Selling house to tenant in two years time?

Selling house to tenant in two years time?

8:15 AM, 18th July 2024, About 5 months ago 16

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I have a long-term tenant who wants to buy my house. It would suit me to sell it in about 2 years, unless other things change, as my fixed rate mortgage ends then.

I haven’t found any helpful advice online on how to sell to a tenant. I assume that we would both have valuations done agree on a figure and then engage conveyance solicitors.

However, I use an agent (who did not find or introduce the tenant) and I assume that I need to retain them until we exchange contracts (I live a long way from the house now).

Any advice (or horror stories) read with interest!

Cathryn


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Josie Hawes - Guest Author

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14:48 PM, 18th July 2024, About 5 months ago

Hi, this might not be what you want to do but just in case you hadn't thought of it. When we sell to tenants we typically use an option agreement which runs for however many years so you could do 2 but we typically do 3-5, you then give them a slightly discounted rent which is fixed for the period of the option agreement but they pay a top up with you basically save on their behalf for them to use as the deposit when they come to purchase. You also fix the purchase at the beginning of the agreement. It has worked quite well for us but you need to remember that you still have all the same legal obligations as there will still be a tenancy agreement during the option period.

Leandro Guerrini

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7:48 AM, 19th July 2024, About 5 months ago

Hi, question... Did you buy your BTL through an LTD or personal?
Do you need the lump sum or would you be open to have money coming every month?

Me personally I would actually use a vendor's finance but it depends on your needs.
That means that you make a legal agreement with first charge on the house and sell it to the tenant for a monthly payment with an interest lower than any bank (Let's say 3.5%) for the time they would have a normal mortgage.
Basically you would receive the monthly value + the interest rate (reviewable based on inflation). It's a win win and you would receive way more than the house price and they would pay less.
Speak to a financial advisor based on your personal circumstances.

Graham Bowcock

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8:44 AM, 19th July 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Leandro Guerrini at 19/07/2024 - 07:48
Your are offering a mortgage which is a highly regulated product and therefore this is (probably) not a viable option. If the tenant/buyer has to borrow elsewhere with some finance from the vendor, no lender would go for that - especially if the vendor retains a first charge.

There seems to be no reason not to simply sell the house if that's what the parties agree.

Puzzler

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8:27 AM, 20th July 2024, About 5 months ago

You each instruct solicitors and they will take care of everything else. Use a decent one not a panel conveyancer.

With regard to the letting agent getting a sales commission, even if this is in the contract (and it often still is), unless it's something you have negotiated separately (which you most likely have not), this clause is not enforceable - after Foxtons [2009].

Judith Wordsworth

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11:02 AM, 20th July 2024, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Puzzler at 20/07/2024 - 08:27
The purchaser may have to use a lenders panel solicitor or pay an additional fee.

Never ever though use an online conveyancing company

GlanACC

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21:53 PM, 22nd July 2024, About 5 months ago

I have done this, I actually had a clause in the AST (6 month one) that allowed the tenant 50% back on rent paid provided they purchased the property at the end of the 6 months. Also gave them a 5% discount of the price.

Didn't have any issues. - the mortgage company asked me to sign a paper saying that I was gifting the 5% to the tenant (which was put towards the deposit)

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