I have a house - mortgaged in my name - that is currently let out to brilliant tenants. This is because, a few years ago, I moved to a different part of the country for work, but a)would never have been able to afford to buy where I was living and b)it was never certain it was a permanent move.
Anyway, fast forward to now and, due to health, I had to move back to my original area. I am living with my parents (I'm an only child, so no other siblings - relevant I think, as it's only myself and my parents to consider) and it's working really well. We now want to pool our resources and either extend their house or purchase somewhere larger together. This will entail selling my property.
My house is in a decent area, in the catchment area for a great school and has 3 bedrooms, so I shouldn't have any problems selling it.
My tenants have been brilliant - not a word of trouble or complaint in their whole tenancy, the house has been looked after (according to the property inspection done recently) and they've just genuinely seemed lovely the whole time. I feel guilty about having to sell the property - and, unfortunately, ending their tenancy to do so - but circumstances have changed and I need to free the equity in the house.
Do I contact the tenants - maybe by letter? - before I notify the letting agent, to let them know it is nothing personal and merely circumstances dictating it? Or do I just let the letting agent know and let them deal with it? They have a periodic tenancy, so there's no end of contract to worry about.
I just wouldn't like anyone to feel it was meant nastily, or vindictively. I think it might show I'm not really cut out for being a landlord, but this was an unexpected turn as it is!