AIBU to ask tenants to move before or after new baby?

[CatWithAPetDog]

We are landlords and have a property that our son would like to move into at some point in the next year. Our current tenants have a toddler and have just told me that they are expecting another baby in November.

If you were the tenant, would you prefer to have to move out whilst pregnant or with a young baby. I know it’s not great timing for them either way, but which would you say would be easier? We can wait a while as long as my son is moved in this time next year, but then they would have a toddler and six month old baby, so it may be easier to do it sooner with just a toddler?

They’ve been good tenants so I would like to cause them the least stress possible.

Sorry forgot to make boring make sense

YABU - Get them to move before the new baby arrives

YANBU - Get them to move after the new baby arrives

Before

Before

I would let them know now so they have plenty of time to prepare and find somewhere.

Warn them now they have max a year to move out and let them decide.

This happened to us. Tell them as soon as possible and give them a long time to find somewhere else. Stress that you will provide an excellent reference as they have been such good tenants. And if possible make it clear that there will be no penalty attached to them leaving earlier than the end of notice. It will be difficult for them to find somewhere so giving them as much notice and flexibility as possible is key.

We moved when I was roughly 4 months pregnant with DD, DS was roughly 2 at the time. I can’t image doing it with a newborn and a toddler.

I’d tell them ASAP so they have enough time to sort things out, especially during the current housing and cost of living crises

Before. And give them a long notice. Moving is stressful. Having a baby is stressful. Better if they don't have to combine the two.

Give them the option, say my son needs to move in in 18months, would you prefer to start looking now or to give you the notice after the baby is born

Give them notice now and ask what they prefer, say you are prepared to be flexible a month either side and work with them to fix the date.

Before, ideally sooner rather than later.

Under the new tenant rights rules you need to give at least 4 months notice for this, so I would suggest you tell them sooner rather than later, as that takes up to September already.

Why do so many think OP is being unreasonable?

My landlords decided to sell when I was pregnant and waited to finalise their sale to tell us so we then had to leave within 4 weeks with a 4 month old. So anything that isn’t that would be better.

They are voting for the options she provided in the post.

Have you actually read the voting options? The vote fully ties with what people are saying

Surely the options should be reversed, then!

Give them as much notice as you can and before baby will be so much easier than with a toddler and newborn

The voting options were just a way of asking before baby or after baby. It doesn’t matter which way round it is.

Why? There’s nothing wrong with voting for before the baby is born

Exactly this. The most stressful part of being given notice is trying to find the right house, at the right time and tie up notice periods or worrying about not finding something in time. If you can be really flexible on timing and notice periods it will make it a whole lot easier for them. They can look at their leisure then and know they won’t have to give two months notice once they find something.

Just talk to them.

apologise (it's your house, but their home with their memories & somewhere they planned on bringing their new baby home to) & say your son needs to move in within the year, but your totally flexible within that & that if course you'll give them a glowing reference.

but BEFORE you upset their lives & you lose great tenants, make sure your Son definitely wants to live there, not just as a short term cheap rent.

my parents let B my brother & SIL move into a rental & lost their great tenants (regretfully), they only stayed 6 months & my parents had a string if not good tenants afterwards 🙇🏻‍♀️.

Does it make any difference when it is very clear what the options are?

Before is an easier move.
you can be a generous landlord and not be strict with the move out date. It may take them longer to find someplace suitable.

I wouldn’t tell them they really have a year, just that you understand the current market and will work with them as best as you can.

It's not just about the baby but about finding a new home which could be very very difficult. Give them flexibility to leave whenever they can.

Not one bit!

but I couldn't vote either way, as I'd leave it entirely up to the tenants, just asking they give as much notice as they're able.