you selling up when he asked if we like the house!
I don't understand. Why did you let him in?

Our current 6 month term ends in February 2017 how soon can he issue is with a section 21
Today.

and does he need a reason
No
beyond what looks like him selling up (no rent arrears never has been etc) reason of 'beyond selling' is not requiredall I can think this is due to the neighbours next door having a council enforcement offer around about said fence (we had a letter drop on door mat last week to do with it simply address to the occupants and our address) said neighbours did a council exchange 4/5 months ago and have constantly been on at our letting agents weekly since moving in. Fence is not great but even the neighbours the other side have said landlord could do as little as use string to create a boundary line and its up to neighbours to secure garden to keep their dog in.
I can think of lots of possible reasons other than the fence or the neighbours.
But it's all irrelevant.

We are now stuck between rock and hard place, we cannot look and view anything yet as we still have 5 months on fixed term but the area we are in is student populated so houses for families with 4 bedrooms come up few and far between within our budget.

You have not been given a S21. You have a fixed term till around Feb. You are secure till then at least
If/when you get a S21 you will probobly still be able to stay till March.

By all means start looking so you are ahead of the game. If you find somewhere, you could offer to Surrender your Tenancy early which may suit both of you if he does want to sell.

Or he may be one of those LLs who try to sell with tenants still paying rent. Very hard. You can make viewings difficult, or indeed put buyers off by listing the propery's faults. That way you could be there for another year while he waits for a buyer.....

Meanwhile, be firm but reasonable about access to your home.

warby68

You could always just ask what's going on and what to expect?

debtmess

G_M wrote: »

You have not been given a S21. You have a fixed term till around Feb. You are secure till then at least
If/when you get a S21 you will probobly still be able to stay till March.

By all means start looking so you are ahead of the game. If you find somewhere, you could offer to Surrender your Tenancy early which may suit both of you if he does want to sell.

Or he may be one of those LLs who try to sell with tenants still paying rent. Very hard. You can make viewings difficult, or indeed put buyers off by listing the propery's faults. That way you could be there for another year while he waits for a buyer.....

Meanwhile, be firm but reasonable about access to your home.

Will answer red answers 1 by 1

Original tenancy date 13/02/15, current signed 6 months takes us to 13/02/17

Lol on the time thing, my phone saves times of each call, pretty close to posting this 24 hours later yes.

Yes I shower every morning but time wise depends on when I get up and what time the hubby leaves for work.

I let him in as hubby took yesterday's call! All he had said was someone was round tomorrow (that being today) so when he introduced himself as the landlord I originally thought I had missed what the hubby had said or he hadn't passed the full message on.

Ok that's cleared last bit up section 21 can be issued as he is selling, again that's fine just wanted to know more about reasons they can be issued.

We have since managed to get hold of the letting agents and it was a rather interesting conversation, they had no idea a survey and photos were being undertaken and they were under the impression next agreement signed would be long term, all they had been asked was to gain our permission to get the fence sorted. Letting agent said a section 21 cannot be issued until December but it also does not end the tenancy on 13/2/17 next year.
They will follow up with me next week when hopefully there will be some indication of landlords intentions. On the plus side if he is selling up after December they will be in a position to give us viewings should anything come onto the market via them that is likely to be long term without having all the annoyance of references and what not that it took for us to get this house

moneyistooshorttomention

1. By law tenants should be given at least 24 hours notice of a landlords visit. Naughty him to just turn up out of the blue like that!

2. Are you interested in buying the house yourself and, if so, could you afford it?

Kynthia

As long as the S21 gives at least the minimum required notice and doesn't expire before the end of the fixed term it can be served anytime. So you could get it niw with an expiry of February, or tge landlord could wait until December.

It's possible they aren't selling and are remortgaging, perhaps hoping to release equity? Or could be flirting with tge idea of selling and wanted to get an idea of the property's value but may not go through with it. As you have exclusive occupation until February you've got time to find out more before taking any action. However ensuring you have money for a deposit and moving costs put aside wouldn't be a bad thing.

G_M

Glad you appeciate my sense of humour. Makes a change!

debtmess wrote: »

Original tenancy date 13/02/15, current signed 6 months takes us to 13/02/17 More likely is 12/2/17. 13th Feb would be 1 year + 1 day.

Yes I shower every morning but time wise depends on when I get up and what time the hubby leaves for work.
As this is a moneysaving site I assume you shower with hubby to save water?

Letting agent said a section 21 cannot be issued until December but it also does not end the tenancy on 13/2/17 next year.
Hmm. Leting agent is misunderstanding the new Dergulation Act whaich states a S21 cannot be issued in the 1st 4 months of a tenancy. However this does not apply to a 'follow-on' tenancy such as yours.
They are right a S21 does not end the tenancy - it simply allows the LL to apply to court, and the court can then end the tenancy. Hence my earlier post said you could probobly stay till March.

They will follow up with me next week when hopefully there will be some indication of landlords intentions. On the plus side if he is selling up after December they will be in a position to give us viewings should anything come onto the market via them that is likely to be long term without having all the annoyance of references and what not that it took for us to get this house

You will certainly be able to negotiate some tit-for-tat arrangement in Dec ie you facilitate viewings in return for - reduced rent? help finding a new place? permission to leave before 12 (or 13?) Feb etc

But bad news on the references. Any new landlord is likely to want up-to-date references and credit checks. The fact the agent knows you will not change that. However much of the fees for those checks is set by the agents who may agree to reduce them. (incidetally, the agent will be charging the landlord for those checks too - it's a scam, but.......)