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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Landlord now saying he wants tenants for 2 year

11 replies

Heartburn888 · 27/08/2019 14:02

So I posted last week saying that the house I was due to move into was to be sold with a weeks notice from the landlord.

The agents have rang today to say they had got it wrong and that the landlord has originally asked for a free evaluation and the agents had taken this as he was selling and communicated this to me with a maximum of a 6 months tenancy and that he had tried to fight my corner to let me have the tenancy but the landlord wanted to sell. Which has now proved to be a lie

The landlord now wants someone to move in for 2 years maybe 3. Do I do it or not?

I’ve asked if he can lower the rent pcm for the mess about and been told no they won’t do it or even ask.

Any advice, I like the house the area etc but do I want to deal with these cowboys for the next two years?

OP posts:
whatever123noname · 27/08/2019 14:20

Unless you're desperate, I wouldn't take it. They'll be a nightmare when sth breaks and even worse when you move out and inventory time comes around.

twoshedsjackson · 27/08/2019 14:22

This may depend on where you live in the country; in some areas, things are starting a (slight) downward slide.
But somebody tried to pull a fast one, be it agent or landlord, and they are now facing the prospect of no rent at all coming in!
Let them sweat for a bit before you consider asking again about a slightly reduced rent, emphasising what a good tenant you have been.
If they find another tenant, good luck to them and you don't have to deal with the cowboys. If they weaken and reduce the rent, that's a result as well. Count either result as a blessing.
As I said before, this depends hugely on the local market!

DoomsdayCult · 27/08/2019 14:46

Honestly, they probably mixed the property you wanted up with another property?
One of my closest gfs works in property management and quite frequently a landlord will have multiple properties and she’s told me humorous stories of mix ups. She also winges on about how over-worked they are. She has 300 properties in her portfolio and that is a lot to keep track of.
If you like the house and the 2-3yr lease is better for you, I’d go ahead and do it. Many longer leases can be set to have no rent increase during the 2 or 3yrs...try asking for that.

whocanbebothered · 27/08/2019 14:52

The 2-3 year lease doesn't buy you a massive amount more security, as there will still be a minimum notice period that they need to provide you if things change i.e. he does decide to sell down the line. It's not like you've signed for 2 years so you wont be moving until 2021.

I would fight your corner re. a reduction in rent for one month as that is appropriate to the situation, asking for a permanent reduction for the remainder of a 2-3 year lease is not reasonable. But, if you ask them to reduce your £500pcm rent to £350pcm for this month as you have been out X amount of money viewing other properties, that is more likely to be considered.

PuzzledObserver · 27/08/2019 15:00

The last time our let came up for renewal (we’re the landlords), the tenant asked for 2 or 3 years with a break clause half way through. This gives them a rent fix for however long we agree, but asking for the break clause suggests they are considering the possibility of moving - they had already been in the property several years.

So we agreed to 2 years with a break clause after 12 months, and a rent which was a small increase on the previous rent although not as much as the agent suggested. Both sides seem happy with the compromise.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 27/08/2019 17:04

God, those letting agents sounds hopelessly incompetent!

I'm not sure Landlords can insist on contracts longer than 12 months with a break clause can they? I thought ASTs were as much to protect tenant rights as the Landlord's.

But I'm not an expert. But they have royally mucked you around, I would be fuming.

PuzzledObserver · 27/08/2019 17:46

I'm not sure Landlords can insist on contracts longer than 12 months with a break clause can they? I thought ASTs were as much to protect tenant rights as the Landlord's.

No, they can't - but they can choose to let to someone who will agree to one rather than someone who won't. It's not clear whether the OP is already in the house on a 6-month AST and being told that renewal will be for 2/3 years, or whether they are not yet in the property?

To be honest, if you've got a break clause after 12 months, you're no worse off (as a tenant) than if you've got a 2 or 3 year contract. Arguably you are better off because the LL can't increase the rent during the term of the tenancy.

Original poster
Heartburn888 · 27/08/2019 20:05

No I’m not in the house as of yet I was due to move in this coming Friday but last Thursday they rang to say they had a phone call from the landlord late on saying that he wants to sell up but now he said the landlord had asked for a free evaluation and this had been Mis communicated and he didn’t actually wanted to sell.

I have asked to go and view the house again before I make a decision but I’ve got to wait two days for someone to become available. There is just no urgency about it and he didn’t even apologise when he rang. I work in customer care myself and the first thing I would of done is apologise on behalf of the agency and behalf of the landlord.
I’ve rang back this evening and asked for a call back from the manager as I want to know what’s happened and how it’s happened. I accept people make mistakes but I don’t accept being lied to about and treated like an idiot and if I am going to to sign a contract with them for two years I want to be able to build on some truth rather than a pack of lies where they can’t keep track of what they’ve said

OP posts:
OP posts:
Original poster
Heartburn888 · 27/08/2019 20:12

Also turns out the tenancy agreement I signed isn’t actually a tenancy agreement. Bit muggy he had me sign a draft document that means nothing!

The more I think about it the more I’m off put

OP posts:
EllesBells123 · 28/08/2019 10:38

If you've got a bad feeling don't do it. Bad agents make life difficult. If it's this much mucking around just over the terms and signing the agreement imagine the pain when you need an emergency plumber.

They'll be the type who want to inspect the property constantly but when you have an issue the landlord doesn't want to pay for they just disappear.

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