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.

Even further if they plan on following the bizarre suggestions of the OP.

I'm a landlord who has just sold a property to the first viewer. The decor, cushions etc wasn't of any interest to the viewer. They only wanted knowledge of any structural issues (which was none). There's nothing your son can do to stop or delay the sale

The property will sell no matter what you try to do to deter. Your better to put your efforts into finding a new property instead of trying to (and Likely failing to and being homeless)

Isn't that what what the OPs son is trying to avoid? Being homeless.

On the basis OP is being obstructive to every solution put to her here, I'd say that is what she wants. Perhaps she wants him to move back home.

The cushions are irrelevant. It's the intent behind it - that you are literally asking the question how to make the flat more unsellable so that they your son gets a chance to buy it at a knock down price.

I don’t understand the fixation on cushions either. Do people really think cushion will make or break someone choosing a property 😂

Wow. Is this really the way you have raised your son and your family values???? one day there will be no more landlords and no property to rent, so then what happens to those who cant buy????

if he is or may be interested in buying, the ONLY way forward is by opening the co cersation with the landlord.
they may both find a deal that suits them: LL will save money in fees, your son will save money in surveys and cost of moving.

do NOT tell him to delay the sale, that is really despicable and low.

Another ll might by the place. So.they need to appear good tenants

How much harder do you think it will be for your son to get new accommodation without a decent reference?!

I think as a buyer, the only thing that would genuinely put me off is a tenant being physically there while I viewed, and them making me aware they hadn't yet been given notice to leave.
I would know then that any purchase is realistically a minimum of 4 months to go through, but realistically 6-8 months.
I think if I was in your sons position, I would seriously consider telling the estate agent I would only allow viewings while I was physically present in the property, give them a couple of set shifts a week for that, so Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, etc, and live normally while they were happening- let the estate agent do the viewings while I'm sat watching TV, doing laundry, eating breakfast in a normal level of clean house. That way, you're not being deliberately obtuse, you are allowing viewings, but lets face it, it's an unappealing prospect.
I would also consider changing the barrel on the lock, so unauthorised viewings can't happen 'accidentally' while I was out.

I will also follow that up to say that I am a landlord of a single property myself, and at the point that I may need to sell, it would be after the process of the tenant leaving was complete. It's asking for trouble not to at the very least give notice first, and be a couple of months in the process.

Thanks @anon2022anon, much appreciated.

It’s not surprising so many landlords are selling their rental properties.

Is this a piss take? How dare you. It’s not their property and tenants like your DC give everyone a bad name.

What a disgusting attitude.

Calm down dear.

It’s ok she was only thinking of moving a few cushions around. I know 😂