Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Tenant in Situ

74 replies

purpleme12 · 04/02/2021 16:50

We've been renting this house for years
And now the landlord wants a valuation on it so it's looking to sell
Apparently with us in it or not, I guess depending on who he can get
How likely is it that it will be sold with us in it??
This has come as such a bombshell and it's just me and my child 😟

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 06/02/2021 16:22

I am looking for a house cos I'm looking for a garden too.
A friend told me today that they can't discriminate against pets now but I don't think that's true is it?

OP posts:
1frenchfoodie · 06/02/2021 17:17

There is new guidance and model contract that means landlords have to respond to a pet request within 28 days and have a good reason for saying no. But the cynic in me suspect ps anyone starting a new contract who didnt want pets would just choose somebody without pets.

purpleme12 · 06/02/2021 17:20

Yes I'm a cynic when it comes to stuff like this too
But I didn't know about this guidance

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 06/02/2021 18:58

What is a “good reason” for refusal will need to be litigated which is not likely given the cost of taking legal action about anything. And what’s going to happen? Prospective tenant asks permission for dog. Landlord says no, tenant says you haven’t given me good reason so I’m going to sue. 3 years later a judge agrees but the property is now no longer available 🤷🏻‍♀️Which therefore doesn’t get pet owning tenants anywhere even if there are no restrictions eg on leasehold property.

purpleme12 · 06/02/2021 19:36

Ok yes it's not enforceable
Still it's a good thing it's getting talked about
If a landlord says they don't want pets, what do you think about offering more money for rent each month? £25 more you think?

OP posts:
Livelovebehappy · 06/02/2021 19:40

If you’ve had a good relationship with the landlord in the past, and he has been a decent person to rent from, then I can’t see why you would want to make things difficult for him as previous posters have suggested. People who go into private renting know that there will probably come a time when the property might be sold on. Who know his reasons - may need to sell for financial reasons or health reasons. I would just start looking for somewhere else. Even if he’s selling it will take a few months for a sale to go through.

VanCleefArpels · 06/02/2021 20:29

@purpleme12 it’s not necessarily a money thing. You coukd however offer to pay for enhanced cleaning and a bigger deposit to cover potential damage by the animal.

purpleme12 · 07/02/2021 02:16

Ok I'll try that

What are credit checks for by letting agents?
It's been a while since I moved
What do they check?
Do they check if you've got any CCJs, stuff like that? Cos that can't be checking what you earn can it cos it wouldn't come up on that

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 07/02/2021 07:56

Credit checks are basically to see if you are a safe bet and yes CCJ’s will come up. And some landlords do check for income by asking your employer for income details to make sure you can afford to pay the rent. If your income is low some may require a guarantor.

WombatChocolate · 07/02/2021 09:43

Given the Covid situation and the longer notice required, you aren’t going to need to move any time in the near future.

It is up to you whether you allow viewings if the property or not.

Solicitors will advise the owner that it is always best for the tenant to be out before starting to market and unless the property is sold to another landlord with the tenant in situ who is going to stay, exchange cannot happen u til the tenant has vacated.

So, essentially you have some time to think this through and to see what works for you, rather than needing to be panicked and making choices you later regret.

How do you feel about moving on and looking for another property in perhaps a month or 3 months or 6 months? Which timescale is best for you? You don’t need to be considering getting out instantly. If you really want to hang on in there, you can refuse to leave and the legal proceedings will take ages, but you can do that if you want. Most people won’t do this but vacate at the end of the notice period given.

It is annoying for landlords when they can’t market their property as tenants are entitled to not allow viewings, however, landlords know that is the case and always need to really plan ahead with wanting to sell, and think about then their tenant will leave etc. Just deciding to sell and expecting to automatically market it immediately and that tenants will be gone speedily is unrealistic of a landlord and tenants are rightfully protected against landlords being able to just insist on these things.

What works for you Op? Have a think about it and then talk with the landlord, in full knowledge of the current notice periods required and your rights about viewings. The LL has rights and so do you. It should be possible to work together within these rights and find. Way forward.

purpleme12 · 07/02/2021 09:45

@VanCleefArpels

Credit checks are basically to see if you are a safe bet and yes CCJ’s will come up. And some landlords do check for income by asking your employer for income details to make sure you can afford to pay the rent. If your income is low some may require a guarantor.
Ok so if I don't have any CcJs then it'll pass?
OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 07/02/2021 09:52

Their credit checks only look for the stuff which is in the public domain (and can be found on the insolvency register, essentially), so bankruptcy, IVAs, CCJs etc. It's not the full check with everybody you owe money to and the level of debt you have.

Checking income will come from pay slips / reference, as per PP above.

purpleme12 · 07/02/2021 09:55

Ok I don't have any CCJs or debts so I guess I'll be ok?

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 07/02/2021 09:59

As long as your income meets the required multiplier, you should be fine.

Many ads tell you how much you'll need to earn to rent that particular property (it's a multiplier of the monthly rent).

NoWordForFluffy · 07/02/2021 10:01

Here's one agent's affordability criteria.

purpleme12 · 07/02/2021 10:02

My income from work doesn't. Although I get top up.
But those rules really piss me off
I have a guarantor at the minute. I've never missed a payment though so I don't need one!

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 07/02/2021 10:04

I just was making sure about the credit check one cos wasn't entirely sure what that checked you for cos that's not for income

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 07/02/2021 10:09

Have you had a look to see what's available in your area? I'd just keep an eye out and move when something you like comes up.

It doesn't sound like he's even served notice yet, so you have a fair while to get to grips with it all.

murbblurb · 07/02/2021 10:10

For the person upthread suggesting a bigger deposit for pets - no, illegal for landlord to accept. Ctnaft shelter who campaigned for this and ask if they will pay the extra pet rent...

murbblurb · 07/02/2021 10:10

FFS. 'contact' shelter.

H202 · 07/02/2021 10:13

@purpleme12

We've been renting this house for years And now the landlord wants a valuation on it so it's looking to sell Apparently with us in it or not, I guess depending on who he can get How likely is it that it will be sold with us in it?? This has come as such a bombshell and it's just me and my child 😟
I'm house-hunting to buy and up to half of all sales of some estate agents say "INVESTORS ONLY - TENANTS IN SITU".

Could you ask if this is what your landlord is doing?

purpleme12 · 07/02/2021 10:21

@h202 oh that's interesting I guess that's something to think about

Do you think I could ask letting agents for his phone number to discuss the situation?
Is that something people do?

OP posts:
H202 · 07/02/2021 11:24

[quote purpleme12]@h202 oh that's interesting I guess that's something to think about

Do you think I could ask letting agents for his phone number to discuss the situation?
Is that something people do?[/quote]
Yes, definitely, or ask the letting agent acting on your landlords behalf to see if he would be willing to sell with tenant in situ.

Remind them that you've been a great tenant.

You have nothing to lose.

Good luck I hope it works out well for you.

purpleme12 · 23/02/2021 16:47

I've told him I'd prefer to stay here as we're settled
I guess it's up to him now
Confused

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread