Landlord of our short term rental selling to our neighbours who are now stressing me out

climbthatwallseegar

I’ve been on the Waiting to Exchange thread since March this year when I put my property up for sale. Sold in June and moved into a rental flat with DP & DC whilst we wait to purchase a new property. We signed a 12 month tenancy with a 6 month break clause as I hope we will have bought our new house by December. We had an offer accepted 6 weeks ago.

When we moved our landlady told me that the couple who live above us have been trying to buy her flat for ages as it is on the ground floor with a garden and they have a toddler. A couple of weeks ago she messaged to say she was considering selling to them and wanted to know what our current ‘situation’ is. I haven’t kept her in the loop regarding our recent offer acceptance because obviously anything can happen but DP unfortunately responded and informed her. She then called us to say congrats and that she wanted to be as flexible as possible. In a nutshell, if we complete on the sale before December and move that is fine as the couple are really keen to get things moving but don’t want to kickstart anything whilst we are still in situ. I responded that we want to move asap but obviously we are at the mercy of our chain and cannot influence the speed at which it moves.. Our vendor has just found an onward purchase but we don’t know what his seller’s situation is yet.

Since then the neighbours have visited us a few times to ask how everything is going with the purchase and if it is ok if their toddler plays in our garden. In fairness,  the previous tenants who had children used to allow this and they only left in June so the toddler still sees it as her play area. I am fine with this. However I am now beginning to feel that they are subtly pressuring us and am uncomfortable whenever the wife comes around on a prearranged visit for the toddler to play (her DH is usually fine) as she keeps bombarding me with questions about how our move is progressing, walking around the flat and assessing things. She is an otherwise a really nice woman so I’ve been polite and have repeated what I already said about the chain.

Today our landlady messaged to say the couple have also been bombarding her. They asked her to ask us if we would be willing to move in with relatives if our purchase hasn’t completed by December?!  I am starting to dread leaving the flat in case I bump into the wife, she always seems to appear in the hallway when I am going out as she has worked out that I leave at the same time in the morning to take the DC to childcare.I now want to politely tell her to stop asking us about our purchase but struggling to find the right words without offending her! I'm also concerned that if our purchase falls through it will be awful enough without having to deal with her drama.

gettingtheresometime

I think you need to - putting it politely - grow a pair of the proverbial and start answering questions, whether it be from your landlady or the couple, with a non committal 'well you know how these things progress' stock answer. If anyone asks a specific question I'd reply with a vague 'everything's gone quiet, hope that doesn't mean there's a problem' answer

As for wandering around, that needs to be stopped right now - would you allow anyone else to just wander around?

AnnieB2018

You sound like a nice person..! For now just tell them it’s all fallen through and don’t share any more info with the neighbours or the landlord. Your landlord only needs a notice when you are leaving so until then shush

Chandler85

They are probably excited to get things going so they can move into a flat that they prefer with a garden, their excitement is causing you annoyance.

What's the issue, tell them it is going as fast as it is going and you really want to move out in December but you can't commit as the chain is still getting itself together.  When you know more you will let them know.  If they can't accept that, then do the above if you want.

lookstraightahead

Why don't you play them at their own game and ask if you can eat your tea in their kitchen?

They sound like they think they are more important than you. 

getmore4less

If the only way to access the garden is through your flat then time to stop the access.

Jude57

I'd explain that your home contents insurance doesn't cover personal injury for anyone injured in the garden so, regrettably, their child can no longer play there. That should stop the play dates. In addition, I like the other suggestions above, too. It's awful feeling under siege in your home, you have my sympathy.

theoretica

I would go for the straightforward - I know that this is important to you and really hope it does work out for us all, but I find your repeated questioning when I don't have new answers is wearing, could you please trust we will inform you of any significant developments.

climbthatwallseegar

I have responded with variations of “I have no idea when we will complete”, “the chain is not complete so I can’t tell you” etc. They haven’t bought a property before so I’m not sure they fully understand how it all works. 

When I say the above the wife often talks over me and goes on about the fact they are both self employed and have to get their mortgage organised in the next few months because their accounts for this year look healthy but might not next year so she wants to “strike while the irons hot” and get good deal. 

I like the idea of advising them the purchase has fallen through, thanks for that suggestion. I will try that next time and say I now have nothing further to advise. 

The garden can only be accessed via our kitchen. The toddler stands on their balcony above our kitchen constantly shrieking that she wants to come down and play, hence her mum asking. 

CasaCroft8

Tell them to stop asking. It will go as fast as it can. And you're very busy so they can take the child to the park. You'll leave when you're ready 

Brie

I'd be more annoyed with the shrieking child than the nagging mother.