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 don’t think it’s a sensible long term move on your part, but it’s your property and you can do what you like with it.

I don’t understand why people on here are so incensed. I rented for years when I lived overseas (after selling up in London) and never thought I had a right to stay in a property owned by someone else. We had a 2-year lease in each case and extended once and moved to different properties the other times. I saw it as a temporary home each time.

My dad owns 2 houses he lets out. I wouldn’t dream of asking him to kick out tenants so I could stay in one of them, and I doubt very much he’d say yes if I did. Because he’s a decent landlord.

I am in the dick move camp. Aside from kicking out a family in a COL crisis (you have no idea how stressful this will be on that poor family) you are setting your (already entitled) niece up for a life of expecting handouts.

I agree with your brother. You have evicted a family with children who have been good tenants for seven years. That is a real dick move. Your niece sounds spoilt and entitled to ask you to evict your tenants to allow her to have a family home all to herself and you are as awful as her to agree to this.

Are people with no empathy and morals drawn to being landlords? They must get a kick out of treating desparate tenants like shit.

I know this isn't the typical MN view but I take the view of it's your house and you can do what you want with it. And surely anyone renting knows that's a possibility?

Especially if you're thinking of selling / stopping being a landlord now that the new rules are in place, which I know so many landlords are, and therefore wouldn't be renting to someone new after your niece leaves.

Instead of renting it to her, can you offer the money (difference between what you would charge her and what you receive from your current tenants) to secure a private rental elsewhere for the period?
And then tell your current tenants they can stay.

Im with the PPs. Who are you, Peter Rachmann?
You should be ashamed of yourselves

It's your property and you can do what you like with it. I don't think you have any moral obligation towards your tenants. They're paying you for a service and you decided to stop offering them that service.

And I say this as a long term renter myself!

I do think it's a stupid financial decision on your part though.

Also good luck getting them evicted by September! Highly unlikely the courts are chokka blocked with shit landlords like yourself issuing S21s.

I wouldn't have done this. The family needs it more than your niece does. It also makes no financial sense.
You're asking for a kicking posting about LL stuff on here though, mumsnet hates you.
So yes, bit of a dick move, but its your property and your choice.

I agree it is OPs house to do with what she wants but it's her posting here, almost smug at what she has done, wanting praise for it. Leaves a bitter taste for sure.

As your brother and SIL said it, you are indeed ‘typical arsehole landlords’.

poor family. that’s a nightmare for them. their costs will go up, it will be so stressful, they’ll maybe not be so near school or nursery.

All for one girl to stay for a short while.

Doesn’t seem like a good plan at all. you’d have been better helping the girl to find somewhere good perhaps through the agency you are with. maybe even helping financially. once she goes you could well end up woth crap tenants that destroy things or dont pay rent.

is it too late to change your mind?

Dont know why you are asking as you really do know the answer and still trying to justify yourself in your responses. You have your answer and will reap what you sow

I would have done the same in your position OP if I was able to. YANBU. It’s lovely that you are helping your niece. It’s a shame for the family but I agree that putting your own family first is normal.

Another one on team dick move here. What a shitty thing to do

The family could be given a council property which would be a more stable for them and potentially cheaper. Tenants cannot expect to stay in a property for life. The tennants in this case arent screaming and shouting about it. Its life sadly. Maybe your relative is jealous.

If money isn't an issue you could have offered to subsidise her rent to enable her to get a nicer place. Kicking out a family in this housing economy is a dick move

Dick move, sorry.

I can't believe you want to make people homeless because "family" ! I am sure she could have found a room somewhere or just sta y in halls, i have a flat with tenants could never evict them like this.

As you can seemingly afford it, why not give your niece the difference in the rent you would be charging her and she can add that to her budget.

Current tenants pay £100.
You would charge your niece £50 (if she were to move in)

So instead, keep the current tenants and give your niece the £50 balance to put towards her rent so she can afford a better place?

You’d be no better or worse off, your poor tenants would keep their no doubt much beloved home and your niece would be able to do as she pleases. It is the same difference to you financially.

They could also get stuck on temp housing for a decade or longer…

I don't think she feels smug. It seems like she's surprised and upset by her brother's reaction and looking for a sense of what side others would be on and if they would have done the same.

MN is very anti-landlords though so it's probably not the best place to come for that.

I didn’t get that impression at all. You sound like you have a chip on your shoulder.

Not sure why you have come on to ask if yabu.

You obviously think that you are being reasonable and believe your reasons to be valid.

I think it's an awful thing to do to long standing tenants who have kids and have not brought you any trouble.