AIBU to end a tenancy so my niece can live there?

[SunnyDaysAndCoolNights]

We have a house that we rent out to a family with 2 children who have been in the house for about 7 years. The house is in the same city that our niece is at university in.

Just after Xmas, my niece asked us if she could live in the house for her second and third year at uni, (possibly longer) as the houses she had looked at weren’t very nice and she can’t stay in halls.

After speaking to my husband, we decided to say yes and we gave our tenants a section 21 notice in February. Our tenants were/are not happy and have been advised to stay in the house by the council. We thought that may happen which is why we served the notice in February despite my niece not needing the house until September. We were also aware of the new rules coming in soon which would make it harder to end a tenancy.

Since finding out that we have ended the tenancy for our current tenants, my brother and his wife (not nieces parents) have told us that we are ‘typical arsehole landlords’ for ‘kicking out a family’. They think our niece, also their niece is selfish for asking, that she could have found somewhere herself and that we should have put our tenants first as they have been our tenants for quite a long time and they have children. My brother and his wife rent with their children, so obviously that may play a part in their feelings on this. I feel upset they would say these things as I think it’s normal to put your own family first. My other brother and his wife who are parents of my niece are very annoyed at our other brother and his wife.

Would you have done the same as we have or would you have put the tenants first and said no to your niece? I do have sympathy for my tenants, they’re a nice family and have been good tenants, but obviously we love our niece and to us, she comes first.

I think it is a bit of a shit thing to do, honestly. They've obviously been decent tennants so far and kicking them out seems rather unfair. It's probably much easier for your niece to find accommodation than it is a family.

Aside from anything else -and yes, personally I think this is a bit of dick move - this just feels like a poor decision financially.

Kicking a good, long term tenant out in favour of a bunch of students who will more than likely not stay beyond the end of the course doesn't seem like a very good idea.

Honestly?

you had good, stable, long term tenants who treat your house well and pay their rent.

that is invaluable.

you now have ended their tenancy in favour of a 18m (sept- jun) to two year contract with your niece.

do you know she will pay? Will she sublet, have friends over, parties? She’s young, will she keep the house nice?

i suspect in two years you will regret your decision. You’ll be looking for new tenant, and likely will be needing to refurb the property. Students can be rough on decor.

even setting aside the morals of kicking your tenant out, I think you’ve made a mistake.

I also think it’s a bit mean. And probably very short sighted because losing good long term renters in favour of students is quite the gamble (unless she’s living there alone?)

I think what you have done is awful OP, and I agree with your brother. You are making a family homeless during a COL crisis, not because your niece needs somewhere to live but because all the other houses in an entire city are apparently not up to her standards. The level of stress that a section 21 causes is horrendous, and to do it not because you need to but because of your niece’s entitlement is shameful to be honest.

Absolutely vile. Typical landlord.

Suspect a reverse here as this is absolutely disgusting behaviour and a dreadful way to treat good tenants

Just awful .

I'm with your brother on this one.

Is this a reverse? Because I can’t think why anyone would be stupid enough to evict a long standing tenant who will probably stay much longer than a 20-something who will only want to live there a couple of years maximum.

Id also say your niece sounds lije a thoughtless selfish person too for asking for this.

Yeah you've made a mistake with this one. Your current tenants probably won't have moved any time soon if they've been there 7 years. Your niece will probably move out after 2 years and who knows what it'll be like then for you trying to get some new in.

See I think differently on this one.

7 years is a good run for any tenant. They've had a long stay and I think it's fair enough if you want the property back.

If it had been less than 18m then I would think very badly of you.

I do agree with others that I suspect your niece will not look after the house in the same way and you might kick yourself. However, that's your call.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

You've ended the tenancy of a family with kids who's been there for some time, and apparently have been ok tenants, in favour of a teenage niece. Who's going to be paying the rent? Why can't she live in halls? Will she be working?

You're putting out a family for one person, a teenager. So the place is large enough for more people. Will she be subletting? I see this arrangement going downhill fast and deservedly so.

My niece will be living in the house by herself so not a bunch of students.

Money isn’t an issue. We won’t be charging her very much and we are ok with that.

She won’t damage the property, she is autistic, very responsible, quiet, has only a few quiet friends, hates parties, doesn’t go out much etc.

This doesn’t sound typical landlord at all. Most are far more business minded and it’s really rare for someone to do something so reckless.

You’ve let got a good family tenant for students who will rent the property for possibly less than a year?!

(You do know the new rules mean that even if they have a 12 month contract from September, students can give you notice for an end of June. Landlords for student properties now need to factor in never getting rent over July and August.)

Unless you plan to sell up once your DN has left, this is a very bad choice.

Why does your niece need a whole house to live in? Is she paying the same rent as the family? If not then you're subsidising her. If you're happy with that then crack on.

The renters bill can't come soon enough.

Wow! Why would you do that to a family who have been good tenants. Despicable.

Correct. How do you sleep at night?

It does not matter, what you are doing is still vile.

If this is genuine - then there are people who are capable of thinking/ saying “you know the people who live there? Could you evict them from their home so I can live there instead?”
Ugh.

Yanbu but mainly as you need to serve notice on any tenants asap before you can’t. Let your niece have it off the books.

Oh sorry cross post- so this isn’t a financial decision, more “caring for disabled family member” decision that you know you’ll lose money on ?

No, not a reverse. I’ve done it because I have chosen to put my families needs first.

Massive dick move.