Landlord selling my rented house to his friend and I think they're going to move refugees into it.

[Mammabear8120]

Is this legal? My landlord has suddenly decided to sell the house I've rented for 6 years to his friend. It was meant to be sold as an investment property with me as a sitting tenant. I had one couple view the property - and was told I had to be out by 20th May as he's selling it to his friend who came to view it. They've told me that the buyer is moving from down south to the north and wants to live in it himself. When he viewed it he walked through it like it was beneath him, barely looked at anything than a quick cursory glance across the rooms and didn't even go in the garden, look at the garden, didn't look or go in any of the bathrooms and just stuck his head in the 3 bedrooms. The buyer has lied to my landlord saying I'm running a business from ghe house which I've not been doing (just because I had a high chair in the kitchen which is for my granddaughter). He's booked a surveyor 2x to do a survey and the first time it was cancelled due to the surveyor having car trouble and the 2nd time the buyer cancelled it. The letting agency know nothing about what is happening and its been 2 weeks without hearing anything. I've no where to go and no money to even move. I've got on to the council but there's literally nothing to rent at all. My boss has slashed my hours at work so I'm going to be on half the hours I was on which means no private landlord will rent to me and I don't have a guarantor. I think the buyer wants me to move out so he can house refugees and have heard of people doing this recently in the UK. If I'm turfed out for refugees to then live innthe house where would I stand legally? I'm a full British citizen and have paid my full rent on time for 6 years, kept the house nice and improved on it with minor things. Can anyone advise me?

Ok OP let's start this again with the information you've been given.

On Tuesday morning you need to call the council.
Tell them you're being made homeless and you have two young children. Explain your circumstances and they'll help.

If your hours at work have been reduced are you claiming everything you're entitled to?

@Mammabear8120 it's understandable that you feel scared and alone, and I promise you the folks at Shelter speak to dozens of people just as scared every day. They really will have the tools to provide advice and support you are seeking.

Make the call when you've taken a breath, have a pen and paper handy and let them guide your next steps.

0808 8004444

@girlmom21

The behaviour and morals of landlords in this country is shocking. You shouldn't be able to kick someone out of their home without very very good cause.

He's selling his property. That's a good cause.

The new owner wants to live there. OP just wants us to know she hates refugees.

Like hell is it good cause.

No if you own a property to rent you should be doing it for the long hall. Not to sell on a whim. Your dealing in people's lives - their homes. It should not and never be an asset for someone else to sell on a whim. If you do sell it should be tied up in law that it is to another landlord with a sitting tenant.
No fault evictions need to become a thing of the past and tenants should be given far far greater protection and security.
A roof over ones head isn't an asset - it's a basic human need and should be a basic human right. Not something that can be used to exploit and extort money from people.

@Mammabear8120

I give up. I can't face any of this anymore. I'm shot down and labelled a racist for asking for legal advice. I can't take anymore. I can't eat, sleep or even think anymore. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, that's not my intent and wasn't meant to come across that way I any shape or form. I can't do this anymore

OP I’m a landlord. Your LL can sell to anyone they choose and evict you, as long as they give you the correct notice. Your priority right now should be looking for a new place, contacting the council and other social landlords or housing charities. The new owner can legally rent to anyone they want to and it won’t do you any good to focus on refugees. That’s irrelevant. Concentrate on your situation and making plans for your future. I genuinely hope things work out for your and your kids.

It is irrelevant what a new purchaser will do with the property - they will be able to do what they want, it will be theirs

You need to look at what your tenancy agreement states and make sure that your landlord gives you the correct notice period, etc. As long as he follows the correct processes then he can end your tenancy, for no reason

If you are not sure what the process should be then speak to Shelter or the CAB

@Frightofyourlife

Your racism is louder than your landlords inconvenient decision.

Tell them!

Has your landlord given you formal notice to leave and have you checked that it is in line with the notice period in the contract you signed?

My voluntary work is with refugees and asylum seekers. However, I can understand the frustration of those in a very precarious housing situation feeling as though new arrivals are getting hosted before them. It's possible to have sympathy for both.

I have an acquaintance who's sofa surfing with her kids after fleeing domestic violence. She has always been supportive of refugees, but right now she's seeing people bring taken in or provided with accommodation, while she's being pushed further and further back in the queue. Of course it's natural for her to feel unhappy while still having enormous sympathy for those fleeing their home countries.

OP is worried about losing her home. Give her a break. Meanwhile I'm trying to find an organisation to get a roof put over a refugee's head (not from Ukraine, so no-one much cares about him, which is another story). I can feel sorry for him, yet still understand OP feeling of resentment that she could lose her home in favour of someone like him.

We need homes for refugees, but no-one should be making other people homeless in order to do so. The house was going to be sold with OP as a sitting tenant. Now it isn't.

Dobbysgotthesocks

Private landlords are just that, individuals who own property that they rent out. You cannot legislate what individuals do with their money. There are processes in place to protect tenants and as long as these are followed nobody is doing anything wrong

Your beef should be with the government who sold off loads of social housing stock and now mean that people have to rely on private landlords

I'm so sick of private landlords being given a hard time on here. If you don't like it, don't rent from them

@Mammabear8120 you are in a horrible situation through no fault of your own and it is understandable to panic. Sit down to make a list of people to contact, eg your landlord/the council/Shelter/any other housing associations and private landlords. Maybe ask on the legal forum about notice etc, I don't want to advise because I'm very out of date. Look at the benefits calculator online about covering your loss of hours.

Most of all, breathe. You will get through all this.

• landlord=managing agents for the house.

OP - post the FACTS only on moneysavingexpert forum for house buying selling renting. The people there will give you the exact law and guide you through it.

Do NOT move out til bailiffs come - you’ve got a good few months.

Hello OP, we are really sorry to hear you are feeling this way.
We hope you don't mind, but when these threads are flagged up to us we usually add a link to our Mental Health resources. You can also go to the Samaritans website or email them on [email protected]. Support from other Mumsnetters is great and we really hope you will be able to take some comfort from your fellow posters, but as other MNers will tell you, it's really a good idea to seek RL help and support as well.

People are trying to give you advice and you are not answering their questions.
Has the Landlord given you notice to leave?
What are the terms of your tenancy agreement with regard to notice period?
These are important factors in what your landlord can/can't do. Please answer the questions so that people can advise you of your rights.

@Dobbysgotthesocks for all you know the landlord is selling because he needs to pay his parents care home costs or a million other reasons.

@BritInUS1

Dobbysgotthesocks

Private landlords are just that, individuals who own property that they rent out. You cannot legislate what individuals do with their money. There are processes in place to protect tenants and as long as these are followed nobody is doing anything wrong

Your beef should be with the government who sold off loads of social housing stock and now mean that people have to rely on private landlords

I'm so sick of private landlords being given a hard time on here. If you don't like it, don't rent from them

Most of us don't have a bloody choice but to rent from them!!! There is no way in hell I would be giving my hard earned money to someone else to pay their luxury lifestyle if I wasn't forced to. But what's the alternative live in a cardboard box. Private individuals should not be allowed to be landlords or should be compelled to do it morally if they do. They absolutely deserve everything they get on here and a lot more!

Contact shelter, and your local housing authority.
They will not house you until you’ve been evicted.

The fact that you’ve brought up your nationality and refugees has not done you any favours here. It really is irrelevant to your situation, yet makes you come across incredibly badly

[quote girlmom21]@Dobbysgotthesocks for all you know the landlord is selling because he needs to pay his parents care home costs or a million other reasons. [/quote]
That's no the OP or the tenants problem. Why should they loose their home because of the landlords decisions!!!
If they need to sell they can sell to another landlord! It's not rocket science 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Mammabear8120

I'm only asking for egal reasons! Maybe I've wrote this thread out wrong- I want to know legacy as a British citizen if I can be made homeless so someone else who is homeless can be moved in. Surely this is against human rights to do this to someone especially when they have kids

Yes. You can. You have no right to occupy a property after the owner of that property has decided they want you out of it and has followed the correct legal procedure to enforce your removal

It doesn't matter if they want to house a refugee, a martian or a massive gnome collection.

What you need to do now is prepare. Contact shelter. Talk to the LA and to housing associations. Get the ball rolling.

If you are being evicted through no fault of your own (eg you have no rent arrears, you've not broken the tenancy agreement) and since you have small children the housing dept may tell you that if you leave before you have a court ordered eviction you are voluntarily homeless and they have no obligation to you.

I know. It's fucking ridiculous and unfair all round but that's the reality.

This is a difficult situation for you but try not to panic. You need to keep a level head. As others have said, you first need to establish if the notice you have been given is correct. If it isn't, this will buy you more time. You don't have to leave when the notice expires. The landlord will then need to apply to the court to have you evicted. When you have the eviction notice, you need to approach your local Council (or even before this) to say you are being made homeless and have small children. Depending on the housing lists where you are, you may be placed in temporary accommodation or be assisted with a deposit/liaison with private landlords who rent to lower income tenants.

Reach out to your housing dept, Shelter etc and they will help.

Just wait til they evict you and then you will be prioritised for social housing

They legally have to evict you PROPERLY

No if you own a property to rent you should be doing it for the long hall. Not to sell on a whim. Your dealing in people's lives - their homes. It should not and never be an asset for someone else to sell on a whim. If you do sell it should be tied up in law that it is to another landlord with a sitting tenant
No fault evictions need to become a thing of the past and tenants should be given far far greater protection and security
A roof over ones head isn't an asset - it's a basic human need and should be a basic human right. Not something that can be used to exploit and extort money from people

I’m confused. On one hand you say that there’s a shortage of rented property and there should be more. And then you say in the next breath that landlords should have fewer rights and should not be allowed to make a profit .

So do you want all rented property to be supplied by registered charities? Or what kind of non profit making organisation did you have in mind?

I don't understand the issue this is the same level of uncertainty everyone has when they live in private. Contact your local council OP and get on the waiting list... eventually you will be given a higher priority band.

@Dobbysgotthesocks it's not the landlords problem either.

@Dairymilk50

I don't understand the issue this is the same level of uncertainty everyone has when they live in private. Contact your local council OP and get on the waiting list... eventually you will be given a higher priority band.

@Dobbysgotthesocks it's not the landlords problem either.

The issue is she's being made homeless and has young children. She is obviously very worried and wanting to get advice.

@rosesarebluey Yes I have gathered but that is unfortunately is the risk you take, OP and many others when you live in private housing.

The Landlord is perfectly entitled to sell his own bloody house. The rest is irrelevant... and unhelpful to OP about refugees... and how she's British!