Need to give notice to lovely tenants

[Noticetoquit33]

I have had lovely tenants (a retired couple) for several years in a bungalow we own.
Our expectation was that they would stay there as long as they liked. We have never raised the rent and it is now around £300 per month below market rent.

Circumstances have now changed and due to ill health and poor mobility of my elderly parents, I would now like to make the bungalow available to live in. They will then be much closer to us and in a suitable property.

I feel sad about this and wondered if any mumsnetters who rent can advise.

They have a rolling monthly periodic monthly tenancy but I thought that 3 months’ notice would be reasonable?

I also wondered whether to pre-warn them before serving a section 21 notice, pop round for a friendly chat and explain the circumstances?

How long does it take you find a new house and move?

Can anyone recommend any resources that retired people can go to for help finding a suitable bungalow or flat?

They have a dog (which did appear without my prior knowledge!).

In many places housing associations have housing for over 55's that is often easier to get than other housing. Perhaps have a look at what's available locally for them when you let them know.

Be prepared for it to take longer for them to leave, they may be lovely tenants but they can delay leaving quite easily.

Well we can’t tell you how long the notice period should be, that ought to be in the legal documents. If you don’t have watertight legal paperwork in place then you may have trouble evicting a sitting tenant.

How is the rental market in your area? Are they likely to find something else quickly?

I know that the notice period is a minimum of 2 months, but I planned to give them longer but not sure how much longer would be reasonable.

The rental market seems pretty active but not as busy as in London.

Hopefully they can find a private let soon. Unfortunately, bungalows are hard to come by, especially if they have a dog and the council will probably not help them until after a s21 has been served and it's been to court and the bailiffs have evicted them. A family member has just been through this and was told she'll have to wait in temp accommodation for 5-6 years without her two cats. It's costly for both the tenants and landlords with all the fees.

I'd look at the Facebook group called tenancy matters if I was you.

I'm afraid that no matter how you approach this it is going to be very difficult for them. As they've got used to the lower than market rate rent another private let will be a shock. They can enquire about retirement housing but there are no guarantees.. I appreciate why you need to do this but unfortunately it's one of those situations where you can do little to make it any better than what it is. Extra notice would probably be helpful as you are considering- an outstanding reference if they have to find another private let. Unfortunately we are in a housing crisis both in private and social housing so there isn't a great deal you can do to limit the impact of that. Hopefully things will work out ok

Having been on the receiving end of an estate agent turning up unexpectedly at the door with a section 21 I think it would be a kind thing to do to go and chat with them first . Then you may also find out what their position is.

Maybe your parents could go onto the list to await sheltered accommodation in your area? Could still be quite a wait though I guess.

I'm a landlord too. I've no real advice. Just saying that having to give notice to a good tenant is the aspect of it that I hate. I hate taking away someone else's security. We don't do it unless we really must, but I do understand your reasoning here.

It's horrible to do but you need to just engage with them, be understanding but professional. You will obviously will need some sort of an end date, but all you can do is make it as painless as possible.

I had to end the tenancy of a long-standing and very good tenant, because he had been so good the leggings agency i used found him a new place really quickly, and in the end asked if he could leave early.

OP, I've just been through this and felt awful too.
My tenant had been in situ well over 10 years and I never increased the rent in all that time as I was grateful for a reliable tenant who could maintain the property.
I sent an email first, sharing my plans to sell up, and offered him first refusal.
He didn't bite so I then had the paperwork drawn up and let him know it was coming. I gave him far more notice to quit than was required by law.
As it happened, he found a place before the end of notice period and I gave him a glowing reference for his next rental.

Oh dear. I feel terribly sorry for all concerned but as others have pointed out this is going to hit your tenants hard. I think you have to be pretty hard headed here. You have been very kind, you did not suggest that they got a dog, you have undercharged them for an extended period so their problems are not of your making. For all you know they have been peacefully squirrelling the cash they’ve ‘saved’ in the low rent for just such an emergency. I’d go and see them, be clear about your reasons and the arrangements for them to leave and offer the extra month and help in arranging (not paying for) moving or storage services. You have nothing to feel bad about.

Offer to help them find a new place if you want to but your obligations as a landlord are to serve them notice and evict if they hang in at the advice of the council.

Bungalows aren't their only option. Ground floor garden flats/maisonettes are quite common as are flats in blocks with a lift.

When we had to get our tenants out of our house to sell it, I just let them know in writing that we were planning to sell it and that we would need it back by X date so we could make any repairs and put it on the market. They found a new place in a week and were out in a month (although I'd given them 4 months) and we gave them a good reference. They always knew it wasn't a permanent arrangement though, so it probably went a bit easier than it would if they'd thought they could stay indefinitely.

Also as a tenant now (we fell off the property ladder since we were renting our house out), I would actually hate it if my landlord started trying to "help" me find a new place. It's over involved and a bit patronising TBH, I'd only offer help if they ask for it.

Reading this with interest. We are about serve notice on our tenants. They've been in the property for over a decade, and we havent raised the rent in all that time, whilst also maintaining it well. We want to sell because the tenant keeps getting into spats with the neighbour and it's fraying my nerves to say the least.
My health means I need a simple life.
I'm dreading serving the section 21, because difficult though the couple have become, it's a harsh rental world out there. I was intending to simply serve the paperwork.