to refuse to let the agents in to show new tenants round?

[EricNorthmansmistress]

So, my letting agents are cunts. Long story of shitness, starting with a report saying we were not keeping the flat clean enough. When pushed they could not give any concrete examples. More recently they mentioned the mould in the bathroom over winter (too cold to leave bathroom window open) and candle wax on the tile mantelpiece, and the grubby carpet (toddler) all of which are completely fixable.

So they served notice to sell the flat, LL changed her mind but decided they wanted us out anyway due to the report. One year after we moved in and paid £480 in fees.

Fine. We want to move anyway, need a garden. Yesterday agent left me a voicemail asking if they could bring tenants to look this afternoon. I only picked it up this morning. I called them and explained that DH's stock was in the flat, and that we had gone out without knowing they were coming, so hadn't tidied.

I just received another voicemail at 6pm, saying they will be bringing people over tomorrow at 5pm, and to please tidy up because it was very messy.

1- the tenancy agreement says no less than 24 hours

2- the tenancy agreement only specifies access, does not specify tidying up

3- she was a bitch

I have left a voicemail saying no, they can't bring someone at 5, as that is less than 24 hours notice. I have suggested they do not leave voicemails in future and call me tomorrow to rearrange.

They write in their letter that it is better if we tidy up so as to minimise disruption to us as they can let it quicker. Frankly, I don't care. I have seen the house and it's ok, it's messy because DH has a lot of stock in the flat and DS has toys. Frankly it's fine, according to my standards. AIBU to not want to spring clean a flat I'm moving out of in a month, in order to do a favour to a letting agent who I hate, when I'm not legally obliged to do so? I just feel like asking her who the fuck she thinks she is to be honest. That's the problem with this agency - their report referenced how messy the flat was (they hadn't given proper notice and we didn't know they were coming) but the mess was ours, nothing to do with the actual flat. They don't seem to understand that they cannot dictate how people live inside their flats as long as it doesn't cause any damage or nuisance to the LL's property.

So, AIBU to say they can't come tomorrow at 5?

Belley, you do have a right to peaceful and quiet enjoyment, which pretty much trumps most things.

You don't actually have to let anyone enter your home for any reason - except an emergency - but obviously, if you are asked to allow viewings and don't it can antagonise the LL.

In my case she and her daughter verbally abused me, threatened me with eviction many times if I didn't pay her service charge/management fees. I saw the house in the May, she didn't mention it to me until the November... by which time it was a periodic tenancy, as she had not bothered to renew the contract.

She told me she would evict me, but hadn't lodged my deposit so couldn't issue me with eviction notice.

She told me that I was in breach of a clause that the CAB and shelter actually deemed as not applicable to service charges, and so broad in defintition as to be an illegal and unenforcable clause.

she then gave me 2m notice of a new contract. She then, a week later came round, having lodged my deposit and issued eviction notice.. so not even abiding by her own notice of the new contract - increasing the rent by £25 to cover the £21.28/month service charge....

Her daughter - the one who literally screamed in my face, you have no rights, this is my house and I'm moving in when you leave.... she did nothing to reign her in, scared my 4yo, who was indoors, in tears.

So when she then gave me written notice of a viewing, I ignored it, cos I had clearly heard that they intended to re-occupy the house, I ignored it. Consulted the CAB and they told me that I could change the locks an refuse all entry, no matter what the contract said, in view of the treatment I was being subjected to.

They climbed over my fence to get in to the house, they came to the house with police for a viewing!

So if you are being disproportionately inconvenienced, be firm and set dates and times and don't allow them to walk over you.

Landlord zone is a great resource too!