Tenants dont want to allow access for viewings

[Newhouse76]

Im not sure how best to deal with this. My lovely tenants are moving out of my rental flat in July and I would like to advertise this through the agent to relet it.

The tenants are not happy for the agent to visit the property to take photographs for the website, or to allow any viewings. They have askes that the agent confirms that they will not enter the property.

I dont want to be insensitive however I cant afford to wait for them to leave before I put the flat up for rent.
They really have been lovely and accommodating tenants and they have sent me a lovely note though.
Any ideas how to deal with this tactfully?

@EdwinaMay do you know how deposits actually work?

I don't think you can insist they allow viewings to the general public. As for the agent. I suppose they could let them take photographs if they went out but they might think it was a security risk. I agree with using the previous images.

I don’t understand why you say you can’t afford for the flat to be empty for too long but are refusing to use old photos for it so you can market it sooner?

The contract does not allow for you to disrupt the peaceful enjoyment of their home for marketing purposes. Regardless of what their contract says, tenants are protected by law.

If you don’t have old photos, you can advertise by putting up a picture of the front of the building, a floor plan and explain more pictures are to come. That way you can book viewings for the day after they move out.

Why don’t you look to see if you can change your mortgage or take a three month coronavirus payment holiday to tide you over?

Bribe them with all of their deposit back

Unless they’ve caused damage they’ll be getting it all back anyway!!

Are you being PM'd then? As I can only see people being incredulous in your views despite being informed that you are wrong and they have the right to say no mid pandemic

Do you not have old pictures or pictures from their move in walkthrough/inventory?

I dont blame them for not wanting viewings. One, theres a bloody pandemic on, and two - I had viewings at a place I was moving out of and it's very annoying. Our place was part furnished and I had to deal with nosy prospective tenants jabbing their fingers at all my furniture and asking if it was included. (All the included furniture was hideous).

Ask them to take photos. I know you'd rather it be professional but something is better than nothing.

@CrazyTimesAreOccurring

...they have the right to say no mid pandemic

They have a right to say No at any time during their lease. There doesn't need to be a pandemic to exercise your quiet enjoyment clause.

Losing £500 a month is ridiculous, are you in major negative equity? Why is the mortgage payments so much more than the rent? Or do you mean that the other flat is costing the £500 a month.

I’m a single parent who cannot afford for the flat to be empty for too long

That sounds really tough. But it doesn’t change the law.

If you’re losing £500 a month on the property and can’t afford to be a landlord then is there a reason you’re not selling instead?

Any business that is losing £500/ month is not a viable business. Far from it. Get out of the game- it’s not for you.

Definitely best not to hassle them. This cropped up in my twitter feed the other day.

twitter.com/i/status/1262038309456547840

People disagreeing isn't vile.

Part of being a landlord is managing your property and finances. Tennants don't have to let people in to view and they're even more within their rights to not want every Tom, Dick and Harry traipsing through their home during a pandemic.

Being a single mum isn't a sympathy card to pull when people disagree with you.

@TheNestedIf that's the best video I've seen all day!!!

OP for reals I think you just need to use previous photos or ask them nicely if they'll provide you with new ones. There really isn't much what can be done at present.

They said no. They don't want randoms trooping into their home and during a pandemic as well. If your business is not viable, you need to get out of it. As has been pointed out, you can't use their deposit, which should be in the DPS (if it is not, that is illegal and you could face fines).

If you make that big a loss, OP, why don't you just sell the flat?

@TheNestedIf I love that video!!😂😂😂

Have you not got any previous pictures. Viewing could also be done via FaceTime.

I think you're being very unreasonable to expect them to let everyone in and out when this is all going on..

After 18 months renting and telling the letting agents the wooden windows were rotten, we gave notice as we were buying a house. As soon as the email landed the landlord said he would be fitting new windows, two weeks before we left, in March. Apparently we couldn’t say no because of the tenancy agreement and the fact he’d already booked hotels for his out of town window guys. We said no. The letting agents pushed and threatened and all sorts, but we still said no. In the end the lady said she knew why and she’d have done the same. This was all to prevent a week without tenants after we moved out.

Regardless of what the tenancy agreement says, or agents, or whoever, your tenants have the right to uninterrupted ‘enjoyment’ of the property. That goes doubly now. Leave the tenants alone and either use old photos or sort it once they’ve moved out.

@Shmithecat2 - yes true! But the OP doesnt appear to get that so I thought maybe the mid pandemic angle may help them understand the tenants are correct to say no....but maybe not

Are they leaving because they want to? Leaving the pandemic issue to one side, if they have found somewhere they want to stay more than in your flat, it's a bit off to not allow a photographer in, though I understand and accept the point about the law.

You deal with it tactfully by showing understanding and saying ‘ok’. I sure as hell wouldn’t have anyone in my home at the moment.
I don’t think there’s anything you can do about it

Can you use pictures from when you previously listed it?

@Newhouse76 Photos of a clean, empty flat is much better and will be more appealing than photos of an occupied flat with people's belongings everywhere. What if they're generally messy people? The photos you'll get won't look good and you can't expect them to tidy up their own space if they don't want to, just so you can take photos.

Don't you have standard ad photos of the flat that you keep with you?

Pandemic or not, I personally wouldn't want any random traipsing through my home where my belongings are and taking pictures. It's just invasive.

Didn't personally see anyone being vile, they just explained how it is 🤷🏼‍♀️ You want professional pictures but will have to settle for them taking them (if they're willing to), or wait for them to move out. It's not complicated surely?

There is a global pandemic.
Your tenants don't want anyone in their home.
You are going to have to respect that and take the financial hit. You have absolutely no other choice.