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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to limit estate agent viewing to specific times?

102 replies

anice · 08/06/2011 13:14

because DH thinks I am unreasonable, the landlord says I am not (but DH says that he is only saying that) and the estate agents think its outrageous! So, which is it?

We are moving out of rented house. There is no written contract - just the unwritten rolling one month one that came along after the written one expired last year. The written contract said give two month's notice, the law says we only have to give one month but we gave two anyway as gesture of goodwill to the landlord.

However I have asked the landlord if viewings could be limited to set times each week (3 X 1 hour slots - a mid-morning, an mid-afternoon and a Saturday lunchtime slot).

The landlord is saying ok, DH is saying that what I have suggested is unreasonable and this morning I got a call from an estate agent demanding access tomorrow and not accepting "its inconvenient" as a reason for refusal. He wanted to know exactly what I will be doing at that time that makes it inconvenient (although he felt I was asking too much personal detail of him when I asked for his surname!).

So, whose side would you be on?

OP posts:
Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 13:17

I checked the law and I don't think that legally I have to give access at all (human right about "enjoyment of your property").

I told the estate agent that i felt he was harassing me because he asked the same question so often and refused to let the call end.

OP posts:
cleverything · 08/06/2011 13:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 08/06/2011 13:20

On the side of common decency I suppose. Can you really do tomorrow or are you being bloody minded. Obv your LL needs to rent/sell his property and so just be as accommodating as you can....if someone wants to view the property and you are about fair enough, if not they can arrange a more suitable time.

RedGreenBlue · 08/06/2011 13:21

Yours. Or more precisely, yours and the landlord's.

The estate agent doesn't get a say in it - the main interested parties are the owner/landlord/whoever's getting paid the rent, and those that live there.

Your timings are pretty restrictive, and if the landlord wasn't happy about it then maybe it'd be a different answer. But (s)he's with you - so bollocks to the estate agent. And don't tell them anything you don't want to, it's none of their business.

tyler80 · 08/06/2011 13:21

I think you're being entirely reasonable.

Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 13:22

My DC were crying when I told them we have to move. They haven't got their heads around it yet so i want to schedule viewings when they won't be there. I was planning to take them out on saturday so they won't see people poking through their stuff.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 08/06/2011 13:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 13:24

(and they would have been at home for the viewing tomorrow) but I didn't wnat to tell the estate agent that because he seemed like he would want to argue about the reason once he heard. Then after he'd asked me 10 times, i was being bloody-minded about not telling him why as well as not wanting to give him anything to work on.

OP posts:
Playdohinthewashingmachine · 08/06/2011 13:29

Is that one mid-afternoon, per week? So a prospective buyer who works could only come on sat lunchtime, and the EA could only bring one of those a week? That seems a little restrictive.

You might be better off saying you want 24hrs notice, and then when the EA calls you can tell them when is good for you in the next couple of days.

But the EA is VU to demand to know what you are doing that makes it inconvenient. If they try that again, ask to know what they're doing on Sunday. In detail, all day long. Just because you want to know!

Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 13:32

Playdohinthewashingmachine - sorry just to clarify, a prospective tenant could only come on Saturday lunchtimes (but presumably they could only do Saturdays anyway?), however the agents can take as many people as they like through the door for that hour, just as long as they don't try to come after the hour is over.

OP posts:
JustCallMeMummyPig · 08/06/2011 13:48

I think it's ridiculous sorry... Why are you moving? It sounds like you're being difficult on purpose.

If you owned the house, you'd do anything to get people through the door.

Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 13:51

we need to be nearer the station, find a new school and save some money.... why do you ask Justcallmemummypig?

OP posts:
JustCallMeMummyPig · 08/06/2011 13:56

only because you said the children didn't want to move...

we moved this year, but we prob had around 30 viewers before we sold it so they just got used to us showing people round.

Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 14:00

JustCallMeMummyPig - i understand what you are saying but the difference is you were a seller and I am only a tenant. I pay a lump sum each month to stay here, more than a mortgage would be but it is supposed to buy me no worries and no hassle.

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 08/06/2011 14:02

I don't think YABU to want viewings on a set day, at set times, but I DO think YABU to limit the viewing time to one hour. Why can't you say anytime on a Saturday but you need to know what times people will be there by 7pm on a Friday night (for example) so that you can arrange to take the DC out?

JanMorrow · 08/06/2011 14:13

That's a bit unreasonable really, because the times are really prescribed by the person looking around rather than the estate agent, so it makes their job really difficult if there are only 3 times a week they can show people the place.

I can see your reasoning but I'd be more flexible myself.

needanewname · 08/06/2011 14:21

I think giving an hour time slot is very restrictive and you are being a little unreasonable.

The EA is being very rude though and I'm not sure that I would agree to dealing with that particular person anymore.

Toughasoldboots · 08/06/2011 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cumbria81 · 08/06/2011 14:42

We didn't buy a house we liked once because the family living in it wouldn't let us come for a viewing when we wanted (basically evenings and weekends) so we couldn't get in for a second viewing.

MovingAndScared · 08/06/2011 14:55

YNBU - but I wouldn't get into an argument with the esate agent - if it not convient just say you are busy - does the estate agent come along - I bet he doesn't - so you are actually doing the estate agents job for them and if the house was empty it would pretty unlikely a prospective tenant would be able to get a viewing within 24 hours - have you got a new house yet - I would concentrate on getting the DCs happy about that -if you don't make a bit deal about the viewings I am sure they wouldn't notice that much

JustShootMeAlready · 08/06/2011 14:57

You are being unreasonable to put such rigid restrictions on it, as I think it is common courtesy to have reasonable opportunity to have viewings. I am in the same position as you, am moving out next week and have had a nightmare time with gormless EA's who have forgotton keys on numerous occasions and I've had to come back and let them in, or called unannounced at 5.45pm when I told him to eff off and give propper notice.

But i'd still be a little more flexible if I were you.

Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 14:57

cumbria81 - why didn't you just wait until the family moved out (assuming they were tenants)? They were a bit stupid to be restrictive if they were the owners hoping for your money!

I totally understand why you'd want a 2nd (maybe even 3rd viewing) if you were planning to buy. Even when renting, a 2nd viewing is a good idea to see the detail that will matter when you are living there but you may well miss on the first viewing.

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Original poster
anice · 08/06/2011 15:02

There is a subtext to all this - I don't really like estate agents, although there can be exceptions. However I mostly don't like the ones who are male, aged about 22 and who lie as easily as breathing. So i want to keep my interaction with them to an absolute limit!
I guess it s a prejudice but its based on several bad experiences including the one this morning.

OP posts:
hellospoon · 08/06/2011 15:12

Yabu. And a bit of an arse.

Jogonjill · 08/06/2011 15:13

I think this is fine, and perfectly acceptable as a tenant. Unless there is anything in your contract to say otherwise, you do not HAVE to let anyone look round, so you're being more accomodating than you need to be. I would suggest including one evening slot if possible though, although I realise that children's bedtimes may preclude this. I am an ex-estate agent, and would have worked within these time frames if requested, although it would be nice to have some polite give and take.