Tenants Rights

CityRedAmber

Hi

Can any one advise on a rental issue I currently have.
A house I have rented for 15 years with the same tenant have been given a section 21 (I’m selling)
There is a glass lean to side of the property which has been confirmed as unsafe.  I want to remove so I’m not liable for anything, the tenant says this should be replaced as it was there when he moved in!!
I can’t afford to spend £4000-£6000 on something which is 30yrs old and beyond repair 

Legally what are the options 
Any advice would be great 

theartfullodger

IMHO tenant is correct, they've rented the whole place, that's what the contract says, that's what they are entitled to. That you as landlord have permitted this unsafe glass(!) ain't likely to impress any judge at an eviction hearing. 

In your shoes I'd offer a rent reduction in exchange for removing it. But don't bid too low then find tenant really p***ed off and digging heels in.  What's it used for??

Are you sure s21 is valid? see..
https://nearlylegal.co.uk/section-21-flowchart/
&
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/section_21_eviction/how_to_check_a_section_21_notice_is_valid

MANY s21s are invalid.

Artful: : Landlord since 2000

CityRedAmber

Lean to is used for storage, the odd plant.
Its beyond repair so needs to come down.

theartfullodger

Negotiate!

cymruchris

If you've correctly issued the section 21, and they leave, why not wait for them to leave and take it down the day after?

In the meantime, offer a genuine (generous) rent reduction to reflect the restriction on not using this area ongoing? (They have after all been your tenants for 15 years, and have no doubt helped you with your annual income for all that time?)

Definitely negotiate - but don't be too tight fisted.

FreeBear

It is going to take three months or more to get contractors on site to fit a new structure. If it needs planning permission, that could easily add another six months to the timescale.

How long is it going to take for the S21 to process and the tenants leave.... A short term fix would be to remove the glass and replace with polycarbonate sheet. Nail a few lengths of 2x1 battens to any woodwork that is rotting away. Won't look pretty, but as a short term "repair", it won't cost £4-6K.

propertyrental

You can start the Planning process, but leave the structure in place until the tenancy has ended.

Then do whatever you like either

* sell as is or

* remove and then see.

martindow

You quite possibly don't need planning if you will be replacing like for like.  Are you in a conservation area or listed?  If so there could well be hoops to jump through.

GDB2222

CityRedAmber said:

Lean to is used for storage, the odd plant.
It’s beyond repair so needs to come down.

I think I would offer to pay for a storage unit, then. 

As others have said, just try to agree something with the tenant, who can’t be at all happy about being asked to move out.