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.

Good luck!

Good luck OP! Really hope this works out for you.

Just read your updates. Let us know what happens. I hope you get the house.

Hes replied and said he's not interested.

Ah, disappointed.

What an arsehole

I know you’ve contacted him directly but it sounds like you approached your letting agent and not the estate agent who he has it up for sale with. I’m not sure why you went to the letting agent as it’s nothing to do with them.

Anyway, id still put the offer to the selling agent and say you’re a keen buyer, you know the state of the house and what’s needed, not to mention the fact that it’s got tiny bedrooms etc.
then leave it with them, also remind them that you won’t allow viewings and the fixtures and fittings are yours, as are the flooring which you’ll remove if you go.

it may well be that your offer ends up being the only one on the table and so the agents strongly recommend that he accepts.
in the mean time, I’d find a way to secure your doors as I wouldn’t put it past them to do viewings while you’re at work.

It doesn't seem the landlord can be trusted, given his underhand behaviour, so if you do ask, don't expect the truth or rely on anything much he says.

He could have just asked you if you wanted the place but chose not to. How did he get the photos?

I only contacted the letting agent to ask for the landlords details, I did not talk to them about the sale.

No matter now anyway. Back to Rightmove and refreshing new listings.

By law, you're entitled to your LL's address. So if it's not on your contract, your Letting Agent must provide it to you when requested. But as you've found him on social media, that will be better.

If you cannot get in touch with them, then go via the selling agent, but I'd make sure to tell them you are the existing tenant. But the LL would save fees by you going direct, so, financially, that would be better.

Ask him why he's not interested? You don't have anything to lose by asking.

Sounds like he’s just a greedy stupid git who probably thinks he can sell the house for more than it’s worth and you will conveniently also leave at the exact right time.

writing is on the wall OP - put yourself first always, fuck him.

This

Yes, stupid greedy git covers it.

The house is listed at 185k, I offered 160k. He's told me he's expecting it to sell for 200k.

I did a bunch of online valuations and only one came back higher than 165k. They also don't take in to account any of the issues with the house.

He's not interested now but he now needs to start the eviction process of getting you out and no one can be shown round the property until you're out. So he's not really doing his bottom line any favours by saying a flat no to you. The house has to be taken off the market and so when it goes live in the future won't be fresh to market.

He thinks someone is going to offer £15k above asking price? For a flat, in a falling market? He's a knob. Truly.

I’d still hold out hope OP. He might think he can sell it above asking price but you just wait until the house has been on the market for a few months and no offers are coming in. I suspect he might be interested then!

I think it might be better to just leave asap and forget about it. Time to move on.

Don't give notice until you've found somewhere else, though, and preferably not until you've exchanged (if you're buying)

You could consider renting via spare room 4 now etc -, rather than rushing to buy

It is probably a negotiating tactic from him. Ah well - he is overplaying his hand. He may come back up you in a few weeks, he may not.

Good luck with the house hunting - hopefully something fab comes along for you to buy soon.

Im a LL, I'd say yes.

If the house is right for you and it’s going to cause you a lot of other issues to move, not to mention eat I to your savings. Then take the emotion out of it and go to the selling agents.
you don’t have to deal with him at all, just put your offer on the table officially and wait to see what happens.
youve got nothing to lose

So sorry to hear this, he’s a fool!

Especially if you are buying somewhere next and not letting, now is the time to be a little less accommodating. No further viewings until you have left which could be a very long wait for him.

I wouldn’t move just now op. You can drag this out and possibly buy the house. You can refuse viewings citing quiet enjoyment. The ll will then have to issue a section 21. They’ve been sneaky with you, why make their life easy? And I say this as a landlord. I have a policy of only letting houses I would be happy to live in myself. I think they’re disgusting.