Daughters rent dilemma

[HTP99]

Bit of help and advice please.

My youngest moved into her aunt and uncles (wife's brother and his wife) house on the 27th August 2025, aunt and uncle were moving to Malaysia on a 3 year contract with a view to staying longer. The rent is below the market value and covers the mortgage with a bit left over, a rental contract was drawn up and signed by both parties citing a 2 month notice period.

Over the year my daughter and her BF have realised that as much as they love the house, the commute is a nightmare so have been looking elsewhere closer to work and family. That have started looking with the problem being most available rentals want someone in within a month. My daughter, wanting to be transparent, contacted her aunt asking for a bit of leniency regarding the termination, citing a month, with aunt basically saying no as they cannot afford for the house to be empty for a length of time with no income coming from it, with her suggesting a 2 month notice starting straightaway, hoping that they could get someone in within that time period, however this leaves the issue of my daughter finding somewhere within that 2 month notice period.

Now this is where things get a bit spicy:

1. the mortgage on the property isn't BTL, which as far as I can tell is fraudulent.
2. there is no declaration of income to HMRC from the property, rent is £1600 pcm.
3. when my daughter moved in, no gas or electric safety certificates were issued and they still have yet to receive them.
4. no Renters Rights act paperwork has been received, which I believe was a legal requirement up to a certain date.
5. there is no landlords insurance in place.

Myself and her elder sister have suggested she just finds somewhere, if it is 1 month notice then give that month notice, citing the above list of things that haven't been carried out correctly, of course my youngest who likes to "do the right thing" isn't happy with this, even though her aunt and uncle aren't doing the right thing, as far as we can tell. She also doesn't want to rock the boat with family.

My youngest, bless her, wants to use the angle of the rental payment of £1600 covers the mortgage payment, she has found out today the mortgage is £1430, leaving a £170 surplus, in her eyes, "they have lied to us".

What say you PH landlords and others in the industry, what's the best angle to resolve this?

[Chumley.mouse]

Tell them shes moving out when she likes or someone might become aware of tax evasion ? Im sure they dont want HMRC poking around in their business.

[Mandat]

HTP99 said:

Bit of help and advice please.

My youngest moved into her aunt and uncles (wife's brother and his wife) house on the 27th August 2025, aunt and uncle were moving to Malaysia on a 3 year contract with a view to staying longer. The rent is below the market value and covers the mortgage with a bit left over, a rental contract was drawn up and signed by both parties citing a 2 month notice period.

Over the year my daughter and her BF have realised that as much as they love the house, the commute is a nightmare so have been looking elsewhere closer to work and family. That have started looking with the problem being most available rentals want someone in within a month. My daughter, wanting to be transparent, contacted her aunt asking for a bit of leniency regarding the termination, citing a month, with aunt basically saying no as they cannot afford for the house to be empty for a length of time with no income coming from it, with her suggesting a 2 month notice starting straightaway, hoping that they could get someone in within that time period, however this leaves the issue of my daughter finding somewhere within that 2 month notice period.

Now this is where things get a bit spicy:

1. the mortgage on the property isn't BTL, which as far as I can tell is fraudulent.
2. there is no declaration of income to HMRC from the property, rent is £1600 pcm.
3. when my daughter moved in, no gas or electric safety certificates were issued and they still have yet to receive them.
4. no Renters Rights act paperwork has been received, which I believe was a legal requirement up to a certain date.
5. there is no landlords insurance in place.

Myself and her elder sister have suggested she just finds somewhere, if it is 1 month notice then give that month notice, citing the above list of things that haven't been carried out correctly, of course my youngest who likes to "do the right thing" isn't happy with this, even though her aunt and uncle aren't doing the right thing, as far as we can tell. She also doesn't want to rock the boat with family.

My youngest, bless her, wants to use the angle of the rental payment of £1600 covers the mortgage payment, she has found out today the mortgage is £1430, leaving a £170 surplus, in her eyes, "they have lied to us".

What say you PH landlords and others in the industry, what's the best angle to resolve this?

Sounds like the uncle & aunt have approached this a bit less formally than required, due to it being family, and have given your daughter a bit of a bonus by taking below market rent.

This was perfectly fine for the daughter, until now, when it is no longer fine, and the daughter now wants to st on the family, for reasons not entirely explained.

[greygoose]

Mandat said:

Sounds like the uncle & aunt have approached this a bit less formally than required, due to it being family, and have given your daughter a bit of a bonus by taking below market rent.

This was perfectly fine for the daughter, until now, when it is no longer fine, and the daughter now wants to st on the family, for reasons not entirely explained.

Indeed, they were happy with the cheap rent whilst it suited them, now it seems that OP and his daughter want to fk them over, a lesson in not helping family for the renters.

[NumBMW]

You raise the “spicy” things as collateral so she can get out quicker. Basically blackmailing the family.
Leave it out, and stick to the contract.

[FlyVintage]

greygoose said:

Mandat said:

Sounds like the uncle & aunt have approached this a bit less formally than required, due to it being family, and have given your daughter a bit of a bonus by taking below market rent.

This was perfectly fine for the daughter, until now, when it is no longer fine, and the daughter now wants to st on the family, for reasons not entirely explained.

Indeed, they were happy with the cheap rent whilst it suited them, now it seems that OP and his daughter want to fk them over, a lesson in not helping family for the renters.

No good deed ever goes unpunished. It does seem an object lesson in not getting financially involved with family.

[ashenfie]

Surely the right thing to do is find a suitable renter to move in when your daughter leaves. You have no idea if the
Aunt ask the mortgage company for permission to rent the property. No mention of a deposit either. Regards missing paperwork maybe arrange with the aunt to get this resolved at their cost.

[butchstewie]

Did you not know about the "now this is where things get a bit spicy" stuff or or did you know but were happy to turn a blind eye to it for below-market-rate rent and now want to try to use it because your daughter doesn't want to honour the agreement she made?

[_Rodders_]

No good deed goes unpunished.

It's amazing how often that plays out.

[Simpo Two]

'A deal's a deal', and the commute was predictable before she signed up.

Seems that the only dilemma is the daughter wanting to breach the contract. And then wanting to shop them to the authorities if they don't agree.

[miniman]

Simpo Two said:

'A deal's a deal', and the commute was predictable before she signed up.

Seems that the only dilemma is the daughter wanting to breach the contract. And then wanting to shop them to the authorities if they don't agree.

This.

[SydneyBridge]

Is there any contract to breach?

[NumBMW]

FlyVintage said:

greygoose said:

Mandat said:

Sounds like the uncle & aunt have approached this a bit less formally than required, due to it being family, and have given your daughter a bit of a bonus by taking below market rent.

This was perfectly fine for the daughter, until now, when it is no longer fine, and the daughter now wants to st on the family, for reasons not entirely explained.

Indeed, they were happy with the cheap rent whilst it suited them, now it seems that OP and his daughter want to fk them over, a lesson in not helping family for the renters.

No good deed ever goes unpunished. It does seem an object lesson in not getting financially involved with family.

It s such a shame when those that are objectively getting the better end of the deal moan when it no longer suits them.
I wonder how much they saved over the year with the below market rate. Probably at least a months rent, ie the 2nd month on the notice period

Edited by NumBMW on Saturday 15th August 18:12

[miniman]

SydneyBridge said:

Is there any contract to breach?

op said:

a rental contract was drawn up and signed by both parties citing a 2 month notice period.

[Puzzles]

FlyVintage said:

greygoose said:

Mandat said:

Sounds like the uncle & aunt have approached this a bit less formally than required, due to it being family, and have given your daughter a bit of a bonus by taking below market rent.

This was perfectly fine for the daughter, until now, when it is no longer fine, and the daughter now wants to st on the family, for reasons not entirely explained.

Indeed, they were happy with the cheap rent whilst it suited them, now it seems that OP and his daughter want to fk them over, a lesson in not helping family for the renters.

No good deed ever goes unpunished. It does seem an object lesson in not getting financially involved with family.

My thoughts too!

[MightyBadger]

greygoose said:

Indeed, they were happy with the cheap rent whilst it suited them, now it seems that OP and his daughter want to fk them over, a lesson in not helping family for the renters.

Agreed, sad state of affairs.

[butchstewie]

Should make for an interesting Christmas dinner I suppose.

Honestly can you even imagine risking screwing up a family relationship that much over a months rent.

[Arrivalist]

Puzzles said:

FlyVintage said:

greygoose said:

Mandat said:

Sounds like the uncle & aunt have approached this a bit less formally than required, due to it being family, and have given your daughter a bit of a bonus by taking below market rent.

This was perfectly fine for the daughter, until now, when it is no longer fine, and the daughter now wants to st on the family, for reasons not entirely explained.

Indeed, they were happy with the cheap rent whilst it suited them, now it seems that OP and his daughter want to fk them over, a lesson in not helping family for the renters.

No good deed ever goes unpunished. It does seem an object lesson in not getting financially involved with family.

My thoughts too!

And mine.

Add to that, I can imagine the slagging off of the aunt and uncle had they not been as generous.

[LRDefender]

Gosh OP, just get your youngest to give 2 months notice and help her find a more suitable place to live.

Bringing up HMRC, mortgages and missing bits of paperwork makes you sound a rather bitter and unpleasant person.

[Puzzles]

Also while they should declare the rent, I m not sure we know for a fact they dont, it s quite possible they are not tax dodging scumbags.

I don t know the full facts but very possible that the rent is be covered by their personal allowance, and that s before expenses.