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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Who is BU here - us or landlord?

67 replies

TicklishSpider · 03/03/2015 11:51

Namechanging for this because maybe identifiable plus am scared of AIBU.

Last year our landlord told us she wanted to sell. Not great timing for us because we had a newborn at the time but okay, it's her property. We started making plans to move, rented a storage unit, etc., but then the valuation came back lower than she'd hoped. She said she'd have a think and be in touch, then dropped out of contact and that's the last we heard from her for about a year.

Meanwhile, I went back to work after mat leave, got made redundant, and found a new job. New job is great but a) will probably mean moving across the country and b) doesn't start till autumn.

LL has just been in touch again to say she's selling now, but wants us to get to stay as long as possible, both for our benefit and to cover the mortgage. Any sale shouldn't be completed until July at the earliest by her estate agent's reckonings, so we can stay until at least then, but in the meantime can we keep place in viewable condition for viewers, etc. OK, that's a hassle with Hurricane Toddler around and I don't like the idea of potential buyers traipsing in and out of my home, but we can manage. Main problem is that if it's July, that would be really difficult though - for various reasons we can't move to the city where I'll probably be working until August at the earliest, ideally later.

So we replied to say: we don't mind viewings, we'll keep the place looking good, arrange times for home report and photos in show-home condition and everything with agents as asked, but if it's July that would make it really hard for us because of jobs/moves/etc., could you please please please give us until early August? (This would be 3 weeks after the date she gave as absolute earliest we'd have to leave.)

And she said no. If it's not sold until August then of course we can stay until then, but she wants to offer maximum flexibility to buyers and let them move in on short notice if they want. (We have a 2-month notice period in our lease but it sounds like she thinks she's given us notice already, albeit without a date, so doesn't need to give us two months of warning at that point and can just let the buyers pick date of entry. This worries me.)

We'll just have to lump it anyway really, I'm sure we can stay in MIL's spare room for a month or two if needed (far from ideal though that would be), but are we BU to be really a bit annoyed about all this?

OP posts:

NeedABumChange · 03/03/2015 15:49

If it's only for three week then have you tried AirBnB? You could easily hire a house or flat where I am for cheap. In case she kicks you out early.

NickyEds · 03/03/2015 16:04

YANBU. By any stretch. I think you're being very, very reasonable agreeing to keep your house in buyer-viewing condition for who knows how long- it could be until you leave in August as there's no guaranteeing it will sell straight away. I've a toddler and this would be a total PITA! I'd expect wriggle room of a few week on the sale date in return for this. Your LL can't have it all!

WorkingBling · 03/03/2015 16:19

As a landlord who has sold a house with sitting tenants and a tenant who has been in the house being sold, I have been on both sides.

Your LL is taking the piss. For a start, in her perfect world, she wants you in that flat until the day of exchange. So I think you are in a very strong position. She is very very unlikely to kick you out early. And, worst case, if she does, you still have two months worth of notice.

I would respond to her, politely, saying that you appreciate the challenge of selling but obviously you'd prefer to move in August. I'd remind her that either way, with two months notice required, you will be waiting to hear from her in writing once the flat is sold and you are getting those two months notice with a confirmed end date at that point.

I'd also say that while you are happy for the estate agent to show people round, you will require that they call you in advance, and that without at least 24 hours notice you cannot guarantee that you will be able to grant them access. However, if it is easier for her and/or the EA, you'd be happy to agree two or three slots a week during which the EA can assume that they can come round, although a quick call to confirm is necessary.

I would be phrasing all of this as a helpful, "just clarifying the details" kind of email so that a) you put her back up as little as possible and b) you are nonetheless clearly stating your expectations.

PrimalLass · 03/03/2015 16:24

I would try and move somewhere new asap.

Dragonfly71 · 03/03/2015 17:41

Information is power. If you do what some suggest on here you could be shooting yourself in the foot by playing your hand too early, excuse the mixed metaphor! I would follow Ehrics advice.

specialsubject · 03/03/2015 19:45

knowledge is indeed power.

Might be worth mentioning to her that you both actually want the same thing; you want to leave and she wants you out, but neither of you want that to happen yet. The only issue is synchronising the timing. There's no need for a battle here unless she wants one.

Original poster

TicklishSpider · 03/03/2015 21:13

Very grateful for all the advice! I was expecting a lot more YABUs to be honest.

Our deposit is in a proper deposit scheme, so should be ok. Weird thing is we do have a letting agent, but LL prefers to deal with us directly - I think she is annoyed with the letting agents about something, but whatever the reason, not our problem.

Her estate agents got in touch today to arrange a time to come in to do a home report and photos. They also suggested grouping viewings into two slots a week, which would inconvenience us less but still a non-zero amount. We'll think on it.

OP posts:

loiner45 · 03/03/2015 21:20

ask for a reduction in rent for the period during which there will be viewings. My letting agency say that is standard practice for them. Keeps everyone happy.

Mintyy · 03/03/2015 21:28

Go for one time slot a week.

BrightBlowsTheBroom · 03/03/2015 21:35

I'm a landlord. She's way out of order.

BrightBlowsTheBroom · 03/03/2015 21:39

I used to do viewings when our estate agency was busy (Scottish solicitors are often also estate agents). I got £15 per hour and that was at least 10 years'ago. If you weren't there she'd have to do it herself or pay a viewer.

coconutpie · 03/03/2015 21:58

Two slots of viewings per week? That's taking the piss. That is far too many when legally you don't have to allow any

londonrach · 03/03/2015 22:11

Tickish. The worse think re photos is your stuff will be on display. Does landlord have rent photos she can use of the property empty. No idea if this legal etc. please remember you dont have to allow any viewings! Its nice of you if you do in which case ll should be nice back either reduced rent or longer time to rent... Talk to cab x

Lucyandpoppy · 03/03/2015 23:24

I also think 2 is way too many I'd offer one a fortnight... at a time that is convenient to you!

CupidStuntSurvivor · 04/03/2015 00:13

I wouldn't be pointing out that she needs to serve formal notice until such a time as it's convenient for you to leave two months later. That way, if she suddenly gives you a date 5-6 weeks in the future, you can go back and inform her that she needs to give 2 full months. This is likely to delay the sale.

And I'd give 1 viewing slot of 2 hours per week, while you're present. I'd tidy up but it definitely wouldn't be to show home standards.

Damnautocorrect · 04/03/2015 09:22

I would do one slot as well. It's pretty shit having people trapse through your home basically looking at your stuff and where you've put your sofa etc. It's also quite stressfully keeping it extra clean, tidy and a toddler busy.

RandomFriend · 04/03/2015 11:26

You are in a very strong position, OP.

The price of a property is for vacant possession. Your landlord cannot exchange contracts until after you have left. No buyer would go too far down the buying process until they are sure that the tenant is about to move.

If it suits you to move out in August, you could offer to give her notice that you will move out on a particular August date in return for a lower rent from now until then as well as - say - two viewing slots per week. That would be a good deal for your landlord, as she would be able to plan to exchange contracts just after you leave. At what rental price would that be a good deal for you?

Alternatively, you can stay put and have no intention to move. She will have to give you two months notice, and then when you don't move out, can begin eviction proceedings which can take months. This is expensive for her; you can then move out at your convenience.

She really is being very, very unreasonable to have not simply granted you the additional three weeks that you have requested.

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