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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to ask tenants to move before or after new baby?

319 replies

CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 15:09

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

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:43

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:42

Under the new laws I didn’t think you can just evict for no reason. I think you either have to be selling property or if has to an eviction based on damage/no rent.

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

narnia2025 · 30/05/2026 15:42

Under the new laws I didn’t think you can just evict for no reason. I think you either have to be selling property or if has to an eviction based on damage/no rent.

Original poster
CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 15:40

RoseField1 · 30/05/2026 15:38

That you have the law correctly understood. I assume you have.

Show quote history

Yes, I have and we’ll obviously be following the correct process,

OP posts:
Frazzledinmyforties · 30/05/2026 15:39

I’d definitely prefer to move when pregnant rather than with a newborn and older child. @CatWithAPetDog you sound like you’re being really considerate, I’m sure they’ll appreciate that.

BillieWiper · 30/05/2026 15:39

Yeah sooner the better. Dealing with a move along with a newborn would be much worse than during pregnancy I think?

RoseField1 · 30/05/2026 15:38

CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 15:35

Be sure of what?

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That you have the law correctly understood. I assume you have.

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:36

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:35

You said to leave it up to the tenants, which she can’t do if she tells them after the baby is born.

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You seem to be misunderstanding the difference between telling them
& actually moving.

Original poster
CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 15:35

RoseField1 · 30/05/2026 15:34

They can if the landlord wants to sell or move in. I assume that moving an adult child in will count under the new legislation? OP you had better be sure

Show quote history

Be sure of what?

OP posts:
MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:35

Viviennemary · 30/05/2026 15:32

I didn't think tenants could be given notice now.

You think every tenant can now stay in a rental property for life??

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:35

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:32

No it's not.

i can't write it any more slowly.

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You said to leave it up to the tenants, which she can’t do if she tells them after the baby is born.

RoseField1 · 30/05/2026 15:34

Viviennemary · 30/05/2026 15:32

I didn't think tenants could be given notice now.

They can if the landlord wants to sell or move in. I assume that moving an adult child in will count under the new legislation? OP you had better be sure

Original poster
CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 15:34

Viviennemary · 30/05/2026 15:32

I didn't think tenants could be given notice now.

They can for a few reasons, one being that a close family member needs the property.

OP posts:
MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:32

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:29

So your answer is before then, or YABU.

Show quote history

No it's not.

i can't write it any more slowly.

Viviennemary · 30/05/2026 15:32

I didn't think tenants could be given notice now.

Original poster
CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 15:32

Twasasurprise · 30/05/2026 15:29

I voted YABU because she should give the tenants the option. Give them long informal notice now so that they can find somewhere suitable, and let them leave on a month or two notice when they find something, or give formal notice when approaching the deadline.

Besides, the wording of the two options "get them to move" just sounded disrespectful and was the clincher.

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I wasn’t being disrespectful at all. I realised I hadn’t made the voting options make sense so rushed to edit the post before people read my OP. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m very sensitive to this being their home and I’m trying to be as thoughtful to them as I can be.

OP posts:
Groobey · 30/05/2026 15:31

Agree that you should have the conversation now, tell them they can leave whenever they want, but have a long stop date which your formal notice will tie up with. If the pressure is off, they can hopefully find something they want rather than something that isn’t ideal but because they don’t have enough time.

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:31

Twasasurprise · 30/05/2026 15:29

I voted YABU because she should give the tenants the option. Give them long informal notice now so that they can find somewhere suitable, and let them leave on a month or two notice when they find something, or give formal notice when approaching the deadline.

Besides, the wording of the two options "get them to move" just sounded disrespectful and was the clincher.

Show quote history

No you haven't. You've voted to give them notice to leave before the baby is born.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 30/05/2026 15:29

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:29

Not one bit!

but I couldn't vote either way, as I'd leave it entirely up to the tenants, just asking they give as much notice as they're able.

Edited
Show quote history

So your answer is before then, or YABU.

Twasasurprise · 30/05/2026 15:29

Allseeingallknowing · 30/05/2026 15:20

Why do so many think OP is being unreasonable?

I voted YABU because she should give the tenants the option. Give them long informal notice now so that they can find somewhere suitable, and let them leave on a month or two notice when they find something, or give formal notice when approaching the deadline.

Besides, the wording of the two options "get them to move" just sounded disrespectful and was the clincher.

MeltyMomenrs · 30/05/2026 15:29

Sirzy · 30/05/2026 15:25

Does it make any difference when it is very clear what the options are?

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Not one bit!

but I couldn't vote either way, as I'd leave it entirely up to the tenants, just asking they give as much notice as they're able.

andnowwhatdowedo · 30/05/2026 15:28

CatWithAPetDog · 30/05/2026 15:24

The voting options were just a way of asking before baby or after baby. It doesn’t matter which way round it is.

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It's not just about the baby but about finding a new home which could be very very difficult. Give them flexibility to leave whenever they can.

Ponderingwindow · 30/05/2026 15:27

Before is an easier move.
you can be a generous landlord and not be strict with the move out date. It may take them longer to find someplace suitable.

I wouldn’t tell them they really have a year, just that you understand the current market and will work with them as best as you can.

Sirzy · 30/05/2026 15:25

Allseeingallknowing · 30/05/2026 15:22

Surely the options should be reversed, then!

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Does it make any difference when it is very clear what the options are?

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 🙇🏻‍♀️.

JumpingRabbit · 30/05/2026 15:24

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.

Edited

Exactly this. The most stressful part of being given notice is trying to find the right house, at the right time and tie up notice periods or worrying about not finding something in time. If you can be really flexible on timing and notice periods it will make it a whole lot easier for them. They can look at their leisure then and know they won’t have to give two months notice once they find something.