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

Absolutely OP. Most people would do the same.

Talk tothem and ask what they’d prefer. Maybe let them know that when they find something you’re happy for them to forgo the notice period ( if you are ok what that ) Then they can start looking now and move as soon as they find something.

You are obviously trying to be considerate to their situation so perhaps have a chat with them now about your intentions and say by the middle of next year, they then have the choice to start looking asap before baby or have 6 months after baby to sort something.

For me it was the wording of my son would like to move in. It felt like he just expected that he could and he didn’t think about the consequences of what that means for a pregnant women and a child. I get that may not be the case buy a lot of times people don’t realise how lucky they are to even have that option. Obviously no one knows the ins and outs of people’s lives but in my experience landlords genuinely do not understand how hard it is in this market. I’m glad that your tenants bave potentialy found somewhere.

Ideally they could stay though, and your son would fend for himself.

Before.

Have a proper conversation with your son that it is a long term thing he wants then talk to the tenants if he wants to be there long term and ask them what they think would be best

It’s so annoying when people came at you for having a second home and wanting to help your own children, I have a second home, my husband lost his parents at a young age, I’m sure he would rather have them here than the financial gain he gets from having the second home, we will be passing it down to our children which is our right and like you say none of anyone else’s business. Good luck to you.
I’d let your tenants know asap and they can start looking knowing they have a year to get another home

To be honest when you have had to leave 3 times very quickly through no fault of your own (house maintained, not in arrears). It is hard not to.

But so what if do decide to let their son live there rent free. It is THEIR house, they own it they can do whatever they like with it. Their tenants have had the benefit of this persons house be their home for however long its been and are prepared to give them a long heads up notice way above legally requirements, but now they wish to have it back for their own child and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You sound very bitter towards landlords

Op I mean this sincerely. It is nice of you to not charge them go when they need to. Not many landlords do that and you have no idea how much that will help them not having to pay two rents at once.

This happened to me (twice!) first time landlord was great and basically told me what the score was and gave me the option, which effectively meant I had 8 months to get things sorted, which was a life saver in an area where private rents are crazily high, I was working part time so had salary topped up with UC, and was a bit of a red flag for future landlords. He was kind and honest and consequently I went out of my way to make his life easier and treat the house extra well, and vice versa.

Second time, horrible woman who was obsessed with the house and should never have rented it out (raised her children there and absolutely loved the place, which would be fine if she then didn’t turn up and weed the garden unannounced and get her vile son to film us over the back fence with an iPhone to check the paddling pool wasn’t damaging her precious grass, the c*nt, but that’s a digression 🤣). having told us it was a long let that would likely be for as long as we needed, she gave us 8 weeks notice that she wasn’t renewing the 12m contract and it was shit. Baby and young child at that point.

i think most ppl will say moving pregnant is easier, but you really never know what will work best for someone else as there’s all sorts of other things that could play in. If she’s a good tenant then I would just tell her a final final deadline but allow her to move sooner if she finds a place (ie release her from contract if there is one). You’ll lose a bit of rental income if there’s a gap but that’s 100% the ethical thing :))

i was having a hard day looking after 4 kids whilst having several chronic illnesses. We are in significant hardship after having to move several times because landlords think that tenents don’t matter. Chucking us howso they can charge more after the 12 months was up, another one chucking us out due to the fact that we complained about damp that was causing my daughters eczema to flair and then finally one who decided to give us two months notice 3 days before Christmas because she decided she wanted to rent the house out to her friends instead. She knew I was very sick at the time. I am kind, I do everything for everyone and am exhausted. I don’t have anyone to fall back on it is life. By the sounds of it your son has been very privileged with unwind able to live abroad etc.

I was trying to nicer in the my reply their and admit I was wrong with my wording which people very rarely do on Mumsnet. It struck a nerve and I reacted. I am sorry. I do feel strongly about people don’t having things handed to them. That is my belief.

Ask them or tell them they have a year to move out and they can decide when

Sorry OP I didn’t see your update saying that they are moving anyway. Have they given you a date of when they’ll be put by?

Totally agree with this.

Make sure you follow each step or it’s likely to be thrown out of Court.

RTFT

And yes, a close relative moving in is allowed under the new laws.

No longer relevant

Neither. I'd give them as much notice as possible and let them decide what works best for their family. Moving house when heavily pregnant is difficult. Moving with a newborn and a toddler is also difficult. There isn't really a stress-free option. The bigger issue is that finding a suitable rental may take longer than the actual move itself. If they've been good tenants, I'd be open and honest about your son's likely timescale and work with them rather than focusing on whether they should go before or after the baby arrives.
Also, if you're in England, landlords can no longer simply serve a Section 21 notice. If the property is genuinely needed for your son to live in, you'd need to use the family occupation ground, which requires at least four months' notice and potentially a court order if the tenants don't leave. So the practical question may be less about choosing the perfect timing and more about starting the conversation early and giving them as much certainty as possible.