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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Annoyed that my landlord wants to sell at Christmas

103 replies

VitriolicMuse · 12/09/2017 13:01

We got served our section 21 eviction notice last week (totally out of the blue, we were settled and happy) and the house is going on the market in December (who does that?!). They've kindly said we can stay in the house until it sells, but AIBU to be really annoyed they can't hang on until after Christmas and allow us to enjoy the time in peace with our young family ( 7 and 18 months) now we'll probably have to put up with strangers wandering around opening cupboards etc with presents in. I don't even feel like decorating to be honest. I know they want to sell and we're just renting but I just feel like they should have been a bit more compassionate.

OP posts:
Kualabear · 12/09/2017 14:03

If the house is going on the market in December, how likely is it to complete before Christmas? All the conveyencers will be at Christmas parties, closed for a fortnight. Relax.

Paddingtonthebear · 12/09/2017 14:06

It's not a good idea to stay after you've been given a leave date on a section 21. The council are always giving that advice to stay until you are evicted as the process takes forever, BUT what they don't tell you is that the landlord can go to the high court and pay a fee to speed up the entire process and bailiffs can turn up at the house and change the locks without giving you any notice and you have to leave there and then. If you have to be evicted then you are highly unlikely to ever be able to rent privately ever again. It's just not worth it

LaurieMarlow · 12/09/2017 14:09

Everyone's advising you to go now, but I don't see the rush tbh.

December is a dead time of the year for selling. If it's only going on the market in December, it may be some time before he accepts an offer and then months until the deal is closed.

If this was in Ireland (and I appreciate it isn't and that the UK is more efficient about these things) you could easily stay there happily til May/June.

Handsoffmysweets · 12/09/2017 14:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request

Original poster
VitriolicMuse · 12/09/2017 14:12

If people stay on until the baliffs come thats their solution. I personally wouldn't do that. So anyone thinking I would go down that road is so far off the mark.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 12/09/2017 14:15

Wombatting
The ast is contract law. The law trumps that clause. The owner has to give you 2 months and you give 1 month.

ZaphodBeeblerox · 12/09/2017 14:16

I never understand this whole mentality of hatred around landlords ie hating them for wanting their mortgage to be paid etc.

They've not reneged on a contract, they've sent you a notice with the required 2 mos notice period, and done it actually before Christmas so you could find a place and move in before then. In London at least mid December to mid January is dead in the rental market so they've actually done you a favour by not forcing you to be on the market during the shittiest time of the year. I really can't see how they're "kicking you out over Christmas".

Find another place at market and move. And LL's motivations for selling don't need any judgement either. Doesn't anyone respect private property anymore?

FWIW I had to leave my last rental property just before Christmas because of my personal circumstances - I gave my landlord adequate notice but they still ended up having the place empty for an extra month because it was over Christmas. But they were perfectly reasonable about it and didn't blame me.

AJPTaylor · 12/09/2017 14:17

My dfriend got 2 months notice to quit so put in 1 months in return (as allowed by law) and got moved within the month. The landlord actually phoned her up and complained that he would have to pay the mortgage himself and he couldnt afford it!

nonetcurtains · 12/09/2017 14:17

Could you put in an offer to purchase the house yourselves? A bit under the asking price as it saves the landlord paying estate agent fees, and saves your removal costs and upheaval.

MirandaWest · 12/09/2017 14:19

I don't know what the position is where you've been served notice, but have been told you can stay. If the property goes up for sale in November then it could sell quickly although would probably take longer until it completes.

Have they said you can stay until it is sold, or until the new owners move in?

itshappening · 12/09/2017 14:24

I have been in a similar situation and it is best not to get tied up in the complications of whether or when they sell, extending on a rolling basis etc. This property is not a stable option any more so leave them to it and move on before Christmas. I am sorry you find yourself in this situation and YANBU to feel upset.

With viewings, allow some but don't be bullied into allowing them whenever they want. You don't have to allow them but I think it is polite and also wise re references to do so, but within limits.

peterpancollar · 12/09/2017 14:24

It's OK to vent here but what you need to do is to start looking for another place to live. If you're serious about saving up for a deposit to buy within the next few years, try to rent somewhere cheaper in the meantime and save furiously - yes, the area may not be as nice or the property may be too small but it's all a means to an end. Focus on the end game - we've rented as a family on multiple occasions due to job relocations so not quite the same scenario. We've stayed from periods of 6 mths to 2 yrs and I've always viewed them as a temporary measure and a means to an end. DC1 lived in 5 houses within the first 6 years of his life - 3 of which were rental houses. It's inconvenient not to leave when you want to but it will be fine.

NerrSnerr · 12/09/2017 14:25

The advice to wait until evicted is unhelpful as the OP isn't going to be housed by the council so doesn't need to be homeless. A good reference would be more useful. We rented for years I agree it is tough but it's the nature of the beast. Not the landlord's fault. He's given sufficient notice.

trappedinsuburbia · 12/09/2017 14:27

OP - could you buy the property yourself?

itshappening · 12/09/2017 14:27

Also, if you do decide to try and stay as long as possible, which I wouldn't, tell them now you would only consider that on a rolling basis where they still have to give you two months notice and you have to give them one. Make sure that even if they sell they would still have to give you two months from that time. They might not like that because a buyer may want to move fast, but if they are only offering extension on the basis that you leave at short notice you need to know that now.

Original poster
VitriolicMuse · 12/09/2017 14:29

Unfortunately we don't want to buy it, it was okay as a stop-gap but not somewhere to settle for a long time. Thanks for all the help. I don't really want to get into debates over landlords and how they need to pay mortgages, I've paid a mortgage for the last 12 years, I know how they work. I didn't like the thought of having strangers viewing the house in december or potentially needing to move out in November/December when they are currently no suitable houses in the area and during a time when people are highly unlikely to be putting houses onto the rental market. I apprechiate I've been given plenty of notice, my landlords are lovely, lovely people who live just down the road. It's nothing personal, it's just the timing. I personally think the laws around renting need to be changed to offer people more security.

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 12/09/2017 14:32

I would try and find somewhere and get moved ASAP. If you move in October or even November you can be settled by Christmas easily.

The LL will then have to pay their own mortgage til the house sells (diddums). On the plus side for them, an already empty house may make it easier to exchange as there's no uncertainty about tennants overstaying.

The advice to wait til you're evicted is only relevant if you're relying on the council to house you. It doesn't sound like it applies here though thankfully. The council policy on intentional homelessness is a pile of crap which forces stress on both tenants and landlords.

Hillingdon · 12/09/2017 14:33

They wont sell it before Xmas and even if they do then surely you could ask to go Jan 18? They could exchange and then complete Jan.

Its not even on the market and there is a big correction going on with house prices so its likely that it will take a while unless he prices it to sell quickly. It takes on average (having looked into this extensively last year when I moved myself) 12 weeks to complete. I didn't have a chain either side and it still took 12 weeks.

Do you think yourself it will be easy to sell and when do YOU want to leave?

Cath2907 · 12/09/2017 14:34

I don't know what the housing market is like in your area but theoretically if they put it on the market today it could be sold in time that they'd want you out at the end of the 2 months notice. It is likely it won't - not sure I'd buy it until it was vacant - we've all heard of the tenant from hell who won't move out!

If it was me I'd be making every effort to be out dead on the last day of the 2 month notice period. That would mean I'd not be faced with the uncertainty over Xmas of someone knocking to say "we've sold, can you leave now please" and also it would most likely inconvenience the landlord who has annoyed you a bit. As you say - they aren't acting illegally but you thought you'd have a longer stay.

innagazing · 12/09/2017 14:42

You're not being evicted at Christmas, so I don't know why so many people are saying this? The LL wants to put the property on the market before Christmas time., and has said you can stay in the property IF YOU WANT until it is sold.

If you don't want to do this, and don't want the hassle of showing potential buyers round, then move out in November.
It will take months for a buyer to be found and for the sale to go through, so the earliest would be Feb/ March time, even if the house was sold on the day it went on the market.

It may suit the landlord to have you stay while the sale goes through, but there are also disadvantages too. They wouldn't be able to exchange and complete on the same day, or 'dress' the property to it's best potential, and will be dependent on you being willing to allow people to be shown round.
But it also works in your favour too- you get longer to find the best alternative accommodation, and will be in a good position to say that you can take a new property almost immediately. Your landlord won't be expecting a whole months notice from you.
If you go down the bailiff route, you will get a poor reference and renting anywhere else will be very very difficult.
Just because you're private renters, doesn't mean you can't use a lettings agent for your next property. Get your names on all their books now and start actively looking-You've got almost 6 months to find somewhere nice!

itshappening · 12/09/2017 14:43

I agree that the laws need updating. As it stands the problems are annoying and expensive, but technically legal. So for now renters and in some cases landlords have to accept them, but it should be reviewed.

itshappening · 12/09/2017 14:45

innagazing I bet they would want a month's notice, or if not they would want to be able to give very little notice themselves.

jcsp · 12/09/2017 14:50

Allow viewings - but talk about noisy neighbours, cannabis farms, raids, problems with damp etc etc.

Handsoffmysweets · 12/09/2017 14:53

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request

melj1213 · 12/09/2017 14:54

jcsp yes, great advice if the OP wants to get kicked out and a bad reference from the landlord