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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To break my promise to my landlord?

163 replies

privilegeporridge · 27/12/2020 20:45

NC.

I'm in my early twenties and I live with my husband in a flat we rent from one of his colleagues. We originally had to move somewhere quite quickly back in summer as we had issues with our previous rental, but we spoke to his colleague and he said he'd love for us to move in on a "longterm" basis. A specific amount of time had not been specified and so far, we've been here about 6months.

However, we are due to come into an amount of money in early 2021 that would mean that with a little luck we are not too far off from putting a deposit down on a house. This would also be great as it would mean it we could TTC significantly sooner, as I would feel more secure owning property before having kids and not being dependent on a landlord. (just a personal preference and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity for that choice).

If we came into the money in February time ish, would it be unreasonable to start looking for a house then? I don't want my landlord to feel that he's been deceived (especially considering he works with my husband) but I simultaneously don't want to rent, as we have cats and the longer we stay here the more deposit gets chipped away along with the wallpaper.

He also asked for notice a few months in advance before we decide to move out, so I don't know how far into the house buying process I should wait before letting him know (if buying a house very soon is the right thing to do).

Thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

privilegeporridge · 27/12/2020 21:21

If the deposit was protected you would know as you are notified of this. If it's not, he's breaking the law.

How would I be notified of this? I've not received any information in relation to this at all, what do I do if I think that he's not protected it?

OP posts:

SnackSizeRaisin · 27/12/2020 21:24

They are supposed to protect your deposit in a scheme and provide you with a copy of the gas safety certificate. There is also a government handout called "how to rent" that lays out your rights as a tenant, they are supposed to give you a copy of that too. They sound extremely dodgy and I would get out asap.
Plus you said you never specified a length of stay so what is the broken promise you are referring to in the title?

2bazookas · 27/12/2020 21:25

You would just tell him "we have decided to buy a house and are about to start looking" That gives him fair warning that you'll be leaving.

Arranging a mortgage, identifying a preferred area, viewing property, making an offer , agreeing a purchase, waiting for lawyers to make all the arrangements; fitting in with the sellers chain, can take months or even longer. Or experienced buyers, paying cash for a vacant property can do it faster. There's no average time. External factors like a pandemic or political upset also play their part in slowing the market of delaying proceedings.

 The first thing to do is choose a lawyer to act for you (one recommended by someone you trust, who has used the lawyer for conveyance)  ,  ask the lawyer to explain the charges and taxes you face, tell the lawyer you're naive beginners and follow their advice to the letter.

DO NOT rely on or mess people about with verbal promises with sellers or estate agents or mortgage lenders or removal companies; get everything in writing.

yelyah22 · 27/12/2020 21:26

It'll be 8 months before you even get the money, which you said will put you 'not too far off' a deposit. Assuming a few months to save a bit more, plus at least 3+ months to find the house you want and go through the mortgage and sale process, you'll have been there a year anyway. Not unreasonable at all.

Plus, sorry to be a voice of doom, but sales can take FOREVER. We've just sold a house for a family member, no mortgages on either side, completely straightforward, it's taken 6 months. A friend who was a FTB last year took 8 months start to finish thanks to some covenants found during the conveyancing. Another friend had their chain fall through twice last year when they were originally aiming to be in the house March 2019. They got in a week before Christmas.

Sounds depressing but what I mean is - don't hamstring yourself in the pursuit of being gold star tenants and friends. If he gets wind you're looking, his main objective is going to be to make sure he doesn't have a big void period and might well give you notice sooner than you'd like. Tell him with a month's notice as is legally required and have a backup (storage + AirBnB etc) in case.

Original poster

privilegeporridge · 27/12/2020 21:26

I'm not sure I have any of this. I know my previous landlords followed the protected scheme thing as we were notified at the end of our tenancy (and had the option to argue with it if necessary) but I have no idea about this current landlord.

Plus you said you never specified a length of stay so what is the broken promise you are referring to in the title?

He mentioned renting "longterm" and we said we might be in the flat for 2 years or so (my education plans have changed quite a lot, and now with this money it's not our only option). But obviously, we can buy a place ASAP then it may be seen as breaking a promise if we only move out after 9mo for example.

OP posts:

Ammari515253 · 27/12/2020 21:28

Personally I wouldn't say anything until you have found the house you are buying and are on your way having your mortgage approved and have more of time line in front of you. Right now you don't even have the money for the deposit so why get so ahead of yourself.
Also, as someone else said, all deposits must held in a deposit scheme approved by the government so if there are discrepancies about deductions, the landlord doesn't have the upper hand and spend your deposit without your consent. He is well and truly breaking the law by keeping the money in his possession.

AnyFucker · 27/12/2020 21:30

You have been very naive.

If the landlord has not protected the deposit he can be fined 3x the amount by law

Don't be cowed by him. Please do some research on tenants rights. None of what has been "agreed" so far is acceptable.

PennineSpring · 27/12/2020 21:30

Your deposit should be lodged here: www.tenancydepositscheme.com/is-my-deposit-protected/

Hapixmas · 27/12/2020 21:31

Buying a house can take ages. I'm buying a flat at the moment with no chain either end, I've barely heard a thing since the offer was accepted mid November. It is a painfully slow process. My hope is February but much like covid restrictions changing like the wind, I'm not holding out too much hope!

LividLover · 27/12/2020 21:32

You have no contract and no legally protected deposit, which you seem to think is okay, yet your worry is some vague verbal promise to be “longterm” tenants?

I think you need to spend more time toughening up and researching the buying process because you need a bit of a reality check before you get yourself in any more weird situations.

Original poster

privilegeporridge · 27/12/2020 21:33

I'll be open about my finances and hope this doesn't make it's way back to anyone in my real life! We pay £700pm, on one 28k income. We have a few thousand pounds in savings (which we don't tap into ever, they're solely for the house) and with this money we're coming into it will be about 20k on top of these savings. So hopefully looking for a 200k house with a 23k (approx) deposit, and then ideally our mortgage deposits will be lower than our rent payments.

If anyone has any personal experience of how much money I'd need to have saved (excluding deposit, for example) on everything you need to buy a house that would be great. I know it's a very broad question, but it's more to see how much the deposit on this flat could cover and how much more I'd need to save (especially if this landlord gets dodgy and fights for the deposit or anything along those lines).

OP posts:

marchez · 27/12/2020 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SnackSizeRaisin · 27/12/2020 21:35

The deposit protection is primarily to stop them withholding it for spurious reason, but if they tried that and it wasn't in a scheme they would get a fine and also have to pay the lot back to you...but that assumes they actually have the money. Plus it would probably take ages going through court etc.
An estate agent near us (looked legitimate) went bust and it turns out they hadn't protected the deposits of several tenants. These people didn't get their money back as the business had no money. So you need to ask them to protect the deposit asap for your and their benefit.

2021optimist · 27/12/2020 21:35

A promise like that in a renting context can only hold up 'whilst things remain the same'. It's a statement of an intention but if someone's life changes (landlord short of cash, needs to sell, or you inherit etc.), no reasonable person would expect you to stick to it.

You intended to rent for a couple of years but life changed...

Beachhuts90 · 27/12/2020 21:36

The length of time it takes to buy usually depends on the length of the chain, which may or may not be completed when you have an offer accepted.

Original poster

privilegeporridge · 27/12/2020 21:38

You have no contract and no legally protected deposit, which you seem to think is okay, yet your worry is some vague verbal promise to be “longterm” tenants?

Yes, I agree. I had huge reservations about accepting this tenancy, but didn't have any other options. I may have been swindled (potentially) but it was this or homelessness. I am massively naive when it comes to the house buying process I will admit that, I would never put myself in this renting precariousness if I had another option.

I had to find the Scottish option for the deposit checker and it says it can't find it but "The protection may not have been uploaded yet or the deposit may be protected with another scheme." So, I'm guessing he's not put it into a deposit scheme.

OP posts:

Daphnise · 27/12/2020 21:38

Lots of ifs to be bothered about so soon.

First see if and when you get this money.

If you get it, consider your next steps then.

It takes several months to buy a house.

So for now it would be insane to tell a landlord anything.

RhubarbFizz · 27/12/2020 21:40

It might be worth having a meeting with a mortgage advisor, bank etc to make sure that you can borrow the amount you need for a property. Then knowing how big a mortgage you can have, then start looking. Until then I would not tell the landlord anything. It can take months to find a property after that - then 2-3 months is normal to buy it. Of this landlord is told now, they may ask you to leave and then you will delay buying perhaps with a 6-12mth tenancy elsewhere.

So if no meetings had yet with mortgage companies and no viewings yet it can easily be another 6mths before you move out.

Nohomemadecandles · 27/12/2020 21:40

I'd assume you won't get it back in time to complete, to be on the safe side. Solicitors- ours was about £1500 - we were only buying like you.
Plus removals. And payment dates aren't always the same so I'd say a month's expenses ready too.

SnackSizeRaisin · 27/12/2020 21:40

It's quite difficult to get mortgages at the moment due to covid. We have similar income to you and I found it hard to find someone willing to lend us 100,000, and we have a much bigger deposit.
I would have a look at money saving expert first time buyers guide and then speak to a mortgage adviser or broker.
We plan to allow about 10,000 for extra costs although that may be quite generous. Someone else will know better no doubt!

nowishtofly · 27/12/2020 21:41

Once your offer is accepted, and assuming no major issues and your seller isn't in a nightmare chain, it is reasonable to allow 12 weeks before moving in day. So I would give your landlord a heads up that you will be moving on at some point between offer accepted and exchange of contracts. You can just let him know that your intention is to move out 'soon' and then give a months notice when you have your completion date.

Nohomemadecandles · 27/12/2020 21:42

I don't know that you'll get a mortgage on that amount with that salary either. That's more than 6x salary

Almostslimjim · 27/12/2020 21:42

Is 23k your total savings? Or just the deposit? If total, you'll need to keep some back for solicitor costs, surveys, movings costs plus some emergency funds for if you need to do some repairs soon after moving it etc.

Average time from offer accepted to completion is 12 weeks but that's an average, for every auction sale completed in 4 weeks there's ones like our last one which took 9 months. Plus of course time to find the house you finally have an offer accepted on!

Original poster

privilegeporridge · 27/12/2020 21:43

I don't know that you'll get a mortgage on that amount with that salary either. That's more than 6x salary

I'm in a very cheap area of Scotland, 200k is what we are aiming for but we will be looking anywhere from 100-200k.

OP posts:

SnackSizeRaisin · 27/12/2020 21:45

Agree with pp - you are unlikely to be able to borrow more than 3.5 times combined salary, and will also possibly need more than a 10% deposit in the current climate

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