Do I mention this?

[heisenberg]

Hi all,

My landlord has recently sold the property I currently rent seemingly as a result of the stamp duty holiday and the new tax changes affecting landlords, and was quite deceitful in the process. Over the course of the past 6 months, I have had to put up with renovations, photographer visits and around 20 or more viewings, all whist I am clinically vulnerable in regards to COVID and my health is poor.

I was served a Section 21 notice, and it seems the prospective buyer is buying the property for the purposes of residing in it, and is looking to move in shortly.

There is a major problem with the property, specifically in terms of noise from the upstairs apartment. The building is not well constructed at all, and when my upstairs neighbour gets up at 3am to go to the toilet or something, it would wake up the heaviest of sleepers.

I very much doubt the landlord told the prospective buyer about the above problem, which is arguably unlawful (Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations), and I would never buy the place knowing about this serious problem. The only reason I haven't moved is because I have been surviving on state benefits due to my poor health, and I don't have the problem of having to go to work the next day.

I have a surveyor coming to inspect the property next week. Is it right that I mention this? I feel I have a duty to the prospective buyer.

I have found a new place to live, and will be signing the tenancy agreement shortly.

[echat11]

You could do, but if you don't it won't make a difference to you, as you are moving. It's not your responsibility as such.

[heisenberg]

You could do, but if you don't it won't make a difference to you, as you are moving. It's not your responsibility as such.

Agreed, but is there not a moral responsibility? These poor people are about to make one of the biggest purchases and decisions of their lives, and they have almost certainly not been given all the material information.

[echat11]

Agreed, but is there not a moral responsibility? These poor people are about to make one of the biggest purchases and decisions of their lives, and they have almost certainly not been given all the material information.

As my previous post, it really is up to you, what you decide to do.

[islandgirl]

The new buyers may not be planning to live there but to also rent it out?

[echat11]

The new buyers may not be planning to live there but to also rent it out?

Good point. The number of people who say they will live there, then it turns out to be a rental.

[heisenberg]

The new buyers may not be planning to live there but to also rent it out?

No, I'm told that they will be living here.

[heisenberg]

If they were looking to buy the place as an investment, they could have kept me as a tenant, not least because I have lived here for 15 years and have never been in arrears with the rent.

[islandgirl]

True but the vendor will get less money for a tenanted property than for one which has no tenant.

[heisenberg]

True but the vendor will get less money for a tenanted property than for one which has no tenant.

So what you are implying is that my landlord has been very greedy? I think that is reasonable to believe.

[islandgirl]

I would not say greedy. Just making the most they can when selling an asset as anyone would.

[heisenberg]

I would not say greedy. Just making the most they can when selling an asset as anyone would.

There is a serious moral issue involved here though; he is not selling a bicycle or a car for example, he is selling a place that has been someone's home for 15 years, and he was very deceitful and manipulative in the process. Indeed, if he or his lettings agent were misled by me in any way in regards to the obtaining of the tenancy, I would have been evicted, but he can seemingly be dishonest with complete impunity.

He has also shown an abject lack of empathy, and has made my life a complete misery at the worst possible time. I think it has been about greed, and he has been completely ruthless in the process. I truly hope that the average human being is better than that.