Property Q and A – September 2021

Auctioneer Maria Clifford gives her expert knowledge on some property-related questions in our very first Property Q and A blog…

Landlord Property Question:

I have two good tenants renting out an apartment in the city. They took it on furnished but are now saying (2 years later) that they want to buy some of their own furniture. What can I do? I do not want to sell it because I could well have to replace it for the next lot of tenants and I don’t want to pay for storage? 

Our suggestion is that you could examine the furniture your tenants are referring to. If it is in good condition and you don’t have a storage option, the tenants may need to arrange storage of it and get your permission in advance. You should know that you don’t have to agree. However, we have not seen the lease agreement signed by both parties and we are making an assumption that the lease stipulates that the tenant cannot remove the landlord’s contents without prior agreement.   

If you do choose to examine your furniture you feel it isn’t in good condition and some pieces may need to be replaced after the tenancy anyway, you could have it removed now if you wish.  

Seller’s Property Question:

I am in the middle of selling my house. My family and I are moving further out of Waterford City and buying a new house there at the same time. My problem is that the buyer of my house seems to be moving very slowly, or their solicitors are. We have been delayed now 9 weeks since we went sale agreed and it is starting to make me feel very nervous about my house purchase. The people we are buying from are chasing me every day. What can I do? 

Our advice is you need to really get a full understanding of what is causing the delay.  

Ensure the vendor you are buying from knows the situation too, as keeping the lines of communication open and transparency is most important.  

This is where your estate agent comes in. They should be able to find out the specifics of the delay and communicate this to you. In relation to the legals (conveyancing)– also discuss the matter with your solicitor. You haven’t mentioned if your buyer has signed contracts or if a proposed closing date has been agreed upon. When selling it’s important to engage a strong team ( estate agent and solicitor) with excellent communication skills.

If you have a question you’d like Maria to answer then get in touch here or message us on social media. We’d only be too happy to help.