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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not move out of rented house until I'm ready?

378 replies

longtermsinglemummy · 13/09/2016 11:41

I have rented my current home for 5 years. I've looked after it as if it were my own and we've been really happy here. The landlord lives abroad.

In April I had a phone call from the letting agents asking for the property to be valued as the landlord was looking into selling it (huge shock as you can imagine). To cut a long story short he did decide to sell the property and we were given 2 months notice on 21st May, which was then extended by another 2 months expiring on September 22nd as it was still unsold.

In this period I have complied with their wishes. I have had people view the property (which was galling as it feels like our home), and then a mortgage valuation and survey once the house was sold (they only told us it was sold at the end of July). Since then we have looked at so many houses both online and in person but there were none that we really liked or that were suitable for us. I also have legacy credit issues which have stood in our way.

I have finally found a house that we like, and they will have us Grin

But am I being unreasonable in saying we are not able to move out by the 22nd? This date would put so much pressure on me as I couldn't get my head around moving until we had somewhere to move to, so still have loads to do. There is no chain, the buyers aren't selling their house and my landlord is abroad and has a home there. I also have to get my daughter back to university which wipes out one weekend. My ideal scenario would be to vacate the house on Monday October 10th, 2.5 weeks after my notice runs out.

I just feel that I have been a really good tenant over the years, I have been compliant during this horrible shitty period when I could have been obstructive had I chosen to be. The letting agents are saying it has to be Sept 22nd and it's not possible to go past this date, contracts have been drawn up etc.

Surely another 2.5 weeks couldn't be that much of an issue?

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 13/09/2016 11:58

The sale won't fall through, the buyers are really keen to have it.

We are seriously considering pulling out of a house we love because of massive uncertainly over when we can move in. The fact that money has been spent is irrelevant. If contracts haven't been exchanged anyone can walk away. You really should move out when the landlord wants you to. They've given you fair notice.

RubbleBubble00 · 13/09/2016 11:59

Just move out. You have had loads of notice. Your messing about could make sale fall through as they won't complete with u in the house. Perhaps people buying the house need to move in

SabineUndine · 13/09/2016 11:59

I lived in my last flat for 12 years and was given two months' notice to quit. At the time, the landlord (a housing association) made much of the fact that they were giving me longer than the legal minimum. I think YABU since you've had about as long as most people would take if they actually owned their home.

RainyDayBear · 13/09/2016 11:59

YABU, though I know it must feel so hard leaving after all this time. And if you're tempted to stay until evicted, remember that you may need a reference from your current letting agent for another property. It's not worth it! You may not see the harm in waiting another 2.5 weeks but they may have builders arranged, furniture being delivered, a mortgage offer due to expire...

bloodymaria · 13/09/2016 12:00

YABU, and selfish. It's not your house, you've had 4 months notice to 'get your head around moving'.

bloomburger · 13/09/2016 12:00

YABU you've had 4 months to sort out somewhere to go. Buying a house is stressful enough without having to cope with a sitting tenant not moving because they couldn't get their act together.

Artandco · 13/09/2016 12:00

Yes you need to leave. You have known since April you need to move so it's hardly been sprung on you

Waltermittythesequel · 13/09/2016 12:00

My god!

Get out if the bloody house! It's not their fault you didn't find something you wanted until now.

Seriously. It's not your house and it's certainly not your place to decide to leave whenever you want!

QueenLizIII · 13/09/2016 12:01

I have had people view the property (which was galling as it feels like our home)

Maybe the landlord thinks it galling that you are risking the sale of their home by not getting out.

PotteringAlong · 13/09/2016 12:03

I bet your references look a lot different if you don't move out. You might find your new landlords are a lot less keen to have you...

RubbleBubble00 · 13/09/2016 12:03

And if u have your landlord as a reference. They are well within their right to phone up your soon to be land lord and withdraw heir reference

whywonthedgehogssharethehedge · 13/09/2016 12:03

YABU You can ask but I doubt they will say yes.

The reality is that you have had almost 6 months notice that the house was being sold. The first phone call was in April so you knew from then, after that call you had a month to take it in and then on 21st May you had your 2 month notice period. It's only fluke that this was extended by another 2 months. You should have been looking to move by the end of the first 2 month notice period. You shouldn't just be sat in the house thinking "oh it's not sold yet I'll take my time, I've loads of time." That's what gets you into situations like this.

The house cannot be sold until you are out. You have no way of knowing what difference you staying an extra 2-3 weeks may have on either party involved in that.

I know what it is like honestly I do but you've had far more notice than most people get. We got 2 months notice. We found a house very quickly but at the last minute the sellers fucked us about and shoved the completion date forward by a week. We had to move out everything we owned and take it all to storage and stay with parents for a week before we could get in our new house. It was an absolute fucking ballache but there was no way it would have been fair of us to mess about the landlord as they had planned everything and stuck to it.

Notice is notice and you were very lucky to get two. I'm afraid you have to suck it up.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 13/09/2016 12:04

Yanbu to ask but if the answer's no you should move out by the date given. They won't be able to exchange until you have left. They may lose their buyer (who unless you are the buyer you have no idea what they are thinking).

Yes it might inconvenience you a bit but none of the reasons you have given mean you cannot move. They are just reasons why you would prefer not to do so.

Get your act together and get on with it. They have been fair with you and now it's your turn.

Original poster
longtermsinglemummy · 13/09/2016 12:04

OK...I get the message. I have had the time, you're all right. I will try and sort it for that weekend.

OP posts:
thecapitalsunited · 13/09/2016 12:04

It might be the LLs house but it certainly isn't their home while they are renting it out to OP. She has a right to stay there until a court says otherwise. And this is why people are usually advised not to purchase property which is being rented out.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 13/09/2016 12:04

I have been a really good tenant over the years, I have been compliant during this horrible shitty period when I could have been obstructive had I chosen to be

Strange that "a really good tenant" would regard being compliant as some sort of concession - especially when they've had plenty of notice and the LL has done things by the book all the way Hmm

zzzzz · 13/09/2016 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TaterTots · 13/09/2016 12:05

You've had four months extra already. Pull your socks up and go.

VioletBam · 13/09/2016 12:06

As a fellow renter I think YABU

The 22nd is plenty of time. Get your arse in gear!

MrsRonBurgundy · 13/09/2016 12:06

If they want to exchange contracts on 26th Sept it's very unlikely that they will now agree to you staying any longer. You've had plenty of notice to be honest, I'd just leave.

While you could probably stay and make them evict you, be wary that some letting agencies request references from your previous landlords. If you've been there for 5 years, is it worth risking a chunk of time that large that you can't be referenced for?

Floggingmolly · 13/09/2016 12:07

You sound like a landlord's worst nightmare. Will your new landlord (the one who's "happy to have you") be quite so happy when he hears you've had to be dragged kicking and screaming from your last place?
Just get out and stop your nonsense.

EssentialHummus · 13/09/2016 12:07

Technically you don't have to leave on the 22nd you can stay until they get a court order to move you out and that would take weeks. Have you checked the section 21 is legal? If it isn't they have to reissue it and give you another 2 months.

Well, yes, and the costs of the court order, and the costs of the associated legal fees if your LL hires lawyers, will come to you, because I'd bet my right arm on there being a clause in your contract to that effect. That'll be £1,000 or so. If you don't pay, the next step will be a CCJ against you. So, yes, technically you don't have to leave, but there are very limited circumstances where going down this route is a good idea.

I'm speaking as a LL who had a tenant do this to me a few months ago. It hasn't ended brilliantly for him.

Waltermittythesequel · 13/09/2016 12:08

You can't try to be ready.

You have to be ready! It's not your house. Jeez!

whywonthedgehogssharethehedge · 13/09/2016 12:08

I bet your references look a lot different if you don't move out. You might find your new landlords are a lot less keen to have you...

Also this ^

NotAPuffin · 13/09/2016 12:09

You've had tonnes of notice. You're being very unfair to your landlord.