Bidding before tenant leaves?

[Wife2b]

My Dad is looking to purchase his first property (at the grand old age of 50 tomorrow hooray!). He has a viewing today of a flat that I think is likely he will want.

The flat is tenanted until end of January and the estate agents have advised they are not renewing their tenancy. My Dad has asked me for advice whether to bid before or after the tenant has left (obviously if he waits it could go).

My line of thinking is that either party can pull out anyways until contracts have been exchanged so that’s always a risk anyways but he could still get the solicitor, survey etc out of the way in the meantime and there will probably be delays with it being Christmas. But I wouldn’t advise he exchanges contracts until after the tenant leaves. Am I wrong?

The landlord has to give 6months notice at the moment. I wouldn't spend any money without seeing if the landlord has given correct notice.

Thanks for that, that’s really helpful!

I would make an offer but I wouldn’t invest in surveys until the tenant was out.

I would get the mortgage process started and you can engage a solicitor but tell them to hold of the searches for now. They have to do due diligence such as ID checks and money laundering checks no matter which property you’re buying so it’s not linked to the flat.

Then he’s not lost the flat and if there are issues getting tenant out most of its transferable. Obviously mortgage is house dependent but it’s much quicker if he’s already approved to borrow an amount and it’s just the property that’s changing. I imagine most places will be slowing down now over Xmas anyway so you won’t get lots done even if you wanted to.

Thanks, again really helpful!

The landlord has to give 6months notice at the moment
but tenants don't so if they are the ones who've given notice it is probably fine. If they are there during the viewing I would ask them when they are going.