Difficult tenants, rent arrears, disrepair, short leases – problem properties can drain your time, money and energy. Portfolio Sales Consultancy introduces such properties to investor buyers who are experienced with them, so that you can consider an exit. The price will reflect the risk the buyer takes on.
Request a Portfolio AppraisalOne of the most dispiriting experiences for a landlord is being told that a property is "difficult to sell" – that the tenancy, the condition of the building, the lease length or some other complication makes it hard to sell on the open market. That may be true of a conventional sale, but it is not always the full picture.
The open market is made up largely of owner-occupiers who want vacant, well-presented properties with clear titles and a long lease. Problem properties do not fit that profile. Among professional investors and experienced landlords, however, some are interested in exactly the kinds of property that are harder to sell conventionally.
Investor buyers who are experienced with problem properties are used to taking on difficult tenancies, funding repairs and dealing with short leases. They do not expect a property to be in perfect condition or vacant, and they price the risk and work into their offers.
Portfolio Sales Consultancy introduces problem properties to investor buyers who are experienced with them. We do not advertise these properties on public portals, and we share details only with serious buyers who have signed a non-disclosure agreement. PSC does not buy property and does not take on legal or management obligations: those remain with you until completion and then pass to the buyer, with your respective solicitors advising each side.
Tenants who cause nuisance, damage the property or make management very difficult. With Section 21 "no-fault" evictions abolished in England from 1 May 2026, recovering possession relies on the statutory grounds. A buyer experienced with such tenancies takes over the tenancy on completion.
A tenant who has stopped paying rent costs you money every month, and recovery through the courts can be slow and uncertain. Some investor buyers will consider let properties with arrears, and the price will reflect the situation. Your solicitor will advise on how arrears are dealt with in the sale.
Properties needing significant work – damp, structural movement, fire or flood damage, outdated electrics – are difficult to sell to most buyers. Some investors buy such properties as refurbishment projects, with the cost of the works reflected in their offer.
Leasehold properties with a short unexpired term can be difficult to mortgage, which narrows the pool to cash-funded buyers. Some investors consider short-lease properties and are familiar with the lease extension process.
Properties of non-standard construction – concrete, steel-frame, prefabricated or other unusual types – can be difficult to mortgage with conventional lenders. Some cash-funded buyers will consider them on their individual merits.
Restrictive covenants, rights of way or boundary disputes, or missing planning permission or building regulations sign-off can stall a conventional sale. Buyers experienced with these issues, advised by their own solicitors, may be better placed to proceed.
Properties let on regulated tenancies under the Rent Act 1977, often at rents well below market level. These are complex situations that need buyers who understand them, and the price will reflect the tenancy.
Unauthorised occupation presents serious legal and practical challenges, and you should take legal advice first. Where appropriate, we can discuss whether there are investor buyers prepared to buy and deal with obtaining possession after completion.
Many landlords with a problem property deal with issues as they arise but put off deciding whether to sell, because the situation feels complicated or they worry about the price they might achieve. That is understandable.
Problem properties do not always stay the same. Difficult tenancies can deteriorate, disrepair can worsen, and leases continue to shorten. Mortgage payments, management costs and, if possession proceedings become necessary, legal costs can accumulate.
Those costs – and the personal cost in stress and time – are worth weighing honestly against the price an experienced investor buyer might offer.
We can help you see the picture clearly with an indicative market view of what a sale might achieve. The initial conversation is without obligation, and if selling does not seem the right answer for your situation, we will say so. Your solicitor and accountant can advise on the alternatives, including resolving the problem yourself.
Yes. Let properties with arrears can be sold. Some investor buyers are experienced with these situations and will price the risk into their offer. Whether selling is better than pursuing the arrears yourself depends on the amounts involved, the likely legal costs and your circumstances; your solicitor can advise. Legal obligations remain with you until completion.
Yes, but the buyer must be told about known issues. We recommend full and honest disclosure of structural defects to any prospective buyer, and your solicitor will advise on what must be disclosed. Investors experienced with properties in poor condition will factor the cost of repairs into their offer. Concealing material defects is unethical and exposes the seller to serious legal risk.
A short lease is generally one whose unexpired term has fallen below around 80 years. As the term runs down, extending the lease can become more expensive, and many mortgage lenders restrict lending on shorter leases according to their own criteria. That narrows the pool of buyers, often to cash-funded investors. Some investor buyers we introduce are familiar with short-lease properties. Leasehold law has been subject to reform, so take advice from a solicitor on your particular lease.
A problem property will usually achieve a lower price than an equivalent property without the problem, because the buyer is taking on extra risk, cost and work. It is worth comparing offers in net terms – against the legal costs, ongoing mortgage payments, management time and uncertainty of resolving the problem yourself. Price depends on the properties, tenancies, condition and the buyer's funding; we will explain how any offer compares with open-market evidence.
Yes. You should be honest and accurate about known defects, legal complications and tenancy problems. Giving false or misleading information can lead to a misrepresentation claim after completion. Your solicitor will advise you on what must be disclosed and how. Honest disclosure also helps buyers price accurately and reduces the risk of renegotiation or withdrawal during due diligence.
Whatever the issue with your property, we can discuss whether there are investor buyers experienced with it. Request a portfolio appraisal and we will give you an indicative market view and a realistic assessment of your options.
No obligation. Our terms, including how we are paid, are set out in writing before we act.