Selling property with tenants in-situ is on the rise for landlords

A growing number of buy-to-let landlords are selling their investment properties with tenants in-situ, as more more property investors flee the market.

Fresh data reveals that there are currently 12,518 properties listed for sale while still having tenants in-situ.

Some 20% – 2,545 – of these properties are for sale in the North West, while 17% (2,188) are listed in the South East.Yorkshire & Humber accounts for 13%, followed by the East of England (12%), East Midlands (11%), and West Midlands (11%).

Chris Hodgkinson, the managing director of House Buyer Bureau, which carried out the research, commented: “Landlords often get a lot of stick. Tenants see the price of rent going up and often assume it’s the result of landlord greed, but this simply isn’t the case. Certainly not anymore.

“Landlords – especially those who own just one or two properties – are facing mortgage cost increases that they simply cannot keep up with. And while some are trying to combat this by passing the cost onto their tenants, others are simply selling-up and getting out of the game. That’s how bad it’s become.

“As our research shows, thousands aren’t even waiting until their existing tenants come to the end of their agreement. And while these tenants are legally entitled to stay put until the end of their tenancy agreement, they are effectively being sold as part of the house and their mid-long-term fate is to be decided by whosoever buys the property.

“This could mean that an eviction is on the horizon to make way for the new owner-occupier. It could mean that higher rent will be demanded. Whatever the outcome, it’s causing unsustainable levels of stress and concern for renters at a time where stress and concern are already at a high.

“With the current economic picture remaining uncertain at best, there’s a high chance that more buy-to-let properties will be up for sale, resulting in even less opportunities for tenants.”

 

x

Email the story to a friend!



One Comment

  1. Woodentop

    Over the last two years we have seen this increase every 1/4. It is at a stage now asking the tenants to leave and sell with vacant possession to a far wider audience isn’t happening ….. tenants can’t leave, know where to go to.  
     
    The rise of selling with sitting tenants is on the rise, but the sales are not materialising for a number of reasons, primarily over future state of the market fears.  
     
    A recent purchase that we have now got involved in, has shown that many are getting out because the property doesn’t come up to the new requirements of FFHH Act and passing the liability onto the ‘new landlord’ asap. If only the landlord had come to us first, thought they had a bargain ….. turned into a nightmare and that bargain …. well lets just say, it isn’t. Add in the tenant knows their legal rights! SDhelter will quickly tell them. Then add in the threatened EPC requirements …. one big financial loss for the landlord.  
     
    Remember if its sounds to good a deal to believe …… it often isn’t. Do your homework.

    Report
X

You must be logged in to report this comment!

Comments are closed.

Thank you for signing up to our newsletter, we have sent you an email asking you to confirm your subscription. Additionally if you would like to create a free EYE account which allows you to comment on news stories and manage your email subscriptions please enter a password below.