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?

I do think you are right. There are reasons that juts don’t make sense to me.

I’ll just have to find a short term rental until I have enough saved.

I probably would pay over the asking price yes, just to be able to have some stability.

That probably wouldn't work as your mortgage provider would only lend you what they valued it at, so unless you had the extra cash, you couldn't pay more. Generally I'm with the landlord in wanting to do it by the normal process. It's hard enough selling a house and he doesn't know that you'll be straightforward. If he sells direct to you and anything goes wrong with the process at all (e.g. you drop your offer or your mortgage falls through, which isn't uncommon), he's back to square one and still has the issue of a (potentially pissed off) tenant in situ. Better for him to end the renting situation then he's free do whatever he wants with the house, and as he says, you're welcome to offer on it then. You not wanting to move out is just one of those things when you're private renting and signed a contract with a break clause.

So it was valued at £350k last year? I'm assuming was much closer to the £300k you've guessed/were hoping it is worth?

He will want to do it up and sell it for more. Unless you can offer more than its worth (which will be a struggle as the mortgage company won't lend you more than the value).

And, gently, the fact you're trying to reason why you're the better bet instead of accepting his position or offering a stronger counter offer, is exactly why he doesn't want to sell to a tenant.

I’d go back really nicely and remind him he won’t be paying estate agent fees if he sells direct to you

You wouldn't though, even without the mortgage issue, because or would be silly.

He wants you out so he can put in cheap new carpets, bathroom and kitchen, give it a fresh coat of paint and put an extra 20k+ on it.

You'd be mad to pay that extra money When the work won't have been done.

I repeat: I would NOT want to enter into the prolonged and expensive process of buying a property with this man.

He's also probably worried you'll lead him down the garden path for 6 months and then it'll get nasty with you refusing to leave and the issues that can bring and he would still be exactly where he is now but with extra costs.

He clearly isn't that bright though.

and that's why landlords don't want a tenant when they start advertising the property.

I’ve given him no reason to think that, but he could be being cautious.

This.

All this does is reinforce my need to buy somewhere that is mine!

He probably wants to clean and decorate ready to sell, which of course he can’t do with you there. He then wants the best price he can get. He’s possibly hoping for a bidding war.

The government is bringing in new laws this year to make being a small landlord much more risky, expensive and difficult. The result is landlords selling up while they still can. If your landlord doesn't get you out before October he might not be able to. If you are not out when the peoperty is listed buyers will be wary of being unable to get you to move out. It happens.

This has resulted in a glut of houses to buy and fewer properties to rent. Most people who rent cannot or don't want to buy. It's a lose/lose situation....except for the big landlords who can spread their risk, and maybe buy up some of that property for less.

And why shouldn't he want to maximise the price? Hands up who wouldn't want to do that!

It is very possible that he wants to do some minor repairs or redecoration in order to achieve best price. Usually that work lifts the value more than the cost of the work.
He can't do that with you living there, and if he has the place valued now, as a ballpark for you to make an offer, it won't reflect the uplift, so he won't make that profit.

It doesn’t really need anything doing to it. He had refurbished it whilst living here, it’s in a really good condition. The kitchen and bathroom are both new. It may need main traffic areas having a lick of paint, but that’s really it.

This post explains why LL has given notice ( and wants to sell the property)

Absolutely, I would! I’m not trying to rinse him or get a bargain. It’s just the fact that he will not engage one bit in the discussion.

As someone said previously, there is clearly something else going on which is driving this.

As a landlord I would bite your hand off. Selling a house isn't easy at the moment. He could have the house empty for months and months. That's a lot of lost rent, Council tax to pay and its really hard to get insurance on a vacant property. That's a big gamble. On the landlord forums I'm on, they all advise to sell to a tenant if the price is right and would even suggest a small discount. Are you paying market rent?

How exactly has the LL shown that?!

He's 'playing perfectly fair' to use your own stupid parlance. He's issuing due notice on a rental contract that has a break. That is his legal right to exercise, to repossess his property that he's paid good money to own, rent & maintain over the years.

The OP has since changed her story (anyone else notice this hey!?), she can't afford to buy the house at the market price she thinks it's worth right now, but may be in 4/5 months time, maybe, possibly......

Hmmm, he got it valued over 12 months ago at 350k, so estimate house inflation at 5% in Brexit land (it was 11% in Ireland btw, go figure , so rounding it up ithe house likely to achieve ~370k on the open market in it's current state. (Unoccupied)

He may be handy at DIY & work supervision and figure a few jobs, new carpets & paint throughout and possibly a kitchen renewal & a bit of staging, and he can maybe realise £410-420k.

So, the OP wishes for him to sell to her at 350k in 4/5 months when she may be able to afford that. And any issues with the sale, section form process (she has already admitted considering outstaying her lease, & hinted at becoming a real nuisance, etc, etc). It will be his problem. Yeah right OP, you expect your LL to do without 50-60k extra on the promise of you being maybe able to afford the lower price in 4-5 months.

If I were him now reading this, I'd just want you out ASAP tbh. You're potential trouble for him now & he may well know it.

P.s. Good luck OP, but act fair & don't act the maggot I.e. if you truly want the house, offer what you think it's worth & make your best offer to him. And then respect his decision thereafter on this. It was always his house & he's entitled to do whatever he likes with it within the law. Respect that at least!

Given that OP's said she's not yet in a position to buy but should be in a few months I'd say that's very possible

Certainly she could be awkward about moving out - and trash any chance of another LL renting to her in the process - but all that would do is underline why waiting for the place to be vacant before marketing it is the right thing to do

And incidentally that's exactly what many insist LLs should do ... only now this one's doing it that's apparently wrong too

In your opinion, you have no idea what he’s thinking. The bottom line is though, you need to move out. He’s following the correct procedures. If you don’t move out he’ll take further steps to evict you, and you could be liable for the costs.

You just have to accept the situation and move on.

You’re under misapprehension LL should give you some kind if preference or negotiate with you. Don’t get emotional about it, he isn’t
Agree with LL rationale. Your a bit over invested and expecting to be offered a deal
He wants to sell with no tenant in situ , that is sensible
Dont get emotional about this
It is his property, his to do what he wishes. He doesn’t have to consider your preferences

He's bonkers. Does he know how much estate agents' fees are?