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?

You don't know his circumstances and why he is selling. I think you are being cruel if you mess him around.

So far, I think the only one who has messed anyone around is the landlord! OP took the tenancy on because she was assured it would be a long-term let. Also:

I agree! It does seem daft. But when I have tried to push him on the subject he shuts down and says he’s under no obligation to tell me what is going on and despite offering me a month or 2 extra (when he told me about the section 21), he has now gone back on that as well.

By the way, one thing I find really odd on this thread is the repeated suggestion that OP shouldn't ask to see the valuation of the property or get it revalued, as that would be doubting the landlord's integrity! Firstly, the landlord has been both inconsistent and evasive. Secondly, who would hand over £350,000 based solely on a seller's verbal estimate? For all we know, the previous valuation was over-optimistic in order to encourage the landlord to sign up with that estate agent. And whilst the landlord might hope the the property value has risen since then, it might have fallen.

I think you’re right, OP, to separate the emotion and look at buying what you would want to.

Yes, moving again is a pain, but that would be better than buying a home that you may regret in the long run. Although, seems LL may be a bit of a prick, and this house is not an option anyway. Does seem bonkers, but he’s entitled to go whichever way he wants, bonkers or not.

Good luck with the house shopping, I hope you find what you really want. In a few years time, this pain will have faded and you’ll be set up in a home that really is right for you and your future.

Surely he could get three quotes from estate agents to find out what the going rate is for the property and then sell it to you privately. That way he avoids the estate agency fees. Win-win!

If the Landlord has no intention of selling to the tenant - and he's made it clear he doesn't, then why would he bother giving an inflated price to them?

If he'd been pressing them to make an offer, then yes, ask to check. But if they're not going to make a deal then he has no reason to over-inflate the price.

It seems very unfair of him, especially since he can continue taking rent right up to completion. We are in the process of selling a house and the current tenants originally said they were interested in buying so we thought that would be perfect (their situation has changed and they're now moving out of area, sadly)

he obviously knows nothing about the state of the property market

OP you must have a sense of roughly what it's worth. Look at what other properties on the road have gone for recently, or similar houses in the area. You must have a sense of whether you can realistically afford it?

Be honest with yourself: is it really the case you can't actually afford it and were quietly hoping he might let you have it a bit cheap? Nobody is ever going to do that, to be honest. Any property owner will want to get the max value of the property in selling it.

Can you afford to buy it??

If you live in the property, there is nothing to stop you from having an estate agent come around and value the property.

Then, if you are willing to pay a little over that amount, let’s call it « X » you could write to the landlord « I will move out if you wish, but alternatively I am willing to pay you X plus an extra 5% to save me the hassle of looking for a new place and moving once or even twice, and you will meanwhile also avoid paying any estate agent fees. I would be able to exchange within Y weeks and complete on the same day. But if I have to move out and look at other places, then my maximum offer will be only X. »

If the landlord’s motivation is money, then having a piece of paper with a number on it might make him reconsider his position, especially if it’s a good number from his point of view.

If he actually wants the property for something else, there is nothing you can do about it - it is his house.

Honestly I just did a quick google of "when do new tenancy laws come in UK" and the AI at the top said likely October.
I should know better,
It now says late 2025 or early 2026.

Estate Agents can't always tell the upper and lower prices of a property - and you say it is a unique one anyway. Not the same scenario as there was no tenant, but when my parents died during the pandemic, the EA valued the house for probate. Because of lockdown we couldn't sell for over a year and by that time the value (as judged by the same EA) had gone up by more than £20k.

We then asked them to put it on the market and they suggested that we allow some neighbours to look round it who had just been let down on a house, which we did. They offered the asking price. The EA then suggested that we just sell to them and not bother putting it on the open market.

My siblings were OK with this but I didn't agree and it went on the market and we got an additional £75K because someone really really wanted it. So it ended up at nearly £100k more than the probate valuation. Until something goes on the open market to a wider audience, you don't really know what it's worth. The valuation of properties is not an exact science, which is why we then had to pay CG tax but that's a different story.

Of course I guess the opposite could have happened and it could have been worth less.

I don't know what people are reading here to keep on giving advice to write to LL, point out benefits of private sale etc etc. Just a sample from OP's posts:

He’s not even engaging in conversation about the house, I’m just shut down and thanked for understanding

he’s completely shut down any form of negotiation on any level

In his last message he did say he wouldn’t engage in a private sale

He couldn't be clearer and OP knows that. To keep on pushing would be loopy.

You can't get an EA to value a house you don't own and on which he'd make no commission.

Yes you can, it’s done for probate all the time.

The time after Covid was an utterly insane time for the property market, though. Many properties sold subject to contract before they could reach Right Move. There were crazy bidding wars between multiple buyers which led to hugely-inflated sales prices being agreed. Some of these could not be honoured, as the mortgage companies refused to lend more than they thought the properties were worth. People also made hasty offers out of desperation, only to get cold feet later.

I don't know if we will ever see a market like this again.

He's given you the reason- he thinks he can get a better price on the open market.

I know it's a wrench having to move, but it would be good to see it as an opportunity I think. It means you can make your mortgage offer and capital work for you by buying on the open market- in the long run you might end up with a better, more suitable property. He may have taken the wrong gamble and his property sits on the market at too high a price and not earning him rent.

I've not read the whole entire thread, only your responses OP. So maybe someone else has already covered it...

In one of your first posts you mentioned that you don't have any rights. Wrong! You do, and you're in a very strong position.

Only 2 people can end a tenancy - YOU the tenant, or a court judge. The Section 21 (which might not actually be valid - check it!) is notice of his intention to apply to the courts for the tenancy to be ended. You don't have to move until a judge has issued an eviction order. So there's 4 options.... You move out voluntarily, or you stay and he sells with a tenant in situ (getting a lower price, loss of thousands), or he spends months and months waiting for a court date (and loses thousands in fees) or he sells to you. This might sound scary, and playing hard ball, but you hold all the cards right now. Well not all, but your position is much much stronger than you think. Get your ducks in a row, makes him an offer and emphasise how much selling to you will minimise his loss and time and is the best of those options.

Check the section 21 is valid...Did he give you the piercings prescribed information within the correct time frame? Did he protect your deposit and give you the info within the correct time? Does your house have a valid gas safety certificate? If not he'll have to correct all those things and start again from the beginning. I'd recommend having a read through the Buying/Selling/Renting bit of MoneySavingExpert forum. There's a wealth of information from experienced landlords and tenants.

And if anyone else has already posted this information I apologise for repeating what they've said! xx Hope it all works out for you.

Ps. Just read this back, and I have NO idea how that random word 'piercings' crept in. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anything you have put into the home, things you have bought, you should take with you if you saved the items there originally.

If you do that. the viewers may not be so keen to buy.