Landlords, would you consider this if your tenants asked?

I think I'd be more pissed off that they entered my home without my knowledge to take pictures and would make it as difficult as I could for viewings.

In england you can, a tenant has a right to a quiet and private enjoyment of the home, the LL can only have access by agreement & a tenant can refuse.

Down here S/W, LLs are selling up as per PP, the finances no longer make sense or they wish to retire.

All this.

By all means enquire about buying direct, don't mention extra rent - you're appealing enough as a buyer (chain free, motivated) that you don't need to offer an incentive.

Has he kept your deposit protected, provided the right certificates etc?

Plus as PP have said, you could scupper any sale by being difficult. You don't have to allow viewings before the end of your tenancy, if you do you could be there and point out all the things that are wrong.

There’s no harm in asking the question. It depends on their personal circumstances. In your shoes though, I’d try to get the deposit together quicker - can you get a bank loan, borrow from a family member, or put it on a credit card and pay it off over 6 months? My ideal seller is one ready to move with the money in place and no chain. You’d be ideal if you could mobilize now, but if they need to sell urgently (and lots of accidental landlords do) then 6 months would be too long.

He may not have any choice but to wait. Landlords cannot have their cake and eat it by trying to sell and draw rent at the same time!

If the fire was condemned, it means it’s not in use, which would have been necessary for the ll to get the gas safety certificate. As for this and the rest, it really does paint a picture of ll, who doesn’t care about their tenants.

Edit - to add, I’m presuming this is the case. And op would have been within her rights to expect a replacement as the property is let with a gas fire in situ.

Our housing market is very different, it’s slowed a lot recently but tenanted houses still sell quickly. Not so long ago they were selling within days of being advertised.

Although here tenants are required to facilitate access for sale. You can’t photograph personal belongings, but you can’t prevent open homes.

I’d ask for definite, you’ve got nothing to lose. I think it’s pretty bad of him not to tell you and he should not have entered the property to take photos without your consent. Good luck x.

I think it's a bit sneaky if him to take photos & list without telling you. If you have been there 13 years you have pretty much paid off half what he owes already. Yet he didn't think you needed to know about potentially moving out.

I would offer to buy & don't offer more rent. It would take him 6 months to get it all sold anyway. So I think he would be silly to turn you down. You would need as much extra cash as possible to do the house up.

Ask - but unless the landlord is looking for a slow settlement don’t be surprised if this isn’t attractive to them.

Or make an offer with a 6 month settlement and see if they are interested.

If you’re happy with their asking price, talk to a broker and see if you can buy it. You might find that there’s an option with a smaller deposit, especially if you are that close to being able to afford it now. Another option to explore you might be about to take a personal loan to make the deposit and although expensive still be financially ahead over the cost of moving and finding a new place.

If they’ve a high price on it, relative to market, then you might be able to offer less too

Make LL an offer, at least 10% below asking price, you can always increase offer..no to rent increase.

Even if he issued a sect 21 today, you ve many months before you'd have to move.
He has effectively broken into your house by going in and taking pictures, he has zero right to do this without notice.

With no Gas Safe report, any sect 21 is invalid, he needs to provide all the right paper work and a broken gas fire means no gas safety.

A house sale with a sitting tenant wont be easy so your re in a strong position.

I agree with others, you need to assert your legal rights WRT viewings and entry.

Send him an email saying you'd like to buy.

He's thick if he doesn't understand how long it will take to get you out.

Ask, don't offer extra rent, get the photos that are online down and don't allow viewings. You don't ever have to allow viewings. This may piss all off but taking photos of the inside and putting them online shows you all you want to know about the ll. Also the lack of maintenance on the Windows etc.

Surely it would be in his best interest to sell to you for a smooth transition. Have you tried talking to LL you say he seems reasonable?

I suppose it depends on why he's selling really, he might not be in a position to wait. It's not a good sign that he's put it on the market without telling you!

But - I'm very much of the belief that don't ask, don't get in these kind of situations. But I certainly wouldn't offer more money.

Essentially you're asking them to take a gamble that in 6 months you will be able to afford and secure lending for it at market value (which could have changed by then, up or down). At the moment you are not in a position to buy it.

Also once you see the surveys etc you actually might not want to buy it, might not be able to get a mortgage on the property etc if there are major things wrong. Don't take on a money pit based on sentiment. Unfortunately it's not a given that you'll be able (or willing!) to buy it even if he will wait. It does sound a bit like you're being led by emotion at the moment tbh!

Ask. But don't offer more rent. Because he can agree. Take the extra rent and still sell to someone else.

This is awful! He's been totally sneaky and in breach of your rights if he's taken photos of your home and put them online without your knowledge. He's also stupid, as prospective buyers will be pissed off to find there are tenants in situ. He has to give you 2 months notice to leave in any case so it would be well in his interests to wait and negotiate for you to buy the place (as the alternative could be you refuse to leave and he ends up with much more delay and expense than he would be waiting) but if he's so clueless he may not know what your rights are!
Don't offer him more rent though.

This

Also, how far off the deposit are you? If it’s not much, you could perhaps offer the max amount to your ll, see what they say. They may be tempted by not having to go through the nightmare, which comes with selling houses plus the potential eviction costs if you refused to move etc. Plus you could help them with the form filling exercises etc. This would be an easy sale for them.

I am a landlord.
In your situation I would bite your hand off if you were serious.
Don't offer more rent though.
He saves estate agent fees and, I should think, there is less liklihood of you pulling out at the last minute.

I am a landlord. This is awful behaviour. I’ve never sold a house with an existing tenant, always waited until they moved out.

Is the selling agent the same as the rental agent or is the ll doing this all themselves?

Speak to him directly and tell him you will be in a position to buy the house in 6 months. Be prepared to provide proof of your financial position.

Don’t offer to pay more rent for the 6 months! By selling to you directly, he will save a huge amount on estate agent fees so that is likely to be incentive enough.

I would also talk to banks/ a mortgage advisor right away so that you can get a mortgage offer in principle.

I agree it’s wrong of him to have been so sneaky and put photos up of your home, but I wouldn’t make a fuss right now, as you want to keep him on side.

You definitely need to ask him.

However, I'd be wary of the LL as what a sneaky shit to put the house on the market without telling you! It was on Rightmove FFS!!!!!

How did he get the pictures?

Do NOT Offer.

i wouldn't be offering to pay extra . When did it go live on rightmove ?
You have had no eviction notice so just sit tight 6 months is a short amount of time . Definitely do offer full asking price get quotes for the work that needs doing and then adjust your offer.
Good luck 🤞