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Original poster

Buying a house with tenants

34 replies

VegeBurgers · 18/12/2023 18:42

We just had an offer accepted on a house. They did accept a low offer.
There are currently tenants in the house and they are very messy, they have a lot of possessions, they have 4 sofas in a tiny room, extra beds in the bedrooms etc. The garden is also filled with old bbq, bikes etc.
We have been told they aren’t happy about moving out. My worry is that they will leave a lot of the mess.
(I am not judging them at all, my home isn’t Instagram perfect and I know that people are trying to make ends meet and might not have time to clean)

Does anyone have experience of this? I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance for any replies 💐

OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 18/12/2023 18:43

Pull out: pull out now. Do not buy that house unless it is vacant.

Original poster
VegeBurgers · 18/12/2023 18:44

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 18/12/2023 18:43

Pull out: pull out now. Do not buy that house unless it is vacant.

Even if they are given 8 weeks notice now?

OP posts:
DaughterNo2 · 18/12/2023 18:44

They won’t just ‘leave a lot of the mess’
They May well refuse to leave!

Original poster
VegeBurgers · 18/12/2023 18:46

Ok, far worse than leaving some old bbqs then 🫨

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 18/12/2023 18:47

Yup they may refuse to leave especially if they have nowhere else to go. I think you are being slightly naive if you don't realise that is a possibility.

I would be reluctant to start spending money on a property where the tenants in situ have already indicated that they aren't happy about moving out.

If you do proceed with this property, DO NOT Exchange contracts until you have viewed it again and know for a fact that it is empty. Your solicitor should advise you about this also.

Original poster
VegeBurgers · 18/12/2023 18:52

I will speak to the agent tomorrow and check about the notice period being given and mention we will go and check it’s 100% empty and clear.
Thank you for the replies.

OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 18/12/2023 19:05

I have a property I rent out. Tenants stopped paying rent, we’ve given them notice to end the tenancy. I’m hoping (best case scenario) they will be out by April.

They will be advised not to leave until the bailiffs appear. Those tenants will probably not be out in 8 weeks and you will become their landlord. Which will be problematic if you don’t have a buy to let mortgage. And your mortgage company will probably refuse you permission to let.

Honestly: withdraw your offer and run away!

ohtowinthelottery · 18/12/2023 19:07

There is a very high chance they will not vacate at the end of their notice period. If they do vacate there is a good chance they will trash the place before they go. I've seen enough stories on MN and had a friend in RL who is a landlord who has had both of these situations happen.

UnfriendMe · 18/12/2023 19:16

Walk away immediately. The only reason they accepted your low offer was because they know how hard it will be to sell the house with nasty tenants who refuse to leave.

Whattodo112222 · 18/12/2023 19:17

This sounds like a huge mistake OP.

Floopani · 18/12/2023 19:19

Run OP, run!

This is not worth the stress.

Flangeosaurus · 18/12/2023 19:20

You will not become their landlord because your solicitor will not let you complete without vacant possession. You should check this yourself before exchanging contracts. I wouldn’t pull out if you’ve got it for a good price but I would be prepared for a wait while the tenants move/are evicted.

Original poster
VegeBurgers · 18/12/2023 19:22

Ok - tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me!
I will ask all these questions.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 18/12/2023 19:22

With all the extra beds and sofas I'm betting the tenants you have seen are not the total number . ..........

janfebmarchapril · 18/12/2023 19:22

UnfriendMe · 18/12/2023 19:16

Walk away immediately. The only reason they accepted your low offer was because they know how hard it will be to sell the house with nasty tenants who refuse to leave.

Exactly this. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole

ChateauDuMont · 18/12/2023 19:22

I bought a buy to let many years ago and the tenant in it wrecked the house either the day before or on the morning of the sale , including having every door kicked in and the front door removed and a Bath ripped out and left in the garden.

The boiler was also damaged.

In short the place was completely inhabitable and it was fortunate that I wasn't ever going to live there and had bought as an investment. After some legal wrangling I was fully recompensed but it was an unpleasant experience as at the time.

The tenant was a woman on her own! No doubt she had got the help of some burly men.

I can't imagine how horrific it would have been if someone had ugly it intending to move in!

I would strongly advise you do not buy a property with a tenant in situ that has to move out.

crozzfit · 18/12/2023 19:24

Run. On no account start a conveyance until the property is vacant

GrandHighPoohbah · 18/12/2023 19:28

Never offer on a property with tenants still in unless you want them to stay once you have bought it.

adriftabroad · 18/12/2023 19:30

OMG you are mad!

(weeks? or 8 years of lengthy battles?)

ScoobyDoesnt · 18/12/2023 19:30

As a (accidental) landlord by virtue of being executor of a will - MIL went into a care home 5 years ago and we had to rent house out to pay towards bills (back when selling the house and investing the money would have earned next to no interest) - don’t do it.

MIL died early this year, tenants advised house would be sold, but we needed to get probate - gave notice early June and they refused to leave when notice expired (despite agent constantly chasing them and them saying they were looking; we never met them as property some distance away, so agent fully managed it). They are still there.

Possession order was granted, bailiff appointment took some time. Bailiff messed up first eviction, and because they don’t evict for 4 weeks over Xmas period, it’s now mid Jan! House was sold subject to tenants moving out to plan. Lost sale we had (they were happy to wait for summer), and market has of course changed. New sale is at £20k lower.

Basically they are waiting to be evicted so they can be housed by the council. Good luck with that, this particular council has a waiting list of 10-20 years for a 3 bed plus property apparently (they have 3 school age DC).

Mamatobear · 18/12/2023 19:40

A friend of mine rents a house. Her tenant refused to leave and was ADVISED to stay without paying rent until the bailiffs came! In the end it went to court 3x and took 4 years to get her property back. She’s now paying off over £100,000 legal fees. I’d probably pull out if I were you x

Original poster
VegeBurgers · 18/12/2023 19:47

Holy shit.
I am really reconsidering now. But I would rather know now than a couple weeks in the future!
Thank you everyone.

OP posts:
FawnDrench · 18/12/2023 19:49

Do not go any further with this - please.

It's not about you asking questions from agents and landlords or whoever and getting "reliable" responses - it's all about the tenants and their behaviour, and their intentions.
You've already been warned that they don't want to move - this is screaming a thousand shouts of "stop! Please beware and look elsewhere".

You are only creating needless stress, expense and worry by pursuing this - why do you think your much lower offer was accepted?

Original poster
VegeBurgers · 18/12/2023 19:55

I have decided I am withdrawing my offer.
If I have to live with my family for a few weeks when my house sale comply and I can’t find anywhere then that’s ok.
Alarm bells are ringing loud and clear!

OP posts:
Coughingrobin · 18/12/2023 20:03

The council won’t rehouse unless tenants wait for the bailiffs as they view it as making themselves intentionally homeless. Also if it went to court 3 times your friend wasn't following the correct procedures. The tenants, however, were.