Buying a house currently tenanted...

[Artygirlghost]

I saw two houses in Deal, Kent, which I really liked and am considering making an offer on one of them.

Issue is both have tenants in at the moment:

• House A: I was told the single tenant is leaving in January to move to a different part of the country to be closer to family
• House B: has a family in the property and they are preparing to leave but ''have not found anything yet''...

Both house seem to have been well-maintained by the tenants and are in quiet, lovely parts of the town.

I have made clear to the agent that any offer I would make would be dependent on proof that the tenants have been given the correct notice and confirmation of when they are due to leave.

I am planning to rent in the area for 6 months to a year while a sale process goes through so I would not be too worried if there is a slight delay but I am concerned if the tenants were to refuse to move in the long term.

What would you do?

I would say that I will only exchange when the tenants have moved out

and I would brace myself for that not to happen and keep looking for other houses at the same time

Agree with PP. Don't exchange until tenants have moved out.

Yes exactly as pp just said. You need vacant possession before you exchange.
Your solicitor won't let you otherwise

The risk with house B is that the tenants hang on and on, ultimately wait for eviction delaying your purchase considerably.
As others have said no exchange till there is vacant possession.

I wouldn't even get as far as exchange before the tenants are out.
Would suggest survey and searches, and then pause proceedings until the house is empty.

Great! thank you so much for all the advice.

I prefer house A anyway so will not pursue further with house B.

I will tell the agent that I am interested in house A, but would not exchange until the tenants are out, should my offer be accepted.

I am just going to plan for a year rental to make sure there is time for everything to go ahead and to find an alternative house to buy, should the tenant in house A not move in January as planned.