Landlords, would you consider this if your tenants asked?

I don't know the legalities of changing the locks on a rented property, but if you can do it, please do. It's very cheap to just change the barrel of the locks and it's a five minute job at most. I've done it myself and I'm shocking at any kind of DIY!

I wouldn’t offer to pay more rent now but I would offer to buy it in six months (If you are absolutely sure you want it and can do that)

the landlord was a bit of an idiot for not discussing it with you before instructing agents

I would love to have sold my place to my tenants - I tried, but their bank just post Covid work weirdness was not playing nicely. The mortgage would have been less than the rent, and I offered to gift a deposit contribution twice my estate agent fees..

In your position I would make an offer, see what you can do. It takes 3 months + to sell anyway, so you are so close to doing it. If you like the house and it saves a move, that is a win for you, for the landlord they know you are not messing, know the house faults, and this will happen so a win for them.

Further to the above, having now read the thread, he's a twat for doing this. I'd get an appointment asap, make an offer for in 6 months if that is realistic and NOT offer to pay extra rent.

If you don't ask you won't get.

We bought our house from our landlady and she was very patient once she was assured that we genuinely did want to buy - we showed her our financials so that she understood why it wasn't possible immediately and she understood (and wasn't in a hurry[.

I'm a little surprised that after 13 years perfect tenancy your landlord didn't give you a heads up.

Our landlady waited two years then we had a very quick, inexpensive hassle-free exchange. 6 months then an easy exchange during the current property market is reasonable.

Small landlord here. It depends on their reason for selling. I'd definitely approach, but would hold back on rent increase offer - can be used to negotiate after if need be e.g. if he says increase on new mortgage rates make it too costly etc. Could offer increase in rent as sign of goodwill that he 'holds' property for you and if you back out of sale, he keeps it?

LL could maybe avoid estate agent fees if sells to you, so could also work in your favour.

Give him as much info as can to show you're serious. Surprised he didn't already offer to you first and it's really really poor form that he hasn't let you know. It's your home. Most obvious reason for not telling you would be fear that you'd find alternative accommodation before he's found a buyer - also could be a negotiating point for you - you may get a temporary rent decrease! When did you last see landlord? Is it possible he's died and relatives are selling?

They blur all family photos out now.

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Tbh it could be 4months or so before you actually need to pay the deposit if you start the ball rolling now. I would go for it if I were you and not ask landlord to wait and definitely don't offer any more money. Shit of your landlord not to mention it and be so u derhanded

Also, your windows aren't secure and your gas fire was condemned FOUR years ago? He is absolutely not a decent landlord in any way...

You can ask, but you don’t know what their circumstances are and why they want / need to sell. Also there is a pretty clear season for the housing market - put your place on the market in the spring (March/April/may) and complete by around September. In six months, it’ll be too late for the core season for this year and probably harder for the landlord to sell.

I used to be a landlord. I had to sell quickly because my mortgage deal was coming to an end and my flat was losing value. However, I’d lived in it myself for three years so it didn’t affect anyone.

I don’t believe in anyone having more than one property and think the situation with the rental market is awful. The flat was my one property and I was a tenant myself so I know what it’s like. (Single, disabled mother and this was the only way to keep some financial security.)

However, property prices are falling far more than most people realise because people are still trying to sell at the price the property used to be worth and then having to reduce it or being gazundered by tens of thousands (which I was). So LL could lose a lot of money by holding onto the house for six months. Your LL doesn’t sound like a very nice person if he didn’t tell you he was putting your house on the market.

Sorry that’s not very optimistic. I truly hope you get to stay x

I just want to give you a hug, I was in this situation a year ago last August. My landlord lied about agents coming round to value the house, told me three times, twice in writing and then once verbally, that they weren't looking to sell. Within a week of the 'agents' coming to value they told me they were putting it on the market. I was told to make it presentable for it to look good for the photos, no mention was made of the fact I didn't have to agree to these photos being taken in the first place. The listing also didn't mention a tenant being in situ, it was awful, I have a disabled son and we had to sit on the outside wall whilst the viewings happened, prospective buyers here horrified, you could see it on their faces as they asked the agent on the way in the door who we were. I thought that no one would look at buying it with tenants, but people were making offers knowing they'd have to get us out.

Ask him! It'll be win-win if you buy direct from him, saving him $1000's in agent fees!

Also, you don't have to pay asking price. You might even have a discount because of this.

I'm a landlord and would agree.

I would be over the moon if I were your landlord.

Referring back to an earlier thread on selling and weed, I recommend a strong weed smell and other off-putting stuff during visits to slow down sales procedures ;-).

Do not offer him more money!

He'd be a fool to turn you down if you can offer him asking or near it. I wouldn't want a pissed off tenant that was forced to leave even though they could prove they could buy it in six months living in my house. If you dug your heels in should he say no you could wreak havoc on his sale anyway by telling prospective buyers all the houses flaws, being really difficult about access, refusing to leave and making him go through expensive court proceedings to get rid of you which would likely take him longer than six months.

You are an excellent prospect for him as a purchaser and don't you forget it!

Unless the law has changed, he can't even issue a valid S21 without a current gas safety cert and EPC.

All the law is on your side here, OP. And if he wants/needs to sell, selling to you in 6 months time would be far less hassle, and probably quicker, than giving you notice, getting you out of the property, and selling it to someone else.

Would you be able to buy now if it was cheap enough, or are you waiting for some money to come through before you have a deposit?

If you could buy now if it was the right price, it may be worth getting a ballpark estimate of the property's value with a tenant in situ, then make the LL an offer based on that. Tenanted properties are usually significantly cheaper so you might be able to afford it. It could well be the LL's best option financially, especially when you point out the £'000s it will cost him to get you out.

Your landlord has behaved appallingly particularly as it sounds like they/the agents are accessing your property without telling you for photos and possible viewings. If you want to buy some time but not cause an issue I'd call the agent/landlord, act oblivious but raise some concerns:

1. You think someone's been in your house "and I assume it's not you as you of course know this is illegal"
2. You've has people knocking on your door about buying your house "which I know is crazy as you'd of course tell me if that was the case"

Regardless of everything I'd contact the EA and ask how they managed to gain access to your home without permission!

I'm a landlord. I'd take that if it was a definite offer. We are selling one of ours at the moment and I'm really hoping our tenant will want to buy it. (He has always known that we had a timeline for selling it.)

What a cheeky fucker. We're intending to sell our BTL this year and we've given our tenants a year's notice, along with an assurance that if they find something suitable before then we'll release them from their contract at a date which suits them to move. We won't be marketing until the property is vacant.

Having said all of that, if they were in a position to buy, even six months later, we'd be happy to work with them so that that was the outcome. I'd much prefer to sell to them and prevent all that upheaval.

Shit behaviour and you’ve been given some good advice.
But another to say email him and say you want to buy and can do so in 6months and start the process now. He’d be crazy to say no. Don’t offer more rent unless he comes back with a no. And check what notice he has to give you for viewings/notice to leave and if any of your photos are visible on Rightmove etc

I would be worried the LL has lied to the estate agent and they don't know its rented.

I was wondering about that, too @chocolatefiends .

If the LL didn't tell the agency that it was tenanted, they must surely have been suspicious when they came round and took the photographs. And posting pics of someone's home and possessions on a website where the property is (generally) easily identifiable, without the consent of the occupier, is a huge invasion of privacy imo. If it isn't illegal, it damn well should be, and there should be a code of practice for estate agents on the point.

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