Landlords not allowed to sell home?

Hi all,

I've decided to rent out my house and move back to my mother's for a few years.

I am very apprehensive about renting out my home as I know about all the horror stories so this decision took a lot of thought. I never intend to live in it again unless I'm desperate, but it's very important to me as it's all I have and I worked incredibly hard for years to buy it and sacrificed a lot.

My question is - should I wait until a new government is formed before deciding to rent it out? I am reading the manifestos and Labour, for example, wants to bring in new laws whereby the landlord is not allowed to evict a tenant if they want to sell their home. I intend to sell it in a few years but how is that fair?

Thanks

Citizen Six

Rent it out. If they change the law, issue notice for tenants to vacate. Sell house.

Thanks for reply. Social Democrats and Sinn Fein also seem to have this in manifestos so if elected it's possible this law could be enforced. Am I the only one who thinks this is outrageous? Do I have it right? Can't sell home until tenancy runs out?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840029#Comment_122840029

Its normal pretty much everywhere else in Europe and even the Tories in the UK proposed it. Unless FF and FG get enough seats to go back in without a third leg, it will certainly be on the table for discussion in forming the next Government.

Houses can be sold with a tenant in situ; it just reduces the price they can be sold for; as the next buyer has to be another landlord. Again, this is normal in nearly every other European country.

Also, can someone please explain the following - estate agent told my tenants have the right to stay for four years if they have been renting the house for more than six month. But what if contract is for one year?

Thanks for reply. I was a tenant myself for years in different houses so I've every empathy for renters, but this proposal is putting me off. Tenant in situ brings price down. Surely landlords will flee if this comes into force?

Is that the only way it can be sold if these proposals are brought in - can only sell with tenant in situ?

Sorry for bombardment of questions! afraid to rent it out

Emblematic

I think the law needs to be changed to give tenants a bit more security. It that means that a landlord does not purchase a property (or causes them to sell up) then that is not necessarily a bad thing as the property then gets freed up for families to purchase.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840042#Comment_122840042

Contract is irrelevant and the four years is gone - its indefinite after six months. Four years is pre-2022 law. Termination can only be for the limited set of reasons (sale, need for a family member, significant renovation) and those are possibly going to be removed in the future.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting-a-home/tenants-rights-and-responsibilities/types-of-tenancy/#f2e605

Everything we're told will make landlords flee, well, hasn't. Single property owning ones have gone down a bit.

I agree tenants need more security. I didn't buy this house with the intention of renting it out, just how circumstances turned out for me. I know from reading about landlord experience that the RTB is not great so just feel like it might be too risky for me to rent out house and then if these new laws come into force I'd be unable to even sell it in a few years which is a bit of a worry.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840158#Comment_122840158

Thank you for reply. This election result will be the decider for my I'd say.

vavava voom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122839974#Comment_122839974

Which will be illegal if the new law is implemented.

The tenants could dig their heels in until the new law signed off by the president.

Private property will no longer be sacrosanct. We are fast turning into a communist dictatorship.

vavava voom

What if a person undergoes a means test for something such as receiving a grant or requesting state assistance with something.

According to the means test they’ll have a €500,000 house - but they’ll be banned from selling it and may have non-paying tenants.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840233#Comment_122840233

Was thinking that too. A lot of red flags. Might be better off leaving it empty

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840233#Comment_122840233

If they're receiving income from it, the chances of them passing a means test for anything is basically nil regardless.

blackbox

It's arguable that changing the law would go against property rights.

If you own a rented property you would be allowed to sell that rented property. The contract with the tenant would still stand.

Depending on the rent, this could be more or less valuable than an empty property.

A rental property is different from a privately owned home. Just because they look the same doesn't mean they are the same.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840261#Comment_122840261

A constitutional amendment to fix any SC decision on that would almost certainly pass.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840261#Comment_122840261

Thanks for reply. Do you think the proposals are just meant for landlords with a portfolio of properties? They never expanded really on what they mean but nearly all of them saying it in manifestos!

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840301#Comment_122840301

No, they would apply to every tenancy if brought in.

Basically, if you don't want to be a landlord long term, sell the house.

vavava voom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840259#Comment_122840259

What income? If the tenants are non-paying?

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840158#Comment_122840158

Just so I have this right, tenants now have the right to stay indefinitely in another individuals property (the landlords), once they are there for longer than 6 months?

The only way a LL could evict them is:

Sale

Need for a family member

Significant renovation.

Is that correct?

What happens if the tenant stops paying in month 7?

Emblematic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840336#Comment_122840336

Not paying rent is genuine grounds for eviction though, then the house can be sold.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840350#Comment_122840350

I don't understand the 6 month rule myself. And now selling house could soon not be a valid reason to end tenancy.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840350#Comment_122840350

You can evict non-payers (very, very slowly). That has not been changed by this at all; someone non paying is also likely to overhold - stay beyond a fixed lease.

vavava voom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840364#Comment_122840364

LOL.

You should do Vicar Street.

tom1ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840381#Comment_122840381

But a LL now can’t evict based on selling the LLs property?
Or is this law yet?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840389#Comment_122840389

Its not law yet; its just a proposal in multiple party manifestos/policy documents.

The chances of it becoming law depend entirely on election results. The more seats FF/FG need, the more chance of it happening; and if it ends up being FF/SF it'll happen.

Emblematic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840389#Comment_122840389

….

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122840397#Comment_122840397

I was planning to sell it in a few years, but if these new proposals are rubber stamped by a new government I won't be able to?

gmisk

Would you consider renting out rooms and keeping a room for yourself? A lot easier if things go sour...