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.

Its not a test. She asked if we think shes being unreasonable. Posters have voted and expressed their views, which is fair enough. Shes not obliged to change her mind because online strangers have cast a vote.

The purpose of the thread is to consider others opinions not force her bow down to them.

BTL mortgage anyone?

And giving them significant notice

Quite. And people often confuse the majority view with the ‘right’ view. It’s not necessarily the case.

OP asked AIBU?

90% of people say YES YABU. (90% of nearly 3000 people!)

The OP says 'no, I'm not. You're all wrong!'

Happens so often on here! 😆

I think it's reasonable for people to ask 'why on earth did you even post the thread OP?!'

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7 years is a good long run. It's your house, you don't have to keep renting it out commercially. I think it's ideal to allow the family a bit more time to find somewhere but housing them forever is not your responsibility.

Served the Section 21 a week before the tenants would have increased rights. Shameful

Yes, good point, another thing the landlord doesn"t ( or didn"t) need to do.

She doesn't need to change her mind but I hope that she does consider what might happen if her nieces friends at uni find out that she has her own house. This might not end well

They don"t need to be out until September though, and they have been offered two other properties courtesy of the same landlord, not really "shameful" by any sensible definition?

Only because the niece isn't going back to uni till September

Yes it is

I agree. But thankfully, they will have increased tenants rights soon.

It's because of private landlords displaying the kind of behaviour from the OP, that these new laws are coming in.

THANK GOODNESS. Can't wait for private landlords to have less opportunities to just throw the tenants out OF THEIR HOME, for their own convenience.

Anyway last page

This thread is going to be closed soon

I agree.

Thankfully.

Thank goodness. 😆

I think there are a lot of renters on this thread with an axe to grind who just hate landlords. Ignore them. You’re looking after your niece. How can that be morally wrong? It’s lovely.

It’s telling that many who seem to hate OP, also seem to lack reading and comprehension skills.

Well done Op for looking after your family,

I'm exhausted now. 😆

Sorry. Meant to put that all in one post

I think there are a lot of renters on this thread with an axe to grind who just hate landlords. Ignore them. You’re looking after your niece. How can that be morally wrong? It’s lovely.

It’s telling that many who seem to hate OP, also seem to lack reading and comprehension skills.

Well done Op for looking after your family,

I mean it's the OPs house it belongs to her the tenants are there under an agreement between the two of them not just between the tenant and the house. They both have rights and the OP is exercising hers. Bummer but that's renting unfortunately.

Or a lot of people who disagree with what the OP is doing.

It's farcical that you assume that people defending the OP's tenants are all 'renters with an axe to grind.' 😆 Some of us are thoughtful and empathic people who are supportive of people who have no voice of their own, and are vulnerable. The OP is in the wrong here, and the result of nearly 90% of almost 3000 people illustrates that.

And you really didn't need to post the same post twice.

(You posted this one, and then posted it AGAIN a few posts after.)

Goodnight everyone.

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I think there are a lot of renters on this thread with an axe to grind who just hate landlords. Ignore them. You’re looking after your niece. How can that be morally wrong? It’s lovely.

It’s telling that many who seem to hate OP, also seem to lack reading and comprehension skills.

Well done Op for looking after your family,