Landlord wants full notice even though selling property.

[gnomeathome]

Our landlord is selling the house we live in, he has given us until 31st August to move out. We have seen countless properties, put offers in etc but most are listed as 'available immediately' . We have lost out on 5 properties so far because we can't move immediately as we have a months notice to give. I have asked him if we can move within 2 weeks because of this issue and he said no, he wants the full months notice (or we would have to pay the difference in rent which we cannot afford to do).
We have had to have potential buyers looking at the house whilst we are still here and the landlord had the gall to say that we were making the house look small by being there whilst buyers and agents were coming around (we are a family). So could we 'pop out' during all viewings!

AIBU to think that not letting us leave early is just plain greedy? At this rate we wont find anywhere to move to that lines up perfectly to the eng of August. Do we legally have to give a months notice if they are the ones who have given us notice?

I'd ask a lawyer but for a start I'd no longer allow anyone to look around the property. This is for his benefit, not yours - why do him any favours when he won't do you any? Start making his life a bit harder - it's your only bargaining chip

I don't know the answer, but would citizens advice be able to help? Surely when other properties say 'available immediately' they don't require you to move in the next day!

What’s going to happen if you haven‘t found a new place by end of August?

Do not let anyone view the house until you have moved out.

I'd not let any viewings happen.

honestly having been a landlord selling a property i did every possible to help my tenants including giving them a discount so they could put down a new deposit.

Your LL wants his cake and eat it too. if he's not allowing any flexibility i'd say don't allow viewings anymore until your last month (double check your contract....most say that you have to allow viewing in the last month) but beyond that you have zero obligation.

Also available immediately doesn't necessarily mean two weeks - some may be willing to wait a month for a good tenant.

Tell him no more visits and inform the agent too.

Has he actually sold it and completing in August? If not, stop allowing views. You’re under no obligation to.

Dont allow visits etc. He can photograph and list the property and do visits once you have moved out

Stop letting viewings take place. Don’t tidy up especially either if you need to allow them in the final month. It’s not your place to help him.

That's his right. Your right is to say no to viewings, no to access and he can sit and hope you're out by end August. So do that. Once he's served notice to evict I dont think any previously agreed notice period applies anyway.

The man's a total idiot btw

No more visits, no more tidying. We don’t have to let you, and you don’t have to offer us two weeks notice. But if you did offer that, then we would put up with the inconvenience of inspections.

Even if it says you have to in your last month in the contract, I'd think that was unenforceable. Contacts are only binding if they are deemed to be fair and I would question whether this would be deemed fair and reasonable if it went to court, given that he is evicting you and not allowing any flexibility. Even if your contact ends your landlord cannot come and just turf you out - if you stayed beyond the date he would have to go to court. Even if you didn't pay the rent. Now, I wouldn't advise that because it will hinder you getting a new property or credit in the future, but just do you know, he does not hold all the cards here.
I'd be inclined to point out (not in writing) that you are aware he cannot just remove you come August and so it is in his best interests as well as yours to help facilitate a smooth move for you both. He is trying to intimidate you.

You don't have to allow viewings as a tenant you have rights.
The LL can huff and puff as much as they want.

Yes I know, references.
Such a shame you have school aged children that are constantly sent home for isolation due to CV so no you cannot leave and no-one can enter for 10 days.

You also don't have to leave on the date he has said. If you cannot find anywhere and end up needing social housing, you have to wait until the bailiffs are at the door.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

I'd ask a lawyer but for a start I'd no longer allow anyone to look around the property. This is for his benefit, not yours - why do him any favours when he won't do you any? Start making his life a bit harder - it's your only bargaining chip

Are you being serious??? For all we know he might be an accidental landlord and cannot afford to let his tenants leave without the full month’s notice that they are legally obligated to give. I’m a (accidental) landlady and certainly couldn’t afford to lose out on two weeks of rent. I also rented myself for years before owning a property and accepted that these things can happen. I certainly wouldn’t have made life difficult for my landlord by refusing to give access to the property for viewings, that’s just vindictive and spiteful.

It’s unfortunate that he wants to sell the property and the tenants will need to find alternative accommodation, but that’s life. One of the things you have to accept may happen when you rent.

Stop allowing viewings. Only allow them again if/when he waives the notice period.

You are allowing your life to be disrupted by having to move, and don't need the further disruption of viewings whilst under considerable stress and pressure trying to find a new home.

Landlord/tenant is a business relationship which should have respect and compromise and be mutually beneficial. Not some twat calling all the shots and trampling over you.

It may be an uncomfortable conversation you have but always keep in mind that he will see you homeless in a heartbeat if you can't get something sorted in time.

@Bells3032

honestly having been a landlord selling a property i did every possible to help my tenants including giving them a discount so they could put down a new deposit.

Your LL wants his cake and eat it too. if he's not allowing any flexibility i'd say don't allow viewings anymore until your last month (double check your contract....most say that you have to allow viewing in the last month) but beyond that you have zero obligation.

Also available immediately doesn't necessarily mean two weeks - some may be willing to wait a month for a good tenant.

Doesn't matter what the contract says. The tenant has legal right to enjoy their place in peace.

You are allowing your life to be disrupted by having to move,

Sorry I worded that completely wrong, I meant don't allow unnecessary disruption re the viewings!

I absolutely am serious. Tenants have rights. It's not the tenants fault that you are an accidental landlord and responsibility goes both ways - this is the tenants home and they are entitled to privacy and to live there uninterrupted until their tenancy ends. They have no obligation to facilitate the sale for the landlords benefit.

It's not vindictive or spiteful for renters to refuse visits.
Legally unless a warrant you don't have to let anyone in your home, and of course excluding emergencies. And a owner, accidental or not, wanting to sell up is not an emergency.

@Caffeinatedmonstergirl
As a professional ll myself, I couldn’t give a stuff if the ll desperately needs the rent. They’re most likely selling due to the bouyant market and throwing out good, paying tenants for this reason is disgusting.

These things can get tricky if not handled appropriately. Go through your contract if it says a months notice it has to be that. To me it seems like there are some issues between you and the landlord and regardless of what you feel, you both are bound by that contract. I can understand this is stressful but try to find an accommodation first as landlord seem to have given u plenty of time. Give a deposit on the place and then give a months notice. You still have two months is thw landlord has given until August 31.

Are you trying to buy a house? This could take time as there is immense backlog. Once you move to another accommodation you can buy a house without the stress of all this. You will get through this.Good luck.

@Caffeinatedmonstergirl how exactly are you an a accidental landlord, did you wake up and find you unexpectedly owned a second house one morning? If you cant afford to lose 2 weeks rent then you can't afford to be a landlord at all.

Has he actually given you a proper s.21 notice?

@canigooutyet

It's not vindictive or spiteful for renters to refuse visits. Legally unless a warrant you don't have to let anyone in your home, and of course excluding emergencies. And a owner, accidental or not, wanting to sell up is not an emergency.

This ^