Landlords help please. What are tenants rights?

[mlfc]

Many agents (especially ones I've come across) charge both the landlord and tenant.

 

When we had a low income tenant in ours, she said she wanted to stay another 6 months, we said that's fine, she doesn't need to renew the contract, but they insisted she did.

What you suggested absolutely the right thing to do as a good landlord will not throw a good tenant out and the agent will continue to collect their management fee each month. It's profiteering

[geared]

Thank you very much Mlfc for your thoughtful words.

I'm feeling very low about the whole situation today.

The letting agents are maintaining that it's marketed at the btl market but I've seen the brochure online today and in great bold letters it says **READY TO MOVE INTO**

I feel very displaced and low thanks to the ludicrous agents.

 

It's ok don't worry.

You're going to be there for the viewings, so tell each and every person that you're the current tenant and you've got 10 months left on the tenancy you fully intend to see out.

 

That should be a clear enough signal that anyone thinking of attempting to move in themselves should look elsewhere, because forcing you out will be a problem for them.

You'd have to be insane to buy a property with a tenant and just expect to quickly boot them out of the place.

[Bethsmummy]

You are guaranteed that. It's an assured tenancy. So long as you don't breach the agreement it cannot be terminated early.

 

 

From here

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/content/ending-assured-shorthold-tenancy

 

Edit - You are also correct that you can limit the viewings. Don't be deliberately obstructive, but make it clear that 1 or 2 viewings a week is the limit as otherwise it is disruptive to you and that they must occur whilst you are there to supervise. The agency selling the house should not be given a key.

 

Thanks for this. I definitely wouldn't be obstructive but I think one a week is acceptable for the agents to agree to. With 3 kids and a hectic life I would struggle to commit to more than this. The problem is its the same agents handling the sale as handling the letting so they do have keys I believe.....However should I ever find out they access the property without my knowledge I would hit the roof.

Thank you for the helpful PM'S from people. Lots of interesting info and a couple of good links aswell. Sometimes SF can be a great source of help xx

 

Oh and the agents removed the "ready to move into" wording from the e brochure within 24 hours. So I do

Feel a little happier about things. Onwards and upwards and fingers crossed there's some landlords looking for new properties out there. Xx

Edited May 24, 2016 by Bethsmummy

[Cyclone]

Given that the stamp duty hike has now taken place, we can expect to see BTL sales have a large slump for at least a few months. Last month broke some sort of record I think as people rushed to beat the new tax change.

[Tomjames]

So 8 weeks ago my landlord had me renew another 1 year tenancy (costing me £140) since then I've spent almost £1000 having new gates fitted, decorating the lounge and tiling the kitchen. Yesterday he tells me he's putting it on the market (with me as a sitting tenant)

I have to assume the buyer could want it as a home for themselves though....in which case what are my rights as a tenant. Do the new buyers have to see out my 10 month remaining tenancy or would they have to give me the statutory 8 week notice???

Also how many viewings would be classed as an invasion of our privacy. I tried to negotiate with the agent today that I would agree to maybe 1 viewing a week. But she started umming and ahhing that should demand be high for viewings we'd have to kind of put up with it. Any ideas on my rights. Thank you in advance.

 

Did you pay by card or cash? If worse comes to the worse and it was paid by card there are mechanisms in place to get your money back.

 

---------- Post added 25-05-2016 at 08:05 ----------

 

Thanks for the link mlfc. Good info x

First time I've ever paid for a renewal in 12 years renting. But that's the big letting agents for you. You don't mind if your getting 12 months assurance though. Now I'm not even guaranteed that.

 

Was it Blundells by any chance?

[Cyclone]

Get what money back? For the contract renewal? There are no grounds for getting any money back here.

[geared]

Given that the stamp duty hike has now taken place, we can expect to see BTL sales have a large slump for at least a few months. Last month broke some sort of record I think as people rushed to beat the new tax change.

 

I think there might be a surge in BTL sales of cheaper houses TBH.

As obviously with the stamp duty rise the more expensive the house the more tax you're paying on it.

 

Cheaper house, less tax. (also less rent, but there are some areas where you can still pick up houses in the 100K region and get £500-£600 PCM rent)

[Cyclone]

Cheaper house pre-May, very much less tax. Hence there was a huge surge in April.

 

100k house will now attract an additional 3k in stamp duty, which takes out a years profit immediately.

[Jeffrey Shaw]

(Sigh) There is NO stamp duty on land/property, only on stocks/shares. The SD rate of 0.5% is unchanged.

Stamp Duty Land Tax is an entirely different tax- different in its application, rates, the lot!

See https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/overview

[Bob Arctor]

Personally I wouldn't rely on a few posts on Sheffield Forum for legal advice. I think you should contact Shelter http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/how_we_can_help/housing_advice_helpline and see what they say. You can email for advice if the Helpline is busy.