Our landlord wants to sell! :( what's the rules?

[ghostcake]

Hi all,
Yes, still renting, for my sins!!
Single mum, two kids & we love our home. Landlord wants to sell to buy a place in another part of the U.K. they want it 'sorted asap'
I've googled a lot today (feeling really sad) and it looks like they have to give us 6 months notice from when written notice is given? Does anyone know if this is definitely right? Even if they're selling? And then if it goes on the market & someone buys it they'd get 'sitting tenants' aka US? 🧐

[CodenameVillanelle]

My landlord has told me he needs to sell my house due to financial issues but I don't know if he knows about the 6 month notice period. There is absolutely no way I'm moving out a day earlier than I have to so he can sell it with me in or wait 6 months.
The notice period has been extended for a reason. It's hard for landlords due to covid but it's also hard for tenants. Much less property available to move to.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I don't think I've ever shed so many tears before in my whole 40 years of being on this earth . It just feels so cruel right now .

[CodenameVillanelle]

@Bedsheets4knickers

Ghostcake how are you getting on , we are going through the same right now . House has been on the market 5 weeks . We've still not been served any notice and had no viewings ?
We have given them a window each week for 2 hours where we will vacate the property for them to do viewings but nothing as yet .
Tbh I don't understand why they haven't served us notice as it could be extended further yet . It states 6 months notice until at least March 31st .
I also don't understand why they have bothered to market it at all ?

What's your rent due date? What's your plan for when you do finally have to leave?
It's going to be very hard to sell properties with tenants in situ. Do you think your landlord knows they have to give 6 months notice?

[Bedsheets4knickers]

For us our plan is help to buy . It's not where we want to live but I can not go through this again. Tbh it's made me a shadow of myself . We been in this house 11 years , I've got great friends here my children's friends are here . It's a lovely little village . I have to apply for dc1 child's secondary school next year then stay local until April 2022 to get the place . Then we will buy a nice shiny new build in a soulless place . It infuriates me as we earn decent salaries but not decent enough to pay rent and save a ridiculous deposit . So we will have to leave in 2022 . I can not cope with my son losing his home and his school at THe same time so we will try to find a rental that suits until we get his place .
What stings is that we had just finished decorating our home . The kids adore their new rooms what they will live in next god only knows . It's just a sorry situation.

[CodenameVillanelle]

I completely understand. I'm so fortunate in that my parents have literally just accepted an offer on their house and will give me a small deposit so I can buy somewhere. Rental round here is dismal - ONE house in my area for rent which is £175 pcm more than I'm currently paying. I didn't want to leave my house though - I was planning to stay until DS is at least 18.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I think they know it's 6 months . I don't think they know we know . They think people who rent are dumb . We are holding our cards close to our chest . Playing dumb to hold off then giving us notice, buys us breathing space .

[CodenameVillanelle]

@Bedsheets4knickers

I think they know it's 6 months . I don't think they know we know . They think people who rent are dumb . We are holding our cards close to our chest . Playing dumb to hold off then giving us notice, buys us breathing space .

Absolutely.
Hold on to your rights. You'll be ok. My landlord almost sold my house 4 years ago and changed his mind, I'm hoping that will happen again now. It's going to be hard to sell with tenants in situ. Maybe yours will back out?

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I don't know . I don't think she realises that people will run a mile when they find out it's with tenants that can't be moved . I don't even think they'll get the mortgage they want .

[Bedsheets4knickers]

They'll need a buy to let mortgage with us still living here

[CodenameVillanelle]

Fingers and toes crossed for you. I think selling seems like an easy answer for landlords with cash flow issues but it really isn't.
My landlord has lost his job and can't cover his outgoings. I think he's going to have to accept that my house isn't a cash point that keeps giving out free cash. He's already mortgaged it to the max and now thinks he can sell it and make even more equity.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I don't know my landlords situation during covid but I know she owns her own home and 2 other rentals outright . She wants to
Move to Tenerife and good for her . I don't blame her but right now is such an awful time . We have no options local it's really dire . We've been good tenants paid out £1780000 in 11 years of renting this house . My heart just breaks for my children

[CodenameVillanelle]

Try to think of this as an opportunity. I know it's hard, I was depressed for 6 months after the last time this happened, for exactly that reason. I just wanted to give my son a home that he could rely on. But you have a plan - I know a new build might not be your perfect home but it will be yours and nobody will ever be able to make you leave it!!

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I hope so not just for me but for all renters . I hope you find your safe place as soon as possible xx

[CodenameVillanelle]

Thank you! And you.

[earthycarrots]

I hope you find somewhere. I am selling my rental property, I've told my tenants it's going on the market at the end of their 12 month tenancy which is 8 months away, I've given them first refusal on buying and obviously they could buy now if they wanted and said if they find somewhere else to rent before then then I won't hold them to the rest of the contract.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

@earthycarrots

I hope you find somewhere. I am selling my rental property, I've told my tenants it's going on the market at the end of their 12 month tenancy which is 8 months away, I've given them first refusal on buying and obviously they could buy now if they wanted and said if they find somewhere else to rent before then then I won't hold them to the rest of the contract.

I can only answer if you are In no desperate need to sell then please hold off a little while longer . The rental market is bleak right now . It's only going to get worse in the near future .

[earthycarrots]

I can only answer if you are In no desperate need to sell then please hold off a little while longer . The rental market is bleak right now . It's only going to get worse in the near future

That's why I'm waiting until their tenancy agreement is up. I want to do the right thing by them hence what I said above. I'm moving overseas permanently and don't want to have a property left here (it's my old home that I'm selling) I'm trying to do the right thing by them but needs must.

[Ghostcake]

@Bedsheets4knickers hang on in there!! And it's good they haven't served you notice yet. It's amazing how many LLs don't seem to know about the 6 months.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I think they know only too well , they are hoping we don't know 🙄