Many tenants in the UK are unaware of their basic rights if their landlord decides to sell the property they are currently inhabiting – and no wonder. At first glance, this can seem like a complex legal minefield. Whilst it’s true that many circumstances will depend on what is written into your contract, including the amount of notice needed before any evictions, there are some basic rights that are set in stone. These are rights that every tenant should make themselves aware of so that you know how to protect yourself and your interests in the event of your landlord making a sale.
The Sale Does Not Affect Your Right to Stay
This is one of the most important rules for tenants to know about. It essentially means that the sale of the property does not give your landlord any extra right to evict you. This means that if you have two-months notice written into your contract, your landlord cannot inform you that you have 28 days to leave because they are selling the property. If anything like this happens, you are fully within your rights to ignore the notice or refuse to carry it out. If following this, the landlord continues to make the request, this behaviour can be considered the criminal offence of harassment.
The Terms of Your Tenancy Will Not Change
If your landlord is selling to a new owner who will take over their position as landlord, this new owner is obliged to follow the remit set out by the original landlord. All that should change for you is the particular identity of the landlord themselves. This new landlord will not have any extra rights, and they are not entitled to increase required payments such as rent, unless they follow all the proper procedures exactly as the previous landlord would have had to do.
Home Viewings Are Not Obligatory
This is where you might need to check your tenancy agreement for confirmation. However, unless specified otherwise, it’s important to know that the landlord does not have an automatic right to show any prospective purchasers around your living space. Even if the tenancy agreement does allow for these viewings, the landlord must give proper notice just as if they were showing around new prospective tenants. Usually, this means 24 hours notice, and you are within your rights to refuse the appointment or reschedule it if you require. Again, if your landlord enters your home without your permission, this can be classed as harassment and you can take action against this.
You Do Not Have to Sign a New Agreement
It might be the case that you want to have a new tenancy agreement which includes your new landlord’s name, but this is not always a good idea. For example, the new agreement may not be as beneficial for you as the tenant, as it might allow the new landlord to take away rights and change the terms of the tenancy. If you have an assured or protected tenancy, your new landlord will find it difficult to evict you, and you should be entitled to stay as long as you pay the rent. If you are considering signing a new agreement, it’s always worth taking legal advice to ensure you’re entering into the new tenancy with full disclosure and awareness.