Landlord selling, but won’t sell to me

I think most landlords would be advised to do it this way.

In fact most of the landlords that don't do it this way are the greedy selfish ones, trying to extract the maximum rent possible while giving their tenants all the hassle of the sales process and no benefit from it.

Here is a list of pros and cons selling to a tenant.

https://www.openpropertygroup.com/news/should-i-sell-to-my-tenant-7-considerations-before-you-offer-your-property/

@Flora73 As an ex landlord, I agree with you it seems very strange. When I needed to sell my property, I would have loved it if the tenants wanted to purchase it as there would have been no estate agent fees or time and money wasted constantly maintaining an empty with all the bills (c tax, standing charges and empty house insurance) and mowing the garden including potentially doing viewings. He also would know you’re not l8kley to suddenly pull out either so more assuring there. Dream scenario really!

Makes me wonder if he’s not really going to sell, but just wants you out and then will re-let to family or some such…

how much are you really willing to offer though?

Would you be happy to pay above the asking price to secure the property?

I find the responses rather snippy. When we planned to sell ours the tenants were the first people we called to check if they were interested. It’s decent behaviour and doesn’t mean anyone’s getting a knock down price.
The property market isn’t great, hope he gets a nasty awakening, although it won’t help you.

As someone who got onto the property market by buying the flat I rented from the landlord I do see your point, Op.

Our landlord sent 3 estate agents round to quote on the property, and we agreed a price bang in the middle. Fair and transparent.

Why don’t you ask him what the property has been valued at (assuming it’s being sold vacant), and then offer him slightly above this?

I don’t think there’s any ulterior reasons, just what he’s told you. It’s perfectly reasonable for someone to want to sell their property for the best price they can get. That’s it’s worth: what someone is prepared to buy it for, and presumably he believes he’ll get more than you can offer. As you have a mortgage in principle it seems you were already looking to buy, so if he hadn’t wanted to sell, you’d have been moving out anyway, yes? So basically, each of you is acting in your own best interests- you wanting to buy a house rather than rent, him wanting to secure the best price for his house. Nothing wrong with acting in one’s own interests.

Have you a figure in your head of what you would offer? I think you need to essentially present what your offer would be to him and then he can make the decision whether he accepts that or goes to open market. Do your research on comparable properties in the area etc. Come up with a figure and then he's got something concrete to work with.

I’d also still look at other properties if you have the funds. See if you can upgrade rather than stick to what you know

This.
Then go slightly higher than their top end (if you can justify this).
I assume that given there's no chain, you could move pretty quickly on things - it's not like you'd need to arrange moving.

If it's at there top end of what he could get and could be resolved in the minimum time, then great. If it falls through or it takes too long, then there's the s.21 to fall back on, and you leave.

I am a landlord and if it was me I would be happy to sell to a tenant to avoid the hassle and expense of estate agents and missed rent while it's on the market, as long as you were offering minimum the home report value. They probably think they can get a good amount over the value I am guessing.

It's because of the reasons already listed by people @Flora73 Sadly, it looks like you will need to go trhough the estate agent. He can't stop you doing that can he? Does he want you out before he puts it on the market? How annoying. Nothing you can do about it though. Sorry.

He will have to pay estate agent fees if he has already signed up to market regardless of who he sells to. But if you can move quickly you could negotiate as confirmed buyer no chain, have funds, if not in market no agent fees, won’t need to refurb for marketing and if you move out you are more likely to buy or look around at other properties as don’t want hassle of moving twice! Offering market value. Of course will still need a survey. Properties aren’t selling so no guarantee will get better offer. Bird in the hand etc

Also, I’m not sure why you are cross about the break clause. They are a normal thing to have and they can work well for tenant's too.

He wants to end the tenancy first and then market the property. Makes perfect sense.

Can you afford to offer a decent price? It might worth suggesting he get it valued on basis of vacant possession & just asking what he wants for it.

Offer to do a massive tidy up to make it look its best & show you are helping him identify the right value.

It's hardly greedy to want to get as much a possible for a house when you sell it, pretty sure most people would be the same!

The value an estate agent would tell him just now would be lower, as there is a tenant in the building. That will restrict the number of people interested in purchasing.

If you leave, the property becomes vacant, and then he will be able to properly judge value and interest from there.

Yes its a gamble, but if he were to sell to you, he's potentially taking a lower offer than he could make from the sale.

Of course he wants to make the most profit as he can, why is that greedy? He's not a charity...

Do any of the PPs on the thread calling him greedy go to your employer and offer to take a reduction in pay? Of course not..