Page 11 | AIBU to ask tenants to move before or after new baby?

CatWithAPetDog · 2026-05-30T14:09:04+00:00

We are landlords and have a property that our son would like to move into at some point in the next year. Our current tenants have a toddler and have just told me that they are expecting another baby in November. If you were the tenant, would you prefer to have to move out whilst pregnant or with a young baby. I know it’s not great timing for them either way, but which would you say would be easier? We can wait a while as long as my son is moved in this time next year, but then they would have a toddler and six month old baby, so it may be easier to do it sooner with just a toddler? They’ve been good tenants so I would like to cause them the least stress possible. Sorry forgot to make boring make sense YABU - Get them to move before the new baby arrives YANBU - Get them to move after the new baby arrives

Runningswanker · 30/05/2026 16:14

One of the most difficult things about finding a new place to rent is finding something at the right time, ie when you need to move, without paying for a long overlap on two places - so letting them know now, and giving them the option to move when they find somewhere in the next year without charging them a penalty for leaving would be the kindest thing.

Datafan55 · 30/05/2026 16:13

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:47

so wrong.

if they are good tenets, it just seems cruel to kick them out because your son wants (probably cheap) rent of his parents.

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OP could have brought property with the sole aim of housing her son at a cheap rate at a future date, and that would be entirely up to her.

OP, it's nice that you are thinking of them.

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 16:11

Dollysleftnip · 30/05/2026 16:09

Which is why you buy a house before having children

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Such a simplistic view

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 30/05/2026 16:09

andnowwhatdowedo · 30/05/2026 15:13

Warn them now they have max a year to move out and let them decide.

Exactly this, let them start looking but have some leeway

Dollysleftnip · 30/05/2026 16:09

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 16:07

Do you realise how hard it is to find a home. Why do you think there are so many children in b&bs and hostels. There is a very good chance they will have to go down the council route which will make them homeless

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Which is why you buy a house before having children

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 16:09

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purpleleotard2 · 30/05/2026 16:07

you will have to give the tenants 4 months notice

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 16:07

CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 16:05

I can see some people just want to row and I’m not here for that. It is legal and I am trying to be as considerate as I can. I know how difficult pregnancy and having young children is so I want to make it as easy as possible for them, whilst understanding both options will be difficult for them.

For the person that said they’ll be homeless, that isn’t true. They can live here for another 12 months in which time they’ll be able to find another home. I’m hardly going to kick them out onto the street.

My own son wanting to move into a house which we own is a valid reason. The house will be being signed over to him. Yes, my child is ‘precious’ to me, like all children should be to their parents. Good grief, some of the responses.

I will speak to the couple this week, explain the situation and work out the best way forward for them. Thanks to everyone who has been helpful and reasonable, I really appreciate the advice.

Do you realise how hard it is to find a home. Why do you think there are so many children in b&bs and hostels. There is a very good chance they will have to go down the council route which will make them homeless

Dollysleftnip · 30/05/2026 16:06

Start the process now. If they want to they can drag this out for a year.

Original poster

CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 16:05

I can see some people just want to row and I’m not here for that. It is legal and I am trying to be as considerate as I can. I know how difficult pregnancy and having young children is so I want to make it as easy as possible for them, whilst understanding both options will be difficult for them.

For the person that said they’ll be homeless, that isn’t true. They can live here for another 12 months in which time they’ll be able to find another home. I’m hardly going to kick them out onto the street.

My own son wanting to move into a house which we own is a valid reason. The house will be being signed over to him. Yes, my child is ‘precious’ to me, like all children should be to their parents. Good grief, some of the responses.

I will speak to the couple this week, explain the situation and work out the best way forward for them. Thanks to everyone who has been helpful and reasonable, I really appreciate the advice.

OP posts:

Yetanotherone12 · 30/05/2026 16:00

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:24

Just talk to them.

apologise (it's your house, but their home with their memories & somewhere they planned on bringing their new baby home to) & say your son needs to move in within the year, but your totally flexible within that & that if course you'll give them a glowing reference.

but BEFORE you upset their lives & you lose great tenants, make sure your Son definitely wants to live there, not just as a short term cheap rent.

my parents let B my brother & SIL move into a rental & lost their great tenants (regretfully), they only stayed 6 months & my parents had a string if not good tenants afterwards 🙇🏻‍♀️.

This.

i’d be reluctant to evict good tenants for a family member unless I knew it was permanent- even looking to buy the home from me, or there was no other option- ie that particular location is key and there’s nothing cheaper to rent.

if your son is on his own would it not make more economic sense to have him rent a studio or one bed and keep your tenants?

Tableforjoan · 30/05/2026 15:59

Definitely before.

We moved two weeks before I gave birth by choice. I’d rather move pregnant with help than with a newborn.

NoWordForFluffy · 30/05/2026 15:58

PurpleThistle7 · 30/05/2026 15:20

My landlords decided to sell when I was pregnant and waited to finalise their sale to tell us so we then had to leave within 4 weeks with a 4 month old. So anything that isn’t that would be better.

Notice from landlords was 2 months under the old AST system, so while this notice wasn't great, it should never have been 4 weeks, as that wasn't a valid s21 notice.

SixAndJuliet · 30/05/2026 15:56

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:49

I’m saying it’s so wrong that it is allowed. I thought the rules were much tighter now to stop good tenants (and children) becoming homeless

a son wanting to move in to a house already occupied is not a good reason

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Of course it’s a good reason and I say that as someone who was given notice on a rental property years ago (whilst pregnant!) for this exact reason.

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:56

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:52

A son moving into a family home owned by his parents is a perfectly fair reason. It’s just a shame that renting is so tough right now

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It shouldn’t be.

he should fine a place not currently being occupied by small children and people looking after and maintain a property.

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:55

Sirzy · 30/05/2026 15:51

The rules are to stop people being evicted because they have complained about damp and reasons like that.

A child moving into a house owned by his parents is a valid reason. I get it’s not ideal for the tenant but the OP does still own the home

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i still think the op is acting cruelly. Being evicted for no good reason when you are good tenent and you have children is hell. The son doesn’t have to move into a house already occupied by a family.

chances are they will struggle to find a place anyway and will be advised to stay put. So ops precious child could have to wait a year or so to move in anyway.

op, are you planning on charging your son rent, if so. Are you planning on having him pay same as tenants.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/05/2026 15:54

Abolish landlords.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:52

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:49

I’m saying it’s so wrong that it is allowed. I thought the rules were much tighter now to stop good tenants (and children) becoming homeless

a son wanting to move in to a house already occupied is not a good reason

Show quote history

A son moving into a family home owned by his parents is a perfectly fair reason. It’s just a shame that renting is so tough right now

Sirzy · 30/05/2026 15:51

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:49

I’m saying it’s so wrong that it is allowed. I thought the rules were much tighter now to stop good tenants (and children) becoming homeless

a son wanting to move in to a house already occupied is not a good reason

Show quote history

The rules are to stop people being evicted because they have complained about damp and reasons like that.

A child moving into a house owned by his parents is a valid reason. I get it’s not ideal for the tenant but the OP does still own the home

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:49

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:48

I’m not wrong? Evicting for a close family member to move in is a permitted reason

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I’m saying it’s so wrong that it is allowed. I thought the rules were much tighter now to stop good tenants (and children) becoming homeless

a son wanting to move in to a house already occupied is not a good reason

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:48

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:47

so wrong.

if they are good tenets, it just seems cruel to kick them out because your son wants (probably cheap) rent of his parents.

Show quote history

I’m not wrong? Evicting for a close family member to move in is a permitted reason

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:47

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:43

You can just Google this, OP can evict for this reason

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so wrong.

if they are good tenets, it just seems cruel to kick them out because your son wants (probably cheap) rent of his parents.

Motomum23 · 30/05/2026 15:46

I have been given notice while pregnant and with a small baby and neither was fantastic to be honest. My advice would be to tell them now that you would like to move your son in within the next year- youll obviously get to 2 or 4 months notice (whatever the new legal is) before june next year to confirm formal notice but give them time to start looking and prepare. As a renter all i really ask my landlords for is plenty of notice rather than feeling like the clock is ticking on a 2 month timer which passes in no time. (Neither of my notices were my fault either, once because they wanted to build a house in our garden and needed to pull hedging down before nesting season started and once because I complained the landlords dogs kept pooing on our front grass).

Pansykavalier · 30/05/2026 15:46

i hope you actually know how the new Renters Rights Act works - and that you have done everything necessary to comply with it.

AxolotlEars · 30/05/2026 15:43

ByCyanFinch · 30/05/2026 15:13

This happened to us. Tell them as soon as possible and give them a long time to find somewhere else. Stress that you will provide an excellent reference as they have been such good tenants. And if possible make it clear that there will be no penalty attached to them leaving earlier than the end of notice. It will be difficult for them to find somewhere so giving them as much notice and flexibility as possible is key.

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