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Original poster

Tenants making viewings difficult

470 replies

areweonabreak · 03/03/2023 14:23

We have a flat that we rent out. It was my DH’s flat before we met. It’s been rented out for 10 years now (by only 2 tenants) but we’re now in a position where our own house needs a lot of money spending on it and we want to free up some capital.

we do feel bad for the current tenant, we offered them first refusal to buy the flat (it’s on the market for £90k) but they cannot afford it (even though a mortgage would probably be cheaper than the rent but they’d another thread)

we’ve had a few viewings now but all the feedback is that the tenants have told them that they don’t want to move so they’re put off as they don’t want the hassle.

we live about a 40 minute drive away from the flat so the agents are sorting out all of the viewings. The agents have suggested that it might be easier to sell if it’s empty.

We’re really not sure what to do, they’re on a rolling monthly contract at the moment.

has anyone else been in this position before?

would anyone else recommend selling as a vacant property?

OP posts:
WFHbore2023 · 03/03/2023 14:41

MzHz · 03/03/2023 14:40

Why don’t you try and make it work so they CAN buy it? Any chance they can get a mortgage if you drop the price low enough? You could come to a deal so they get to stay in their home and you get to free up sim cash. Perhaps legally lend them the deposit, or waive the rent so that they can save up for a few months?

They are her tenants, not her children.

LIZS · 03/03/2023 14:42

Cherrysoup · 03/03/2023 14:37

Just give them notice then sell when empty. It may well need re-decorating anyway and you'll get a better price if you do it up then sell.

This. Yabu to expect them to cooperate when they are having to move on.

TallulahBetty · 03/03/2023 14:44

So they are losing their HOME against their will, having to put up with god knows how many viewings, AND they're being policed on what they say to said viewers? No wonder they are pissed off.

Wait until the property is empty and they re-market.

Interested in this thread?

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Olivia199 · 03/03/2023 14:44

I can definitely see how frustrating this could be. From both sides! I'm a tenant and people doing viewings is a massive pain when I'm the one moving.. let alone when that's the last thing I want.

Could you perhaps meet in the middle? Have an honest chat with them and say you're in need of selling the flat and offer block bookings or bookings to suit them and be honest and tell them that the only other alternative would be to serve notice?

As much as you would like the flat tenanted until it sells, they'd likely prefer to live there instead of have a last minute urgent move. Neither of you wants to cut your nose to spite your face!

VenAqui · 03/03/2023 14:45

WFHbore2023 · 03/03/2023 14:34

They can do what they like in their own home. Which it still is.*

And the OP can do as she wishes with their property. They've been given the opportunity to purchase their home, they can't, so they will have to leave. Making comments to viewers is just petty.

I didn’t say the owners couldn’t do as they pleased with their property.

x2boys · 03/03/2023 14:46

MzHz · 03/03/2023 14:40

Why don’t you try and make it work so they CAN buy it? Any chance they can get a mortgage if you drop the price low enough? You could come to a deal so they get to stay in their home and you get to free up sim cash. Perhaps legally lend them the deposit, or waive the rent so that they can save up for a few months?

I mean why doesn't theIr just give them the flat ,she's not a charity ffs🙄

Original poster
areweonabreak · 03/03/2023 14:46

thank you for the helpful comments. It seems as though we will have to try and sell whilst empty.

We aren’t some slum landlord who doesn’t give a shit, we’re a family who just happened to be in a position where we both had properties when we met. I thought mumsnet was all about asking for advice? I haven’t said anything goady, we gave the tenants choice to buy first at a reduced market rate. They weren’t in a position to buy. No they don’t have to allow viewings and yes I am aware of that so no I’m not embarrassed.

honestly for a moment I thought I’d posted in AIBU

again thanks for all the useful advice given

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 03/03/2023 14:46

It's such a shame that's banks won't lend buyers money when they can prove the ur can pay the mortgage if been paying the rent and that's more each month

Obv they need a deposit first

As other said - serve notice then Sell it

NyanBinaryJohn · 03/03/2023 14:46

Of course it was a criticism of the system, @VenAqui. It's another thread to discuss the fact that a mortgage would be cheaper than rent, but rent rates leave people unable to get the deposit for a mortgage.

Landlord bashing is not clever.

VenAqui · 03/03/2023 14:48

NyanBinaryJohn · 03/03/2023 14:46

Of course it was a criticism of the system, @VenAqui. It's another thread to discuss the fact that a mortgage would be cheaper than rent, but rent rates leave people unable to get the deposit for a mortgage.

Landlord bashing is not clever.

Landlord bashing? What are you on about?

Marchforward · 03/03/2023 14:48

areweonabreak · 03/03/2023 14:46

thank you for the helpful comments. It seems as though we will have to try and sell whilst empty.

We aren’t some slum landlord who doesn’t give a shit, we’re a family who just happened to be in a position where we both had properties when we met. I thought mumsnet was all about asking for advice? I haven’t said anything goady, we gave the tenants choice to buy first at a reduced market rate. They weren’t in a position to buy. No they don’t have to allow viewings and yes I am aware of that so no I’m not embarrassed.

honestly for a moment I thought I’d posted in AIBU

again thanks for all the useful advice given

Good idea. As a buyer I wouldn’t touch a property with tenants far too risky.

HundredMilesAnHour · 03/03/2023 14:48

WFHbore2023 · 03/03/2023 14:34

They can do what they like in their own home. Which it still is.*

And the OP can do as she wishes with their property. They've been given the opportunity to purchase their home, they can't, so they will have to leave. Making comments to viewers is just petty.

Actually no she can't just do as she wishes. She has legal responsibilities to her tenants. One of which is allowing them to have 'quiet enjoyment' of the property she is renting to them. They don't have to allow any viewings at all.

The OP needs to wise up to her responsibilities or she could end up spending a large amount of money and taking a long time to get her property back.

GoodChat · 03/03/2023 14:49

OP speak to the EA and ask if there are any landlords on their books who are likely to buy a property with tenants in situ.

RandomUsernameHere · 03/03/2023 14:49

Not sure why people are giving the OP a hard time, she's not a charity, no reason why she should sell below market value.

Agree it's easier to sell once the property is empty, that way you can make sure it's clean and tidy for viewings and the viewings can take place whenever.

WFHbore2023 · 03/03/2023 14:51

Actually no she can't just do as she wishes.

She can do as she wishes as far as deciding not to own the property any more. That's all I was referring to.

Targetted · 03/03/2023 14:51

I don't blame them either. It's bad enough having constant viewings when you own it, have made the choice to to move and stand to gain financially. Suffering the inconvenience so you can be chucked out ...?

You need to give them proper notice and run the risk that the place is empty for a while. Or raise the money you need by taking a mortgage on it?

ButterCrackers · 03/03/2023 14:52

Give them notice to leave. Then you can do any work on the place to make it easier to sell fast.

MzHz · 03/03/2023 14:55

x2boys · 03/03/2023 14:46

I mean why doesn't theIr just give them the flat ,she's not a charity ffs🙄

Show quote history

Odfod @x2boys I know @areweonabreak isn’t a charity, but it would be FAR cheaper to sell to them than give notice, have the property empty to spend money on council tax and utilities plus costs/effort of getting house ready for sale etc. if tenants could afford the repayments, it’s a very valid suggestion.

cocksstrideintheevening · 03/03/2023 14:56

What's your break clause? Invoke it and market empty. No one in their right mind would offer with a tenant in situ.

NyanBinaryJohn · 03/03/2023 15:02

Landlord bashing? What are you on about?

You called out the comment re the deposit/affordability, assuming the OP was criticising the tenants for the lack of deposit. She clarified her comments referred to the system, not the tenants. You then countered that saying "it clearly wasn't".

Whenever a landlord post on MN there is this aim to discredit the OP in any which way possible. Common garden landlord bashing. It's tiresome.

Precipice · 03/03/2023 15:02

From what you've said, they're not making viewings difficult.

They've allowed viewings. You give no indication that the property is in a bad state to discourage buyers. Literally your only complaint is that your tenants acknowledge they don't want to move out.

Your complaint is that when prospective buyers come around, the tenants tell them "we love living here, the flat is good, the area is good"? That they don't talk it down like "we hate living here, there are problems x and y and z?" That they don't go "oh yes, we're so happy to be forced to move and the prospect of struggling to find somewhere to live simply delights us"? That they don't lie that they already found another place to stay?

On the basis of the information you've given us, your complaint is ridiculous.

FartSock5000 · 03/03/2023 15:05

@areweonabreak serve them notice now. Because once you have, they still might not move out. You'd need a court order to fully evict so start the process right away.

Sell once they are out because you'll want to clean and spruce the place up a bit to attract more buyers.

They are already being difficult. Don't risk this ending up a long, drawn out process by trusting them to be decent and leave when the notice period is up.

MaireadMcSweeney · 03/03/2023 15:07

Any prospective buyer is going to be put off by tenants full stop let alone tenants who may not leave at the end of their notice period. It's mad to try to sell a property before the tenants have vacated.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/03/2023 15:08

Yabu for expecting your tenants to facilitate viewings.

Serve them notice, and once they are out, list the property.

Sundayslumpday · 03/03/2023 15:09

My landlord was such a DICK about viewings when we rented.

One minute these people are paying your mortgage or giving you extra income the next they’re dirt on your shoe. It’s bloody sickening. Have a fucking heart.