Keep viewing properties with tenants

Rumana03

Hi,

Has anyone had any luck with properties which they have viewed which have tenants in them but then once the sale is going through, the tenants did leave as they were supposed to? 

We keep viewing peoperties which seem to have tenants. When we ask what the situation is, the EA assures us that the tenants will be given 2 months notice once a seller is found and then they will leave. But being a landlord myself, I know that things are not that simple. Some of these tenants may not move out. We even went to a viewing last week where the tenant locked the front door from inside so that no one could view the house. I don't know why these sellers seem to think they can force a sale through for properties like that. Another viewing we went to, the tenants directly told us that they have no intention of leaving

jaelato1

I'd say stay away. They are nightmares

RAS

Stop viewing any property if the EA/LL have given the tenant two months notice, and tell the EA that you know it could take two years to remove them. The problem is that LLs want to sell up but there are fewer tenancies available than tenants, so they need to stay put.

If the tenant has given notice (usually one month), then there are penalties if they fail to move out at the end of their notice period. So you can view those, if the tenant is happy to let you, and you accept there are going to be a lot of boxes etc.

Rumana03

RAS said:

Stop viewing any property if the EA/LL have given the tenant two months notice, and tell the EA that you know it could take two years to remove them. The problem is that LLs want to sell up but there are fewer tenancies available than tenants, so they need to stay put.

If the tenant has given notice (usually one month), then there are penalties if they fail to move out at the end of their notice period. So you can view those, if the tenant is happy to let you, and you accept there are going to be a lot of boxes etc.

Sometimes we go to viewings and the EA has told us that the owner lives at the property and then we go and find tenants there instead. It's so frustrating.

We saw the perfect flat a couple of weeks ago but because the tenant's contract was due to finish in July they had not been given any notice and the seller said they would leave at the end of the contract. We didn't even bother making any offer after we found this out and after a week, the flat advert was taken off the website.

My own tenants have been sitting in my property for 2 years and I'm still waiting for the court to grant me possession. 

SavingPennies_2

Yes, my current home was rented and the tenant lived there when I viewed and put in offer etc. They had been a difficult tenant (didn't know this at the time) and the whole process took a little longer, maybe 4-5 months in total but they did move out. Obviously I didn't exchange or complete until they were gone (and went in myself to confirm). I wanted the property so for me it worth the risk.

Rumana03

SavingPennies_2 said:

Yes, my current home was rented and the tenant lived there when I viewed and put in offer etc. They had been a difficult tenant (didn't know this at the time) and the whole process took a little longer, maybe 4-5 months in total but they did move out. Obviously I didn't exchange or complete until they were gone (and went in myself to confirm). I wanted the property so for me it worth the risk.

Did you see the tenant when you went to view the property? And do you think if I ask the tenant directly.if they are planning to move, that they will give an honest answer? I mean I asked tenants in one of the properties we viewed and they told me they had no intention of moving.

The flat we liked last week had the tenant there but she seemed to be working from home so I didn't get to ask her. She seemed fine enough with us viewing and was friendly and polite...the EA even said about giving 2 months notice once a seller was found and I'm sure the tenant would have heard this comment as the EA said it quite loudly. If the tenant had an issue with that, surely she would have spoken up?

SavingPennies_2

Rumana03 said:

SavingPennies_2 said:

Yes, my current home was rented and the tenant lived there when I viewed and put in offer etc. They had been a difficult tenant (didn't know this at the time) and the whole process took a little longer, maybe 4-5 months in total but they did move out. Obviously I didn't exchange or complete until they were gone (and went in myself to confirm). I wanted the property so for me it worth the risk.

Did you see the tenant when you went to view the property? And do you think if I ask the tenant directly.if they are planning to move, that they will give an honest answer? I mean I asked tenants in one of the properties we viewed and they told me they had no intention of moving.

The flat we liked last week had the tenant there but she seemed to be working from home so I didn't get to ask her. She seemed fine enough with us viewing and was friendly and polite...the EA even said about giving 2 months notice once a seller was found and I'm sure the tenant would have heard this comment as the EA said it quite loudly. If the tenant had an issue with that, surely she would have spoken up?

No as the tenant was out when the viewing took place, I then viewed again once they had moved out, but by this point quite far into the process. I only had the EAs assurance they would move out but obviously they couldn't guarantee this. I suppose if you ask and they say, no i won't move then you have an answer, but if they say yes i will, you don't know if they mean it or not but might be worth the risk.

A lot of people on here will say avoid and don't even consider it, but I wonder if they have direct experience because it's easier said than done when you're not in the position of wanting to buy. Many properties esp at the FTB end of the scale, like flats, are rented out so you'll be cutting out a big chuck of the market by never viewing properties that have tenants in.

Edited to add, just read you have tenants yourself who you haven't gotten out for two years so you already know what the risks are. I don't think you can know for sure if they will leave even if they say they will, so depends how much you want a property and it you are prepared to take the risk.

Loza2016

My first property was a rental. We had no problems, tenants moved out a few months before completion. 

MovingForwards

My home is an ex-rental. I had a good chat with the occupiers while viewing and they did move out before I exchanged.

Rumana03

MovingForwards said:

My home is an ex-rental. I had a good chat with the occupiers while viewing and they did move out before I exchanged.

Did you ask them if they would be moving out?

MovingForwards

Rumana03 said:

MovingForwards said:

My home is an ex-rental. I had a good chat with the occupiers while viewing and they did move out before I exchanged.

Did you ask them if they would be moving out?

I asked what their plans were if I offered and it was accepted.