Landlord won't sell. Another second home in our dying village

I agree.
they could be planning on their children possibly needing local housing in the future.

it’s tough though op I feel for you.

Second homes are not the problem. The problem is that people are fussier now about the houses they want to buy. Understandable because property prices are so high but people used to buy the most decrepit doer uppers because it was what they could afford and they could add value by making them habitable. Those properties are still around but nobody wants to take them on.

I suspect they want to sell as a vacant property so will want you out and then put it on the market for more than they think you would have.

Classic example of 'none of your business'.

Some people prefer to rent though. Especially if they're just starting in a relationship or are quite transient.. The home owning obsession is quite a British one; it's not so common on the continent because of a better fairer rental market. We have plenty of empty houses which need dealing with first.

The real solution is to make houses affordable (which means building more of them) and buyers being educated and earning enough to buy so they aren't relying on rentals.

Have you considered that as a woman she may feel uneasy giving up her home? She’s not going to get half a farm if they split, so she might not be as much ‘never moving back’ as you think. You seem convinced she’s a terrible hoarder of housing but the reality is that she has one home and the farm is probably in her husbands family or something. Or not. I mean you’d know better than me, but it just seems you’re sure she’s mean but it might not be that simple.

Exactly. And as this is an area with a lot of second home owners, surely there’s a market for it.

Plenty of work here. But a chap who does work on my house admitted freely that he does Airbnb because the money comes in straight away and it's easier than being a landlord. He has 7 properties. Properties which could be housing tenants who need homes.

You need to go back a step and ask why locals can't afford them. No work, presumably.

Controversial, but if you are very invested in the house, would it be possible to make the landlord an above market offer? You would have to do that using funds in excess of your deposit (since the bank won’t loan more the house is worth). It may be worth it to you to prevent school changes and other upheaval. Most people are motivated by money, that’s the entire reason people rent their extra homes out, not because they fancy helping with the housing crisis.

And I'm not saying it hasn't! But holiday lets should be far more tightly controlled. In my town we are crying out for decent rental properties, building more and more houses on our green fields, and properties are getting bought to let out as Airbnb because it's easier than being a proper decent landlord.

I've made it a rule never ever to fall in love with a rental. I know it's hard sometimes; it's just not yours. This house sounds lovely but I think you have the heart to fall in love with the place you do eventually buy. Get looking and stay in the area if you love it. That is where it's worth transferring your efforts - estate agents!

The problem with that idea @LittleCharlotte is that often there is no work in these beautiful seaside villages- fishing's gone, mining's gone, farming's declined.
What work would be available?
Tourism has filled a gap.

You may end up with investment bankers buying the houses, working from home 2 days a week, and commuting to London in between.

Would that be okay?

I am supportive, I listened to her, I advised her, I helped her move, i'm godmother to her children, I didn't tell her she was moaning.

I don't know why so many posters are suggesting it's a bolt hole for the owner if her marriage breaks down.

Maybe it is but who knows?

She may decide to rent it out short term as a holiday let once it's improved.

I expect she's also emotionally attached to it. In time she may decide to sell up but that's a decision she needs to come to in her own time.

The issue is the OP lived a fantasy whereby she thought this was going to be their home and became far too attached to it.

Most rentals don't allow tenants to do very much at all other than a lick of paint on the walls and keeping the garden tidy.

I'm not sure what she's done to it.

And, being blunt, paying rent of under £1K a year ( she said £50K over 6 years) is pretty cheap for a house so she's had good value.

Bear in mind what they can do is let it as Air BnB or as a holiday cottage. I own a property in the village where I grew up, similarly, if the sitting Tennant left I couldn't re let due to EPC, so I would use it as an Air BnB / Holiday let instead.

They said consider selling to them. They have considered it and decided not to.

I didn't say we should get rid of them altogether. But the amount of holiday lets/airBnBs should be far more tightly controlled than it is to ensure there are sufficient properties for people to rent or buy- to live in.

OP posts about landlords and second homes on MN thinking everyone will fawn over how unreasonable the LL is. When a quick glance at how you’ve described them on this thread tells everyone all they need to know.

So basically, you’ve a house which you feel is amazing, it’s in a wonderful, rural, tranquil location and is exactly what you want. Surely you knew from the start that you were choosing a location where houses rarely come up for sale and where at some point (when you were financially in a position to buy) you’d likely have to move somewhere less amazing?

I get that it feels disappointing, but nobody forced you to make a lovely garden, presumably you did that for the benefits it brought your family while you lived fhere.

i would advise you try to reframe your thinking: yes, you need to move BUT you’ll be gaining an asset and have the security of your own home at last. It would be crazy to continue paying rent now you’re in a position to buy.

naturallly there’s the sprinkling of posters on here who think all LL are evil scum, but the fact is, many people rent out homes for all sorts of reasons- maybe they marry, move away for work and can’t sell, are in tied accommodation with work but need to stay in the market etc etc …

ultimately of course the owner can’t be forced to sell her property to you. And she may well decide not to re-let it because frankly, there are so many obstacles put in the way for LL now that she’s decided it’s not worth it.

Once you bite the bullet and buy, you’ll grow to feel the new place is your home, you need to make the mental adjustment. And look at it this way: you might have had 6 years paying rent for a grotty place, or had to move several times, while saving to buy. Instead you’ve had a home in a beautiful area without upheaval.

Blimey, what a kind friend you sound. I bet your friend was "moaning". She must have been devastated!

When my last financially abusive relationship broke down it took me 18months to sell the house we owned together because he made it so difficult.

When I got together with the new chap I made it clear, I would happily live together, but it would be in one of our homes and we would retain the other property.

For me I might sell my house one day, if we get married, and on a few other conditions but for me it is an escape option. I don't want my cash in a bank and the housing market outpacing me. If the property is rented, fine- if the government make it uneconomical to do so, my house is still doing its job empty.

Women need escape routes in relationships (the amount of posts you see on here from miserable women who can't afford to leave is astounding), he married to a farmer makes her situation even more precarious.

Oh dear. So the only option when going on holidays is to go those sordid all inclusive that I cannot stand?
i prefer renting a self catering accomodation, visit a new place, understand the culture and try to be as respecful to the local community as possible, i prefer my brekfast and diners at home, love eating lunch out.
it s sad when people hate the tourists who spend money they beed to build their communities

You can't buy the house as they are not selling it. They might change their minds. But they might not. So either carry on renting it or buy another house.