Landlords, would you consider this if your tenants asked?

[DesperateTenant]

I have rented my current home for 13 years. I am a good tenant, I keep the house in excellent shape and care for it as if it was my own. I have never asked for anything, rent is always paid on time.

Landlord has decided to sell and I only discovered this when someone knocked on my door wanting a sneaky viewing. They showed me the listing on Rightmove, complete with pictures I was completely unaware were taken.

I am shocked and desperate not to move. I came from nothing and I've made a life for me and my children here. We have a real community around us. I'm at the point where I'll be able to buy locally within 6 months and staying in the area is so important to me.

I completely understand that legally I am not entitled to be told when the LL is selling and have no rights to ask for anything from the LL and I don't know their personal situation.

But, for the landlords out there, in these circumstances if your long term tenant asked if you would consider waiting 6 months and offered to pay more rent (currently pay £850, would offer £1150) would you?

Would it be completely unreasonable for me to ask this?

In 6 months I'd have enough to buy the house I'm in and would do so in a heartbeat.

When my son and his girlfriend were renting a house and the landlord wanted to sell, I wrote a letter for them to sign and give to the estate agent to inform them that no viewings would be allowed which would spoil their quiet enjoyment of the property and they would have to wait until they had moved out which they did during the correct notice period.

They didn't want viewings because they had two indoor cats and couldn't trust an estate agent and viewers alone with the cats not go accidentally let them out.

The estate agent and the landlord were fine about this.

You wrote a letter for your son and his girlfriend? Are they not adults?

Ask. If the LLsays No then find out your rights

@DesperateTenant has the LL or landlord been in touch ?

Would u be able to buy the house you are renting?

Maybe the landlord would consider this.

This is literally what the Op asked in her first post....

So I have managed to raise enough of a deposit and got a mortgage agreement that would allow me to offer 15k under asking price.

The letting agent refused to pass along my info and my request that my LL contact me directly.

What's the best way to get in touch with him? Should I even try?

Should I just go through the estate agent dealing with the sale (different company to letting agent)?

Yes - go through the Estate Agent

No, go direct to your LL. He will appreciate that. He shouldn't have to pay their fees if you go direct and you can use that as leverage.

Surely your letting agent has to pass along your details at your request?
Maybe file a complaint that a) they’ve gone in and taken photos without your permission/notice
and b) won’t contact the landlord on your behalf.

maybe call again and not say what it is in regards to but say it’s urgent that the landlord calls you… if he sells to you directly you can cut out the estate agent and therefore cutout fees making it cheaper…. Also he has a hassle free sale with no forward or back dates, no hassle of giving you notice of viewings or having to ask you to be out or to tidy up etc.
maybe the estate agent itself will forward your details to the landlord? Just don’t give them your name

One red flag that stands out here is that if the landlord is comfortable with instructing the gas engineer to sign off on an unsafe fire, he is obviously not that concerned about maintenance. I would be concerned that there are other major problems lurking that you are not aware of.
I know you already living there, but I would get full survey and get the electrics and gas looked at independently before you consider buying.

This

Offer to buy, landlord may offer a reduction in price especially if taken off market.
An agreement in principle for mortgage would likely help

Well, yes. I am trying to make a direct offer and I do have an agreement, I just can't get in contact with him.

I would try really hard to contact the LL directly. Do you have a name or address on any of your agreements? Or deposit protection scheme paperwork?

Cutting out the middle man is likely to make the process clearer. You may find they have no idea how the estate agents have been treating you.

Or maybe a name to try and find them on Facebook/Linkedin?

Yes, I absolutely will get a full survey.

I think I've found his business page on FB.

I'm very nervous. I don't even know what to say.

Draft something up. Reread it a few times or post it here for review!

Draft something, which says you understand the property is for sale and would be interested in buying it directly rather than through the agent, which would save him estate agency fees. Tell him you would like offer x and state this is the best you are currently able to offer on the property. If her refuses, ask him to keep the offer on the table. Once you have a higher deposit, you could offer more…

In scotland there is a landlord register under each council and you can find the name and address of the landlord there. Not sure if there's the same in England? I managed to contact the owner of a flat above me with the details from the register. Maybe worth a try too.

No there isn’t. But op could get a copy of the land registry documents and find the owner’s name and address there… but I see op has found the business details.

Otherwise it should be on your tenancy agreement op. You can ask for a copy from the agent if you can’t locate it.

Definitely speak to your LL. estate agent fees are huge. If they wait for you for you, then they could avoid using an agent

You have a legal right (in England) to know your landlord's address regardless of whether it's the LL or an agent managing the tenancy.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/how_to_find_your_landlord#:~:text=You%20have%20the%20right%20to,landlord's%20address%20and%20contact%20details.

If they won't agree verbally to give his details see the "Write to your letting agent" bit, it quotes the relevant bit of law.

I've sent him a message on Facebook so fingers crossed.