Please help… first time buyer

[SUMMER789]

Hi all.

This is a bit of a background history of trying to get on the property ladder. I would really appreciate some advice. Iv had two properties fall through both of these were flats. There were some issues in the searches and I have lost out on a lot of money due to survey and solicitor fees. Flats were all I could afford due to my income.

Due to this I decided to look at properties further away that were freehold. I found a lovely house in an ideal location with amenities although this is a big commute I could still make it work. However it is currently tenanted, now this property has been on the market for months. Which is shocking due to how nice the house is. The tenants have not been given notice however I have been informed that they will be given notice soon I.e a section 21. (I think that’s the right one correct me if I’m wrong). I gave an offer in this which was accepted. My thoughts are why has it taken this long for this property to sell as the price is very reasonable. Why wasn’t a notice given to the tenants when the house was put on the market (is this a red flag). Also how risky is it, if the tenants refuse to go once the notice has been served. Any tenants or landlords here?

like I said I’m very limited due to my income
and this house ticked many boxes! But I’m worried and I don’t know what will happen!

thank you… summer x

There's an active thread on here where a PP is asking about the time it takes for tenants to leave, which I'd recommend you look through https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5138237-whats-the-longest-anyone-has-waited-for-tenants-to-go-were-buying

Basically it can take a very long time for a tenant to leave- they have to be served notice, which if they don't leave will result in a number of legal steps that need to be taken before they can be evicted through the courts. It could take months or even a year or so to do this entire process, during which time they could have trashed the place.

The reason it's been on the market for so long is because buying with tenants in situ is incredibly risky. A good landlord would evict before going on the market, especially if it's as desirable a property as you say.

Personally I would keep looking, unless you're not in a rush. Good luck.

Hi, it’s the fact that the house has tenants is that will be putting other people off making an offer, especially the fact they haven’t even been given notice yet.

This is fairly common with London flats but much less common in other areas. Did you meet the tenants when you viewed the property and did you get the impression they would be willing to move out in 3 months or so? Because if they are unwilling and the owner ends up having to evict them, the whole thing could drag on for many months.

As well as the smart words of the pps, I would be looking at planning applications for the area, the crime rate on the street (ADT crime checker + whatever local resources the local police offer) and I would be asking the seller if there had been any neighbour disputes or problem neighbours (it could be the tenants), and if the home had ever had subsidence or anything come up during a survey that is likely to cost over 2k to fix.

It could take up to 24 months for them to be evicted, they could also destroy the house in that time.

Even without issues it took 6 months to get the tenant out of a house we looked at (it was taken off the market for 5 months then put back on once they where gone).

Unless you are buying to let then a tenant in SITU is a nightmare and the reason no one else wanted it.

As others have said, it can take months, years, to get the tenants out and if they are not happy about having to leave they can make a mess of the place. If the current landlord was serious about selling it they would have got them out themselves. Personally I would avoid the place.