Buyer renting out our property...

[emmabrown123]

I am well aware I maybe being irrational and over emotional (long drawn out house sale and 36 weeks pregnant).

We exchanged contracts on our house this week and are going to be moving in a couple of weeks time. Buyer has been a bit of a nightmare - cash buyer, buying for investment - which has delayed our house sale for several months.

The day after we exchanged we found our house in Rightmove up for rent. Now we were both aware that he was going to rent it when we left but the things that have pissed me off are

1/ He's listed it as 'Available Now' and available for viewings when we are clearly going to be here for the next few weeks

2/ He has used the pictures we had taken for the house sale without asking us or our EA (pictures in which you can see our personal photos / belongings etc)

3/ He's not had the courtesy to tell us he is doing this while we are still living there.

I feel he's really taking a massive Liberty by doing this and wondered if there is anything I could / should do about it?

Or am I just being extra touchy because of the nature of the whole situation?!!!!!

[wowfudge]

Ask your solicitor if you are that bothered. I guess you could request the photos are removed - is it on to rent with the same EA?

[BadgerFace]

I'd ask for the photos to be taken down. The rest is him clearly bring an idiot - no way there can be viewings until he owns it unless you allowed it, so just ignore it. His problem!

[Just5minswithDacre]

No, you're not being silly, that all sounds very irritating. Not a whole lot you can do other than object to the use of your photos, though, really.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

No, you are not being ultra sensitive or unreasonable. The guy is being an arsehole and - wtf with the photos??

Talk to the Estate Agent, give them a call right away.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

Wow, he's going to look bloody stupid when he tries to arrange viewings! Let the EA know you most certainly will not allow viewings.

Photos may be more tricky - I would tell agent that the photos should be removed but be prepared that if the agent has allowed it and the copyright is theirs, (which it may well be..) you won't be able to ban them.

[emmabrown123]

No different EA. Have rang our EA and they're pretty pissed off, but to be honest I think that's more to do with him not using them for letting it out too!

If he'd just had the courtesy to ask I would have agreed to let him use the photos and would have let people view it too.

Our original EA is going to ask for the photos to be taken off as they are technically their property.

Don't think there's much else I can do, just wanted someone to tell me I wasn't being daft!!

[99percentchocolate]

I would phone the agent he is listing it with and inform them that he doesn't own the rights to the photos OR THE HOUSE (wtf is he playing at??)
In my experience, agents don't want to be messed around or made to look bad to prospective tenants. I bet they'll take it off the market.

[OopsThereGoMyTrousers]

Ring up the letting agent, put on a regional accent (not your own) and ask to arrange a viewing, just to see what they say...

[emmabrown123]

Ha ha that's a great idea Oops!!

My husband says he's tempted to get several mates to ring and book viewings too!

Will give the lettings agent a call to give them a heads up

[teacherwith2kids]

I would second contacting the estate agent who has it listed. I recently did this for a house that can't be marketed (long story of planning permission) and the EA was very quick to take the advert down

[99percentchocolate]

Ooh I like Oops' idea!

[KickAssAngel]

yeah - have a word with the letting agent, although they should know what is going on. They can't let it without a gas safety cert. so when are they intending to do that?

fwiw, it takes a few weeks between advertising and getting tenants in as there have to be finance checks etc. so maybe they're hoping to have everything lined up for asap after completion. However, unless the date for completion is in the next two weeks or so, they are very much jumping the gun.

the letting agency they've chosen don't sound very great, tbh. They should know they can't use other people's photos without permission, and how are they going to show tenants round without a set of keys? Do you think they're going to turn up and put a"To Let" board outside? I'd be tempted to get a black pen and write NOT over it.

[wowfudge]

I like your style Kick

[Needmoresleep]

A good estate agent should check that the person letting is in a position to let the property. There are a variety of scams which they need to guard against, the most common being people trying to let Council properties. It is quite simple for them to check the Land Registry.

Just inform the agents that you are the owners of the property and that until the sale completes, the property is not being let. And that you have no intention of allowing viewings.

[specialsubject]

Report the lettings agent to their professional body, if they are members of one. They should indeed have checked that it is his to rent!