Landlord selling, but won’t sell to me

[Flora73]

After 11 months in the house, my landlord has issued a section 21, my contract rather conveniently contained a break clause so he can do this earlier than the 12 month mark.

I have a mortgage in principle, I’ve been looking for somewhere to buy but he has rejected this and said I still have to leave as they want to maximise the sale price. He has even said that I move out and he will let me know which agent it is on with so I can purchase it that way. It just seems utterly bonkers.

And before anyone lays into me I am fully aware that it is his house and he can do what he likes, and I have no rights, but I can’t work out why he won’t sell to me. We’ve had a good relationship to date with no issues.

Can anyone thing of reasons why this would be?

This happened to me during Covid and your Landlord is breaking the law. Rather then just making you homeless, he has to give you first refusal. He's not doing this so I'd be seeking legal advice personally. That is if you want his house. My landlord offered us first refusal but obviously we couldn't get a mortgage so declined, we were issued our section 21 and off we went. He's just being a typical landlord.

No, he doesn't want to have to take the OP's rent into consideration when offering them first refusal. He's being a conman. OP should be given first refusal BEFORE being issued the section 21. If they decline then he puts it on the market, he doesn't want to do that because then it would mean he would have to use a portion of OP's rent as the down payment on the mortgage. That is why he wants her out first before letting her by it 🙄if OP wants the house, they should seek legal advice because issuing a section 21 means you're making someone homeless who doesn't actually need to be.

That is so sad. I agree with you. So often families are moved away from their support network and put in temporary accommodation miles away, usually through no fault of their own. It's very short-sighted as then, undoubtedly, their health suffers which puts an unnecessary burden on the NHS and potentially social services. The main cause seems to be the lack of social housing. We should be building so much more.

I have just Googled this and apparently it only applies to leasehold flats, not houses.

I overheard a recent discussion between two property developers. They had both decided to turn three bed tenanted houses into HMOs. This ment the rent they could achieve shot up from £1300 to £3000 per month. They get this by converting the living room and any dinning room. This gives more bedrooms so they can cram in more people.
I then watched Hones under the hammer and bang, there was soneone doing exactly that. The presenter was actually encouraging them.
There was another thread this week where people had noticed these conversions don't allow for community space. Single people have to stay in their rooms like teenagers or go outside all day. Yes they have to have multiple cookers and washing machines but sticking a sofa in a kitchen is not a home. I wonder if your landlord wishes to convert to a HMO OP?

You could say this for any selling.

All the shops do is think of their profit. It all seems sensible and reasonable if you ignore the actual person who needs the item and can't buy it.

This is how I’m feeling to be honest. He’s not even engaging in conversation about the house, I’m just shut down and thanked for understanding! Which is ironic because I don’t understand. My feelings don’t matter.

I'm really not sure how you came to the conclusion that there's clearly something else going on. Landlord wants to sell and wants to maximise the price. He doesn't know what kind of interest he'll get unless he tests the market, so I don't think that's unreasonable at all. Just because the approach doesn't align with your interests or thought process doesn't mean there's anything more to it.

Makes sense for the landlord to sell it without a tenant. Yabu here he has told you why he wants to sell and he is allowed to sell to whoever he wants and understandable wants the highest price for it. I understand why you upset about this as its awful finding rental properties and it's unlikely you can buy a house in the time you have left before you move out. You can delay moving out hence why the landlord wants you out. If you delay he won't sell to you anyway. Just awful timing. I'd look for another rental for now. Do you love the house you are in or would another be more suitable.

Why is it Greed ? It’s his house and anyone in their right mind would want as much for it as they can get, especially at the moment !

If he
sells
directly he would save agent fee

Feelings don't matter in any sector of the housing market. Vendors don't usually offer a house pay what you feel, to be nice. You can't afford the house, you aren't in a position to buy. It's a shame but it's just the reality of buying houses - you don't always get the one you want.

That’s not true. As pp has said, this only applies when selling a building which contains multiple flats. Most landlords do not need to give their tenants a right to first refusal. Google it yourself!

Feelings don't matter in any sector of the housing market. Vendors don't usually offer a house pay what you feel, to be nice. You can't afford the house, you aren't in a position to buy. It's a shame but it's just the reality of buying houses - you don't always get the one you want.

Rude and most likely not true - especially the part of you can't afford the house. How do you know what the OP can or can't afford??

Oh yeah - you don't.

He could save himself a lot of time and money by selling it directly to you.
Let's hope the potential buyers x 4 pull out in him a few times before he gets to sell. I'm mean.

And he would be saving estate agent fees. go to home.co.uk. It gives you the average time in your area for a property to sell. How many mints rent is he going to loose. Have a look on zooplankton and other sites to see if you can find a “value” for the house

Work out how much he will pay the agency to sell to you and how much in lost rental income if a sale takes 4/5 months and present it to him in cash terms - business like

Look, the OP has

1. Disputed the valuation the LL said he had got on the house over 1 year ago
2. Doubted the LL's integrity (possibly to his face)
3. Said she doesn't want to bid what she feels the house is worth for 4/5 months hence, cos she will be "in a better position to negotiate"
4. Openly entertained the idea that she would try up to mess up the section process to stop the LL exercising his legal right to get her to vacate the property.

The LL has invited her to bid on the (then Unoccupied & likely tarted up) house, through the open market bidding process, which is totally fair enough. If she really wanted the house at a fair price, then It's up to her to make a bid now that might justify him not thinking he may get a better price on the open market after going thru all the hassle & expenses of selling that way. But she hasn't done this, instead she's come on Mn to moan!?

Tbh, the LL is wise imho. There are red flags all over this. OP, if you really want the house make a fair bid for it now, and stop all the pissing around.

I think it's better to leave him alone. He couldn't have been clearer about what his plans. Everyone knows that selling direct to the tenant avoids EA fees and means the property won't be vacant etc etc. He's doesn't needs telling that, he's a landlord, he knows how it all works, and this is what he wants to do. He's shut the conversation down for his own reasons, and for him they're good reasons. Going back to him after that would just strengthen any thinking that OP wouldn't be an easy person to sell to because they can't take a hint. He wants to put the house on the market and that's his prerogative. Lots of people here have said they'd do the same and explained why so it shouldn't be some galling mystery that keeps the OP in limbo. The situation is clear, it's in line with the rental contract, and it even seems like OP would be better to take her pick of other properties when she's ready, so there's no good reason to keep pursuing this.

All these negotiation tips are pointless. He’s made a decision, let him have it.

Why fanny around trying to win his approval - it’s just another pick me dance!

Go see other houses. It’s a buyers market, you could find your dream home.

If your MIP offer allows to the value of this property, see a solicitor who will best advise on what to do. Just doing that shows your intention is serious.

You haven't said how you're in the position to buy after renting for so many years, nor why you obtained a MIP. Was it for this property?
Your LL sounds as though he considers it a pipe dream on your part.

Fortunately I’m not as rude as you’re suggesting I am, and I took his valuation at face value. It has only been since then where I have doubted it due to the prices of houses in the area.

And suggesting I move all my things out of this house, and make good any marks from living here, to then buy it on the open market and move back is ludicrous.

And I haven’t come to Mumsnet to moan at all! I wanted a balanced set of opinions as to why he is approaching it this way, and on the whole I have received them.

And in relation to your third point, I think I said 3-4 months as I would have more of a deposit which would put me in a stronger position. I don’t see that as being a negative! Until you’ve been in this situation, which I strongly doubt you have, then you are in no position to judge me for feeling the way I do.

He told me to my face it would be a long term rental, I told him a year ago that I would not take the tenancy on if it was not and he assured me they had no intention of selling. It clearly wasn’t long term and they are selling. He also offered me more time if I wanted it before I had to leave and this offer has now been rescinded.

So I don’t feel particularly obliging as I feel he has completely messed me around.

It was for this property. I hadn’t even thought about buying it before he told me he was selling. I was quite happy renting, I’ve made it my home and was very settled. Buying was a little bit further down the line.

The MIP is up to 400k so would cover this house.

You’re absolutely right, this is what I’m going to do. Thank you.

Have his circumstances changed though? Perhaps that's why he has now decided to sell. Or perhaps he has thought about the new rental laws that are coming in and decided he doesn't want the hassle. I am sure there will be plenty of landlords who will sell because of this. I am sorry you are in this position though OP.