Advice to landlords who need to sell their homes when a property is being let comes from The Property Ombudsman who is experiencing a raft of compliants from unsuspecting tenants. The truth is that most tenants would not let a property is they knew it was for sale. At the same time landlords desperate for rental income do not want any void periods. The combination of differing needs has resulted in numerous complaints to The Property Ombudsman
The Property Ombudsman came into being on 1 May 2009. Formerly, the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA), the name change was made to reflect the broader jurisdiction in relation to Complaints we are now able to deal with, e.g. Sales, lettings, commercial and overseas.
Property Ombudsman Chris Hamer “I have recently seen an increase in complaints by tenants alleging that the letting agent was aware of their landlord client’s intention to sell the property but had neglected to make them aware of these intentions. Obviously, many tenants would not wish to rent a property if they knew that they may be faced with uncertainty as to a new owner’s plan”
If a landlord client tells an agent that they will be placing the property on the rental market but are also intending to sell, it would be sensible to advise them that a potential tenant must be told of the situation to allow the tenant to make an informed choice as to whether to proceed with a tenancy. Furthermore, the TPO Code of Practice obliges agents to ensure that, while their duty and obligations are to their client landlord, applicants and tenants are regarded as consumers and customers and are treated appropriately, which I consider encompasses an obligation to be treatedfairly and in accordance with best practice, with the disclosure of all relevant information”
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