Tenants won't leave property we're buying..

Tatters26

Ramouth said:

 Do you really want to force 3 children into temporary accommodation?

I don't think that is fair to say at all, we also need somewhere to live and had an offer accepted on a property in good faith back in July. I don't see how we're the bad guys here and think that is a pretty stupid insinuation.

MaryNB

Ramouth said:

My sympathy here is for the tenants.  Imagine facing eviction and homelessness for you and your children through no fault of your own.  I wish there was more protection for tenants in this situation so that tenanted properties could only be sold to other landlords.

OP if you like the house then perhaps just wait patiently until they find somewhere - it sounds like you want to move sooner rather than need to - the tenants need somewhere to live.  It is totally believable that they are trying hard to find somewhere but with a lot of competition for properties at the moment they may just not have been chosen.  Do you really want to force 3 children into temporary accommodation?

I think any of that kind of blame should be put on the landlord rather than the OP. The landlord could have sold the house to another landlord so the tenants could stay put but obviously wants to sell it at full market value. 

Exodi

Ramouth said:

My sympathy here is for the tenants.  Imagine facing eviction and homelessness for you and your children through no fault of your own.  I wish there was more protection for tenants in this situation so that tenanted properties could only be sold to other landlords.

OP if you like the house then perhaps just wait patiently until they find somewhere - it sounds like you want to move sooner rather than need to - the tenants need somewhere to live.  It is totally believable that they are trying hard to find somewhere but with a lot of competition for properties at the moment they may just not have been chosen.  Do you really want to force 3 children into temporary accommodation?

Oh please, the tenants are not facing homelessness, and if they were that would be through fault of their own as by that point they would have likely had one or two years to find alternative accomodation.

Landlords aren't obliged to provide accomodation in perpetuity. They have been given 6 months notice to leave, they have moved the goalposts by hoping to move from private rented to council, they wouldn't face these new challenges if they moved into another private rented property.

Also, I disagree with your assertion that it is believeable that 'they are trying hard to find somewhere'. I have just organised a year rental for my parents (moving from France to the UK) - 2 adults, 2 children and 4 pets in Blackburn (which has a very crowded rental market and not much appetite to take pets) in 3 weeks... they sign the tenancy and get the keys this Thursday. You really believe 6 months in and they've found nowhere?

These tenants are unlikely to be in a rush to move into a new private rental. They likely know the law heavily protects them and that the landlord will need to spend thousands of pounds and a couple of years getting them out. I'm sure they've also identified that this could be their ticket to cheaper council housing.

MaryNB said:

I think any of that kind of blame should be put on the landlord rather than the OP. The landlord could have sold the house to another landlord so the tenants could stay put but obviously wants to sell it at full market value. 

Agreed - at worse the OP is naive. The landlord wanted to achieve full market value for the house while also ensuring they lose no rent leading up to exchange.

If the LL was intent to sell the house, the LL should have got the tenants out first and then listed it. This is (was) not the OP's problem

lookstraightahead

I think the issue here is that people don't see properties as the tenants' home, 

elsien

lookstraightahead said:

I think the issue here is that people don't see properties as the tenants' home, 

It is their home for as long as they have a valid tenancy. It’s not a home in perpetuity. 

deannagone

I would suggest asking if the LL has actually served a S21 on the tenants. Until that is received by the tenants.., and the notice period complete - the courts won't even start their part of the eviction process.  Also see what the LL says if you ask if their deposit is protected.  If the tenant's deposit hasn't been protected (and the tenants notified where it is protected).., a 'How To Rent' leaflet issued, EICR certificate issued etc etc.. If any of these things haven't been done, the LL's efforts to get a warrant of possession issued will fail and you will be waiting even longer for the tenants to vacate the property.  Make an informed decision if you can.

Its nothing to do with you, but its not unknown for tenants to not have the money available to put another deposit down on another property, pay removal costs etc.., especially if on benefits.  I was in this position a few years ago, and with the best of intentions I just couldn't afford to move to another private rental. Its very easy to say tenants should move when given notice, particularly with the notice needed at the moment and delays in getting cases to court.., but if benefits and wages were  generous enough to save up over a thousand £ (even £2-3k depending on where they live) in addition to paying rent and bills,  food banks wouldn't exist and being called on more and more.  There are some 'professional tenants' around who will drag out the eviction process as long as possible, but its more likely that the tenants just can't afford to move.

TripleH

The party at fault here is the landlord / vendor (based on the information we gave been presented). 

We don't know the Op's circumstances, they could be buying because they have had to move to a different part if the country to provide support for an infirm relative. The tenants in the property could have decided they cannot find a property that ticks as many boxes as the one they are in despite there being a surplus of similar type properties in the area. (That paints a different stance with some made up data but can present a different view to the situation).

Yes, sadly it is always a risk being a private renter in that your dream rental home is not yours for life. That is more a failing of successive governments making short-term plans to maintain votes...

There are also many reasons why people rent out property and if you make rules that say once a property is rented out it must forever remain so, that will create even more problems for renters.

We were going to look at a tenanted property to but as a home, thankfully the appointment was cancelled (by the tenant due to covid) as we probably weren't thinking straight at that time.

Tatters26

Thanks for the useful comments; we are first time buyers and perhaps naive yes. We saw something on the market we liked, were told the tenants had been served notice (which was true) and were moving out soon. We proceeded and it appears now they won't/ can't go, although the idiot that claimed we want to make a family homeless is away with the fairies. I was only asking for advice, but people on here like to preach and I don’t get it when people are just asking for advice and get attacked.

cheeky-peach

A friend of mine has been given notice to leave in March 2022. She is actively looking for somewhere to move her and her family but there is literally nothing suitable and at a similar price for them. Her son has autism as struggles massively with change so ideally, she would like to keep him in the same school - she is prepared to travel too to give her a wider net to find a home. Sadly, none of this is her fault and she is trying but she is also leaning toward council housing which, as we know, will be only when she is officially homeless. It is a horrible thing sadly. 

It sounds like the vendor should have ensured that property empty before putting up for sale or coming to some sort of arrangement. I would look for an alternative purchase if you require any speed.

Ramouth

Tatters26 said:

Ramouth said:

 Do you really want to force 3 children into temporary accommodation?

I don't think that is fair to say at all, we also need somewhere to live and had an offer accepted on a property in good faith back in July. I don't see how we're the bad guys here and think that is a pretty stupid insinuation.

Tatters26 said:

Ramouth said:

 Do you really want to force 3 children into temporary accommodation?

I don't think that is fair to say at all, we also need somewhere to live and had an offer accepted on a property in good faith back in July. I don't see how we're the bad guys here and think that is a pretty stupid insinuation.

Tatters26 said:

Ramouth said:

 Do you really want to force 3 children into temporary accommodation?

I don't think that is fair to say at all, we also need somewhere to live and had an offer accepted on a property in good faith back in July. I don't see how we're the bad guys here and think that is a pretty stupid insinuation.

Apologies, having reread what I wrote it did come across much more harshly than I meant it to.  

I am frustrated by the system and live in an area where housing has become rather scarce and many families are struggling.

I do have sympathy for those waiting for a property to complete and understand that as a FTB you would not have realised that it could take a long time for the tenants to find somewhere to go.