Simply don't know what to do.

[Cantgiveitaway]

4 years ago we inherited a house. It has been on the market for the entirety of that time. It is on sale for approx 25% of market value. Reasons below:

The property is non-standard construction and therefore unmortgagable (we have explored this extensively).

It has a sitting lifetime tenancy on a peppercorn rent. Tenant is in their 70s and in good health.

We cannot sell it due to the above.

For those unaware, lifetime tenants cannot be evicted and the rent is very tightly controlled. We have increased it to the maximum allowed every year for the 4 years we've owned it. It still doesn't constitute £1000 a year.

We do not have any more money to put in to the property. We've done the legal required stuff. We've explored legal avenues for eviction ABD offered to give (gift) the property to the sitting tenant.

We basically need someone to come along with enough money to keep the property legally for 20+ years before they can do anything with it.

The most recent gas and electricity safety checks and the EPC have shown significant work needed in the next 12 months to keep it legal. We can't do it. Our only option is to sell our home that we, move in to a much smaller property in a different area (moving children's schools and away from family) and renting ourselves.

We have 0 savings because of the house and cannot afford basic things for our own home.

I just don't know what to do.

WWYD? We literally cannot give it away - we offered it to the LA and to a social landlord and a landlord with an extensive portfolio in the area and all said no.

In 20years, when the tenant dies or moves in to care the land might be worth something (and therefore sellable) but we can't wait that long. We had absolutely no idea the property existed until we inherited it and I've no idea why we did.

Any out of the box thinking here from the hive mind?

Has probate gone through? Because I think you can refuse it as long as probate hasn’t gone through (I’m not a lawyer).

Could you move the tenant out to a hotel whilst you do some major repairs and then… sort of accidentally… let it burn down. (Only joking but I’m sure that’s something that would cross your mind in the middle of the night when no one can tell what you’re thinking about) 😬

Is there any way to get it condemned?

Surely lifetime tenancies no longer exist following the introduction of the renters rights act? All tenancies are now assured periodic tenancies. As you want to sell, you can reasonably ask the tenant to vacate. You serve the appropriate notice to the tenant, to be followed up in court should it be needed.

OP, is it a regulated tenancy under the Rent Act 1977, or an assured tenancy under the Housing Act 1988, or something else? If it's one of those two there are ways to raise the rent to a fairer rate

It has cost us on average £4k a year due to work needed on it (windows and roof). It now needs a rewire, a new boiler and plumbing.

It's worth about £80-£100k with no tenant, possibly more.

I don't know how much. We have asked and they've just said they won't move - security, liking the area and familiarity. They've lived in it their whole life. We've offered them everything we can afford.

I'd think very carefully before approaching EH about this, as once you make them aware of the issues, as a LL, you'll be forced to get the works done within a deadline...I cannot imagine they will lend or fund repairs on behalf of a LL.

@Cantgiveitaway have you tried the we buy any property type companies?

Even if they’ll buy it from you for a pound… because they will have a kind of outlook that if it’s worth 250,000 in 20 years time it will be worth it. I think they pay the legal fees as well.

Have you told them that you are going to be bankrupt and will have to sell your home, move your family to a tiny property and start renting and losing all your money?

I wouldn’t be at all above emotional pressure.

How can shitty slumlords get away with letting their properties fall apart when you’re stuck in this.

Have you approached the we buy any house type companies?

If it was me, I’d move in.

And live with the tenant?

Yes exactly.

Let it rot. The Tennant takes you to court. You refuse to do repairs as the property isn't worth repairing. Let the court decide. In the meantime you put everything you own in trust for someone you trust. You have no assets so the Tennant is stiffed...

No but you can not renew the tenancy if you want to live there yourself....6mths a year of having your clothes and a bed there...

Gosh OP that is a pickle. I agree with the PP who suggested speaking to your MP and explaining how the laws are trapping you in an awful situation - anything’s worth a try.

Can you gift it to the tenant?

I would absolutely move in and I’m not that easy to live with.

I’ve just put your scenario into ChatGPT, it has come up with some interesting suggestions which might help.

Have you had legal advice again since 1 May 2026 when the Renters Rights Act changed private tenancies?

Is their right to stay there written into a trust?

There are specialist firms who work with buying properties like this (at a very reduced price, usually, but it'd be off your hands - https://www.landlordbuyers.com/property-buying-service/sell-with-sitting-tenants stuff like this)

What a crazy but awful situation.

Did you have a Solicetor acting for you when you inherited it?

If course she can't move in. Tenants have rights. Can you imagine what would happen if all landlords were able to move into their tenanted properties?

Regulated tenancy.

We applied to the rent officer for a raise as soon as we inherited it/ got a picture of the situation and they put it up by the max allowed (but it was £46 a year) and again 2 years later (this year) again it was increased by the max allowed.

If you know of another way, please let me know!

It won’t have changed a tenancy like this. Basically, these protected tenancies where you’ve got more rights than you would have under the new bill, they will remain as they are.

The poster said they have tried