To approach the house vendor direct?

[Florence1960]

I’ve seen a house I love and would like to buy. I don’t have a house to sell. The estate agent has told me that the vendor is planning to go into rented accommodation if she doesn’t find anything before her house sells. I can buy now and put off moving in for 6/12 months but I can move in sooner than that.
I’d like to make an offer and would like her to know that if she didn’t find somewhere we could arrange for her to rent off me until ready to move. I would do this through agents, not a private arrangement.
I haven’t made an offer yet, I’m planning to do that tomorrow and ask the estate agent to let her know my thoughts.
Would it be sensible to leave it at that or would it be ok to pop a note through the door to suggest that as a possibility? I wouldn’t pressurize her - if she likes the idea and accepts my offer, fine. If not - I’d accept without further conversation.

Renting to a former owner sounds like a recipe for disaster. What if she doesn’t want to go? What if she doesn’t leave in time? What if she continues to treat the house as her own and does something you don’t like?

I don’t think it would be any different from renting to someone else. I’d use an agent and have a contract. I see what you mean though, she would be much more emotionally attached to the house than a new tenant.

I would leave it at that. It all comes down to how much you are offering and whether it is acceptable to her.

The estate agent has told me that the vendor is planning to go into rented accommodation if she doesn’t find anything before her house sells.

So it sounds like she’s happy to rent something else after she’s sold? Then she doesn’t need to rent her old house. I wouldn’t suggest it. It doesn’t sound like a dealbreaker for her to have to move out, and you should get in your new house ASAP and start enjoying it.

Alternatively, could you agree to purchase but give a long window to complete?
A friend did that a few years ago - I think it was more that they needed time, can't remember why.
Only problem at the moment is that prices in some areas are moving rapidly.

If you do go down the renting route, negotiate with the agents - you don't want to end up paying a fortune in "finders fees".

It sounds like a ballache for a lot of reasons already mentioned. I wouldn't do it.

Your mortgage would most likely not allow you to rent it.

I think you’re over-complicating things.