So my landlord is selling my flat. The tenancy is included in the sale, so I don't *have* to move, but I'm in my option year, where either of us can give two months' notice.
Am I right in thinking the new landlord could come in and give me two months' notice that he's increasing my rent, or wants me to leave, or what have you?
Also, how much control do I have over setting the hours that agents can show the place? Can I say, for example, "Only when I'm at work, between hours a and b, and not at all on Saturdays"? With no notice, the agent came at 9:30 this morning, with potential buyers, and I was still in my pajamas. My lease says I only have to allow showings during the last two months of the contract. But, again, I'm in the option year, so I could get notice at any time. (And I imagine that it would be easier to sell without the tenancy.)
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14-09-2010, 01:13 PM #1
Selling a flat with a tenant (I'm the tenant)
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14-09-2010, 01:38 PM #2
thats a bit of invasion of privacy. all i know is that it's not normal practice for agents to show the flat to other buyers while the flat is still being rented. plus, you mentioned that it's best for them to show the flat while you are still at work. bad idea...now that's just trespassing.
During your optional year, the landlord has the right to give you a month's notice to vacate the premises or negotiate for a new rent price. you should read your tenancy agreement which further outlines these kind of things
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14-09-2010, 02:06 PM #3
It is quite a NORMAL practice for agents to show a tenanted property ................. but .......... only with the tenants consent. You decide when and how and the agent MUST give you advanced warning. I hope you ripped him a new one for being so stupid.
You should have changed the locks on your door when you moved in ( if you didn't that's VERY FOOLISH and its dirt cheap to change the barrel of the lock ) so the landlord / old tenant has no way to access the apartment whilst your not there.
In regard of what the new landlord can do. Its exactly the same as the old one as the contract will continue. You might look at asking the prospective buyer what their plans are and this is an asset to allowing a viewing. You will get advanced notice of intention.
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14-09-2010, 04:12 PM #4
Is it standard to change the locks of a rented apartment when you move in?
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14-09-2010, 04:21 PM #5
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14-09-2010, 04:48 PM #6
according to Hong Kong law, you have every right for not allowing anyone, even the flat owner, into your flat at any time without your consent (of course, unless there is a court order or suspected criminal activities but executed by the proper authority.). I have seen flat being sold by the owner but buyer cannot visit the flat at all 24/7 until the tenant finished contract and moved out. So, you can say no to the owner and case closed.
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14-09-2010, 05:12 PM #7
Absolutely - chances are more than one agent had keys to the apartment and then who knows how many copies were made for easy showing when it was on the market, by others in each agency. It's always the first thing I do and then the day I move out, I put the original chamber back in.
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14-09-2010, 05:17 PM #8
Agree with Fiona its very imortant that you change the locks of a rented apartment .
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14-09-2010, 05:43 PM #9
i would use this oportunity to negotiate with the current owner. the owner obviously wants to show the unit. what do you want in return?
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14-09-2010, 08:47 PM #10
I second dtb. One of my friends bought her apartment without seeing it because it had a tenant at the time. Similarly, looking for a flat to buy recently we have been told by a number of agents that we can't see the property we are interested in until the tenant has moved out - or they say they will only show it to us once we have made a firm offer. I thought this very odd at first but it does seem fairly standard practice.
Originally Posted by bangbang:
