To ask how to make rental flat less likely to sell?

[RainingPasta]

My son and his girlfriend have been renting a nice flat for the past couple of years but the LL now wants to sell it. They haven’t officially been given notice yet so it looks like the agent will be conducting viewings while they still live there.

They will still keep it clean and tidy but they are wondering if there is anything else they could do to make it less appealing. I suggested removing all their homely touches like cushions, rugs and pictures so it looks cold and bare but I’m not sure if that is a good idea?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. They want to delay the sale and might even be able to buy it themselves if it goes down enough in price.

Wow. How selfish!

This is what is wrong with society, it's all me, me, me attitude.

Yes.

Love it. Loads of ideas there. Particularly the not very subliminal messaging with the posters. 😀

No, just seems like sticking your head in the sand to me.

The LL wants his house back, just look for something else, better to take control than just let things happen to you.

You'll easily manage it. If not, sell the Stubbs or the Constable.

You must have some pretty poor morals to do this. What's worse is that you're passing these poor morals onto your son.

I've read through you responses and I actually feel embarrassed for you. I hope someone treats you (and your son) similar to how you're planning on treating your LL

Thanks, you sound lovely

Lots of flats are struggling to sell, so they probably don't need to do anything. Just carry on as normal. Don't go out of your way to make it look presentable for the viewing, but don't purposefully make it look bad either. If it is really inconvenient, don't allow a viewing. I think being completely obstructive is a bad idea.

I don't think removing rugs and cushions will do anything to put people off, but I don't think it is arsehole behaviour either. It's the tenant's stuff, they can do what the want with it! Slight overreaction from some people.

I would rather stay on relatively good terms with the landlord - they may need a reference or some additional time to find a new place. If it doesn't sell the LL would likely keep them there.

I would see how much interest there is in the property first.

Thanks. “Slight overreaction” is a bit of an understatement though!

They can look at the market, see prices, estimate likelihood they could find another flat nearby, get info on rental vs buying. It is worth looking at the very least online.

@RainingPastayou don’t.

Yep, If all else fails, I can sell one of my rentals.

Wondering why you think the landlord may be wanting to sell? Is it possible that they find the current tenants already a hassle? Or is it for personal reasons?
If it's personal reasons then the tenants are in a good position to end lease early by mutual agreement if they find somewhere else AND get their deposit returned with minimal fuss. Win win.

But if current tenant behaviour is already difficult for landlord then it just makes the whole situation unpleasant. And blocking viewings could lead to digging heels in with deposit, serving notice, not providing reference.

I completely understand you are concerned for them to be nicely accommodated, like any good parent. But I'm a bit worried that you're not looking at longer term effects of blocking the landlord's sale. Your son NEEDS a decent reference, whether he moves now or in a year or ten. It's part of renting, it's how it works. Don't you care about that, as the concerned parent that you clearly are?

The current rental income won’t cover his mortgage when his fixed rate finishes soon and he would have to put up the rent too much to be profitable.

And they have no intention of blatantly blocking the sale so a reference shouldn’t be affected.

They can refuse viewings …. End result, landlord will evict them in order to sell
They can make the house look uncared for … end result, a possible future landlord will ensure they don’t get to keep their home if they decide to purchase the flat. It won’t put another landlord off purchasing it just put them off the current tenants.
They can speak to the agent and ask if the property is being marketed towards to other landlords and whether they would be open to carrying the lease over.

No intention of refusing viewings.

Ok
Thankyou
Well that makes blocking the sale even more strange. You've just said the landlord needs to increase the rent. So if your son protects his position, he's also looking at a rent increase as high and fast as the landlord can get away with. Plus bad feeling, which is unpleasant and unnecessary.
Why on earth not just move?

Only allow viewings at awkward times and make sure they make it clear to potential buyers they aren't moving out.

They like it there 🤷‍♀️

But it's their house.

So they offer to pay what ever that figure is, the one that keeps their much adored home.

they can also give notice, a month or two, they don’t have to wait for LL to give them notice.

Just plain nasty. I hope the flat sells!

Surely they can do what they want with their own cushions, just like the landlord is fully entitled to do what they want with their own property according to a lot of posters on this thread. The landlord is technically making someone homeless, which they are within their right to do, and it may be through necessity and unavoidable, but I really don't think the tenant's removing cushions is in any way comparable to that. Ultimately it is shit for the tenants. They are just a bit desperate to stay. I'm sure these are normal thoughts when homelessness is on the horizon. Doesn't mean they'd end up doing it.

I’ve never bought a house because there’s been no cushions…