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Original poster

TRying to sell the house with tenants in - undisclosed dog

420 replies

Newbrummie · 28/01/2017 14:07

So had a viewing at the house yesterday and the patio was covered in dog shit, as was the garden. I figured it would take a few months to sell so was happy for them to stay whilst it was on the market. Am now starting to think this is going to be impossible isn't it ?
Can I afl them to remove the dog for the rest of the tenancy ?

OP posts:
ilovechocolate07 · 29/01/2017 21:45

I think it's pretty cheeky of you to be honest. What's in the agreement about people turning up to view? Surely you have to give some notice, 24 or 48h so you could either politely ask that they clean up any dog mess or go there yourself and clean it up.

paxillin · 29/01/2017 21:49

Why do people think the OP hasn't put the deposit in a protection scheme when she's repeatedly said she has

I think this misunderstanding came about because OP appeared to be under the impression she could take the £800 fee from the tenants' deposit as she saw fit.

brokenheartdog · 29/01/2017 22:08

Cherrychasing I think it was because originally the op said about transferring the deposit to them by bank transfer the night they left which is not how it works.

Then said her own landlord hadn't protected her deposit and she wasn't making a fuss.

Then said she had protected it.

haveacupoftea · 29/01/2017 22:10

So they've been made bankrupt and their home is being sold. Yeah, make them get rid of their dog, kick them while they're down. What a nice person you sound.

Orangebird69 · 29/01/2017 22:13

OP, which mandatory ground have you served section 8 under?

Livelovebehappy · 29/01/2017 22:18

I rent my house and have done for a good few years. I've been very lucky and both landlords I had have been great. It's a two way thing; the landlord looks after you and acts quickly to put things right, whilst the tenant looks after the house as if it was their own. I would never let a dog mess all over the outdoor area and not immediately clean it up afterwards, whether it was my own home or a rented one. It's a health and safety issue if you have children too.

Gallavich · 29/01/2017 22:22

If you've served under section 8 because they have let their dog poo in the garden then I've got a feeling you'll be disappointed if you're expecting to get an eviction.

Catherinebee85 · 29/01/2017 22:26

Could you offer a financial incentive for them to keep the garden tidy and the dog s bit more discrete as part of the end of tenancy agreement? They're losing their home after all.

brokenheartdog · 29/01/2017 22:26

I wondered whether it was under ground two orangebird but I cannot remember if that only applies if the mortgage company is forcing the mortgagee to sell due or whether it applies in general if a mortgage is in place.

Orangebird69 · 29/01/2017 22:29

broken that only applies if the mortgage lender wants to repossess...

Badhairday1001 · 29/01/2017 22:31

Just ask them politely to clean up the dog shit next time you have a viewing. They might agree or they might not. I've not read the whole thread but from what I've read you've not actually asked them. Millions of homes with pets sell every year, I don't see what the problem is.

mynachos · 30/01/2017 00:49

jesus o.p. have a break, have a kitkat

EvieSparkles0x · 30/01/2017 01:49

I hate being so harsh bugt You clearly don't know what you're doing and worse still your attitude is disgraceful.

I don't belive for a second you've served a section 8. Someone on the thread actually explained to you what it is and you suddenly decided you have done so. If you had surely you would have mentioned it in the OP given how relevant it is. Since you've clearly made that up and given what else you said about the deposit you clearly haven't really protected it, you're just saying so to save face.

I hope you're selling the house with the intention of never letting out again. Your complete disregard for tenants in general is awful, even the fact that you'd want to buy another house and leave it empty in the current housing situation says masses about your character.

Please try a bit of self reflection and think about how you view and treat others, for goodness sake.

stolemyusername · 30/01/2017 01:49

OP I rent and I wouldn't leave dog shit all over the garden/patio because I have respect for myself, for the property I live in and I'm not a dirty bastard.

Seriously, who in their right minds thinks that living surrounded by shit no matter who owns the house is okay?

Want2bSupermum · 30/01/2017 02:00

I'm a LL and I feel for your tenants. What you are doing is wrong.

If you want them to move on so you can sell your home faster out your money where you mouth is and make them an offer to move. I have done this each and every time I have sold a home I have tenants in (doesn't happen much but I have done it). Offer is that I pay the movers in full plus the deposit for the new place while letting them not pay rent on my place for the month. I also give them an excellent reference and call my network of LLs to see if someone has a suitable home coming up.

Yes it ends up costing about £5k but that is the cost of moving and it's a darn sight cheaper than paying legal fees. I got more than £5k back from the increase in value because I could stage the place and have no solicitors getting their knickers in a twist about tenants in place.

Gallavich · 30/01/2017 05:06

stolemy to be fair dogs shit a lot, it isn't unheard of for people to let their dogs out in the garden and clear the mess up later. We don't know how many turds the op actually saw, 3-4 on the patio could be less than 2 day's worth. Hardly living in heaps of dog shit.
Currently I have a bin bag of used cat litter in my garden which I haven't taken to the bins because the weather is foul. If someone fancied it they could describe me as having cat shit all over my patio. It's not good housekeeping but it's not the worst.

Sundance01 · 30/01/2017 07:08

They do not have to cooperate and allow showings whilst tenants. If you are so worried give them their notice and show a clean house after they have gone. This will mean losing a few months rent though - guess you can't have your cake and eat it.

You are about to make them homeless or at the very least spend time money and anxiety moving house. Can't say I have 1 ounce of sympathy for your dilemma - but a hell of a lot for them.

brokenheartdog · 30/01/2017 07:43

Thanks I thought so orange.
I'm struggling with the other mandatory grounds tbh.

I suspect things will go the ops way because they don't know their rights but part of me hopes they do.

user1483875094 · 30/01/2017 08:01

I honestly would give them notice to leave, blitz clean the house/garden, and show it as "ready to buy" - as a buyer, I wouldn't even dream of making an offer on a house which still had tenants in, never knowing if they have managed to make themselves "sitting tenants". Very dodgy situation.

ShatnersWig · 30/01/2017 08:21

OPs like these are gifts that keep on giving. Although at the time time, it does show how people who don't read the full thread ought to be kept on bread and water and soundly birched like in the good old days.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 30/01/2017 08:28

OP, which mandatory ground have you served section 8 under?

^ this if it has actually been done at all

thecatneuterer · 30/01/2017 08:32

I'm amazed this thread is still going.

Actually it is possible that she has served a Section 8 on mandatory rather than discretionary grounds under Ground 1:

Ground 1: landlord taking property as their own home
Used when the landlord wants to live in the property as a permanent home. It is only permitted when the landlord has already lived in it as their main home or they, or their spouse require it to live in as his or her main home.
Evidence of this may be required, together with evidence that the landlord intends to leave their current home.

It's such a rare ground to be able to use that I had forgotten all about it, but from what she has said she might actually be able to use this. I agree it's odd that this wasn't mentioned previously though.

thecatneuterer · 30/01/2017 08:35

Although thinking about it again, the tenants would only need to show evidence of the house on Rightmove or whatever and that Ground would not be permitted.

So actually yes, I would be very interested to know which mandatory ground she is using.

PopcornBits · 30/01/2017 08:46

Your poor tenants having to deal with a tyrant of a LL such as you.
Clearly looking for any and every reason to screw them over even more.
Don't moan about the fact they pay less because you were "generous" that's your fault you didn't plan for the future changes.
Not only do you seem to revel in the fact of screwing your tenants over, you seem to be overjoyed at the fact you can screw their parents over as well. You like seeing people go through misfortune don't you, ahhh but you won't lose any sleep over it like you say.

Oh well, I'm sure they won't either when they continue to have a roof over their head for free for the next several months, oh and I'm sure they'll probably let the dog shit everywhere if your anything like this to them in person.

Good luck Grin

RestlessTraveller · 30/01/2017 09:07

I don't know the ins and outs of the law. I do know from experience that the you don't just get to transfer the deposit from your account on the day you leave so you might want to look that up.

However what really stinks here is your attitude towards these people. You keep saying you like them, but it's clear you don't. What you do seem to like is judging their life choices which is horrible. You need to think that these people are your customers, this is a business transaction with laws around it that you have to abide by. You didn't stipulate no dogs and so they are in their rights to have one. You doing them a favour should not have come into it. You've blurred the lines and you are going to have to deal with it.