Landlord wants to sell

wizzywizard65

Hi All,

I been renting an apartment for the last 18 years. My landlord texted me Friday that she wants to sell and I have a valuer coming tomorrow. At present she has made no indication that she wants me to move out.

I am a widowed man with mental health issues and became ill and now have to have a catheter while I wait for an operation and just recently got made redundant. I am finding it real hard to cope right now. I feel like my life has ended.

If she wants me out, I will have nowhere to go as I can't afford the rent prices as in this area the rent has gone up massively. So how will I be about to afford a place on Universal credit?
I am presently to sick to work right now and been put on LCW.

I do have some savings so I could pay for a months rent and the deposit. Not sure what to do?
I have talked to the agency and they say that these apartments which I live in usually are sold to another landlord so I don't need to panic.

Still it is so stressful... knowing my luck, my operation date will come just as I become homeless.

What should I do?

Thanks for reading and any advice.

Gordy

born_again

Contact your local council about any housing they might be able to help with.

m0bov

She could sell the flat as tenanted. Ask her if she will be selling with vacant possession.

She will need to issue you due notice to it could take many months, even then only a court can evict you.

Is your deposit protected? Gas checks up to date? If the valuer is not coming at a convenient time ask to arrange it for a suitable time. You don't have to let them into YOUR home.

Stubod

A lot of landlords are looking to get out, could be they just want to cash in their asset and sell it with a sitting tennant. It does not look like they have given you any indication that they want you to vacate?

wizzywizard65

About 10 years ago the landlord changed agencies and the new agency unable to find my deposit. I thought it suppose to transfer to the new letting agent. Somehow it was not transferred. I only found out the other day. 

No Gas is here but the EPC expired 5 years ago when I checked yesterday.

wizzywizard65

Stubod said:

A lot of landlords are looking to get out, could be they just want to cash in their asset and sell it with a sitting tennant. It does not look like they have given you any indication that they want you to vacate?

No indication..... Just a text saying she needs to sell and sorry for causing any stress..... anxiety is through the roof right now

FlorayG

ok do not panic. LL if she wants you out has to issue a Section 21 notice first and it has to be valid; otherwise she has to sell with you in situ to a new LL - so that's your first recourse, ask if she intends to evict you. If she does then do nothing until the S21 is issued ( certainly don't remind her she needs to do that!) and when it finally is, check with Citizens Advice and Shelter that it's compliant with the law. If it is not, let it expire. You're still there, LL has to MAKE it compliant and issue another one. When that one expires, LL has to go to court for an eviction order and the courts have a backlog and that could take six more months. So you don't have to be out soon even if LL does want you to leave.
You also don't have to accept appointments from surveyors, estate agents or prospective buyers, you can just say no ( although if selling with you in situ it's best to be amenable so your potential new LL sees you as a decent tenant)

ButterCheese

m0bov said:

You don't have to let them into YOUR home.

It is not the tenant's home, it's the landlady's home

HouseMartin567

ButterCheese said:

m0bov said:

You don't have to let them into YOUR home.

It is not the tenant's home, it's the landlady's home

No, it is the OPs home. It’s the landlord’s property.

FlorayG

wizzywizard65 said:

About 10 years ago the landlord changed agencies and the new agency unable to find my deposit. I thought it suppose to transfer to the new letting agent. Somehow it was not transferred. I only found out the other day. 

So where is your deposit? Do you know? Does the LL know? LL can't issue a S21 without the deposit being correctly secured, if it's 'lost' then the LL will be required to refund you the whole amount even before a S21 can be valid ( as I said before, don't tell her that, let her find out for herself)

saajan_12

How far is what you're paying vs what the market rent would be for a similar property? If its very low, its less likely your LL will find another LL buyer who's happy for you to stay. So either your rent would be increased or they'll be serving a S21 notice to eventually evict you. 

So you need to start looking now, and get in touch with council too.