Longer term lease?

[ButterPie]

Our lease on our house is about to come up for renewal. Do you think we could ask for a longer term lease? Say, 5 years, so that the owner is less likely to sell up in that time, and we can get properly settled in and not be worried that we will be out on our ears at any moment? This house is perfect (few doors away from inlaws, nice area, perfect size, lovely decor, reasonable price) and we have two young children. It is rented through an agency, but the inlaws vaguely know the owners, and we know they used to live here but then emigrated to america (retired couple). They tried to sell, but couldn't get the right price, so rented instead.

If this lot aren't up for a longer lease, another house a few doors away (it is a rarity for houses on this estate to be for let, it is where DP grew up and we know a lot of people, so we are really keen to stay here) has a to let sign up, it is very slightly more expensive, but bigger, so do you think it is worth asking them for a long lease, or is it a non-starter of an idea?

You can ask but I'm not sure it really gives you much more security. There will still be an interim notice clause. Circumstances change and they may need to sell if one fo them becomes ill or dies or if the market picks up.

I was under the impression that, if we were still under our contract, they had to sell with us as sitting tenants? We lost a deposit once because we had to leave a house before the contract was up.

I'm not sure tbh. You may want to check with Shelter. May well depend on the specific wording of the contract and when it was signed.

It's a big ask. But probably worth asking.

They could benefit too, knowing they don't have to find new tenants all the time. I imagine that can be hard work.