Sitting tenants increasingly face eviction in ‘landlord exodus’

Sitting tenants increasingly face eviction in ‘landlord exodus’

0:04 AM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago 11

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Thousands of sitting tenants are facing eviction due to struggling landlords selling their properties before the tenancy agreement ends, research reveals.

House Buyer Bureau says there has been a ‘landlord exodus’ in recent months across the country as landlords struggle to make a profit in the face of rising BTL mortgage rates.

Its analysis also reveals that buy-to-let mortgage arrears are escalating at a faster pace for landlords compared to homeowners, underlining how difficult life in the private rented sector (PRS) is becoming.

And that struggle is seeing growing numbers of landlords opting to offload their properties before the tenancy agreement has ended with the tenant in situ.

‘Landlords often get a lot of stick’

House Buyer Bureau’s managing director, Chris Hodgkinson, said: “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.”

He added: “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.”

12,518 properties are currently listed for sale

The research reveals that there are 12,518 properties are currently listed for sale that have sitting tenants.

Rented properties in the North West account for the largest share, with 20% (2,545) of these properties up for sale.

The South East follows closely, with 17% (2,188) of properties listed.

In other parts of the country, Yorkshire and Humber represent 13% of the total, and the East of England at 12%, and the East Midlands and West Midlands both at 11% each.

‘Effectively being sold as part of the house’

Mr Hodgkinson said: “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.”

He added: “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.”


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David Twitchen

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11:55 AM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

I own several flats and see pipeline service charge and mortgage cost inflation rising a lot further yet. In my sector of interest, I have yet to see Vendor expectation falling significantly. This story has a long way to run.

Paul Essex

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12:46 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

If only those landlords had warned the authorities in advance!

Peter

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14:02 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Whichever way you look at it: Renter's Reform Bill, EPC demands, Licensing etc. It will be us Tenants who lose our homes and have to pay more rent as so many Landlords have had enough and the pool of rental properties gets smaller.

Reluctant Landlord

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15:53 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Tracy at 23/08/2023 - 14:02
please report this very obvious fact yo your MP and copy in Shelter and Gen Rent!

Apparently Shelter speaks only in tenants best interests so be great if you put them right!

northern landlord

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16:31 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

A landlord would need to be in pretty dire straits to sell with a tenant in place as it limits the market appeal of the property and I understand that they would lose around 20% of open market value but there must be some who are so desperate that they can’t wait to evict the tenants themselves. Most tenants who are “sold on” will probably not have much AST left or will already be on a periodic tenancy so they have no protection from eviction by the new owner.
I wonder who is actually buying these properties given the lack of new landlords entering the PRS? Obviously some landlords are looking to increase their portfolio but all the evidence points to the number of PRS properties dropping so that can’t be a major factor. I can envisage hard-nosed cash rich speculators who do not want to be landlords, preying on desperate landlords snapping up their tenanted properties at a 20% discount and moving immediately to evict the tenants so they can flip a vacant property back onto the open market to make a 20% profit. With luck the tenants will leave when their notice runs out and the new owner will receive rent until the last minute. If the tenant does not want to play ball it will take longer and cost a bit but the return will still be good. I suspect that these speculators will be a growing breed circling the dying PRS like a flock of vultures

Paul Power

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17:15 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 23/08/2023 - 15:53
Very little point as a reasonable outcome for all parties doesn't suit any political or funding agendas, therefore it'll be disregarded.

Whiteskifreak Surrey

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19:49 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 23/08/2023 - 16:31
I was planning to do a list of those vultures and post here. I see about 30 of them on FB. Everyday there is a new one. Apparently they offer about 70% of house value, and lower it to 50% just before the exchange.
I am surprised it is allowed, that the purchase price does not stand..
As usual - only in England...

Alison King

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20:04 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 23/08/2023 - 16:31
Well, we are buying one, in cash. Following an inheritance we are lending our daughter the money as its a unique opportunity for her to get on the housing ladder and move out of the family home. We've bought the property at auction for a below market price. The landlord can no longer afford the mortgage according to the estate agent. We are sorry about the tenant, who will have to move out. Five years ago we'd have invested in two or three buy to let properties with mortgages and used the income to help our daughter with rent for a flat until she could afford to buy herself. Now that plan won't work so this is the plan for today's economy. I'm sure we aren't the only ones. Buy to let with mortgages don't work anymore.

PH

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20:33 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Alison King at 23/08/2023 - 20:04
Congratulations, look after your own as no one else will, not in this game anyway.

Helen

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14:04 PM, 26th August 2023, About A year ago

I thought the term 'sitting tenants' no longer applies. Using a Section 21, tenants can be evicted after 2 months as long as they are 4 months into a new contract. Of course if they don't leave then it takes time to evict them through the courts. I'm selling my portfolio and have 3 flats being sold currently. The average time from finding a buyer (which has taken 3-6 months on average apart from one which took one day!) to exchange is 6 months on average. This leaves ample time to arrange the Section 21 notice. It would be impossible to sell for me with a tenant in situ. No investors are buying in my area (North London) and my purchasers are all first time buyers as my flats are quite small and relatively cheap.

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