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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think when you're viewing a property the tenant shouldn't be there

139 replies

Vintagejazz · 29/09/2014 13:24

I am hoping to move shortly and have started house hunting. Last month I viewed a property where the tenant was hanging around, making it very clear that she was resentful of people looking at the place she was renting, and generally making the experience very uncomfortable.

On Saturday I went to look at another rented property that's been put up for sale. The estate agent met us at the door but again, the tenant was there, sitting in the main living area and puffing away on cigarettes. Again it felt really uncomfortable, as if we were invading her privacy by going into bedrooms, opening the door of the airing cupboard and looking at the kitchen cupboards to see how much space there was.

AIBU to think that tenants should go out and stroll around for half an hour or grab a cup of coffee somewhere, or even just sit in their car with the newspaper and let people look around the property in comfort?

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 29/09/2014 13:29

The tenant does not have to allow viewings, it is not to their benefit for the property to be sold.
Imagine how you would feel if you were told you needed to leave your home and please could you let other people in to look at it.
IME let properties rarely sell with a tenant in them, the couple of buy to let's I have had I have always waited till the property to be empty before marketing.

DidoTheDodo · 29/09/2014 13:29

I think you're being a bit U although I understand it may feel awkward for you having the tenant there.

I do think it is fairly usual though, and bearing in mind you may well not be the only viewer, the poor tenant could find themselves banished to their car for some time.

It gives you the opportunity to ask them any questions about the property or area and in the grand scheme of things, doesn't really matter.

jacks365 · 29/09/2014 13:29

as if we were invading her privacy by going into bedrooms, opening the door of the airing cupboard and looking at the kitchen cupboards to see how much space there was.

You were invading her space though and I very much doubt she wanted you there. Don't forget the tenant is losing their home.

EatDessertFirst · 29/09/2014 13:31

Sorry, I'll probably be alone in this but I think YABU. Its still their home. I rent and if the next prospective tenant started opening the cupboards and poking I wouldn't be happy. You don't need to open kitchen cupboards surely? They are pretty standard in size aren't they?

imme · 29/09/2014 13:32

I think you are being a bit unreasonable. When we were renting I preferred being in the flat when there were viewings as I felt uncomfortable that anybody could make an appointment to have a look around, who knows who is coming through the door! This may have looked a bit precious to some but the viewing was to absolutely no benefit to us and frankly, the landlord could have marketed the property after we had vacated the flat not whilst we were still living there. It is the tenant's right to be there. Thankfully we bought out house that we live in now so moving shouldn't be on the cards for a long time.

UsuallyLurking1 · 29/09/2014 13:32

Was an estate agent for a while many years ago, this is standard practice. Indeed the onus is on the agent to give 24 hours notice to the tenant of a visit.

What's your suggestion? That they go out for an hour so you can look around at your leisure?

Tenant is entitled to be a little upset too with the visitors. My experience was 50/50, half the people were grumpy at us being there, others would be very helpful and give the prospective tenant tips on the area

But you are being unreasonable.

They are a tenant that is paying rent for that day, you are intruding on them, not the other way around.

littlejohnnydory · 29/09/2014 13:32

YABU!! As a tenant who has just showed new prospective tenants around the property we were moving out of, it was a huge disruption to our lives as it was - people coming round at teatime, bedtime, when children were asleep, etc - endless viewings at short notice and having to keep everywhere accessible when we were trying to pack. We accommodated it so that the landlady wouldn't be inconvenienced and financially out of pocket by having a gap between tenants but legally we didn't have to do it. Tenants are entitled to "quiet enjoyment of the property". If it wasn't for the tenant's good will, you'd have to wait to view the property until after they moved out. And now you want to kick them out of their home to wander the streets in case their presence makes you uncomfortable??? We had 8 or 9 viewings in a fortnight and have three small children. Can you imagine the upheaval? You really are being VVVU!

mumeeee · 29/09/2014 13:32

YABU it is the tenants home and they have every right to be there when people are viewing the flat/house.

TryingNotToLaugh · 29/09/2014 13:33

Where would you like them to go?

starlight1234 · 29/09/2014 13:33

Yes chances are they are going to be evicted so they house can be sold. why would they want you there?

miceinthemouseorgan · 29/09/2014 13:33

In my view, YABU. They may not want to move, it may be that the landlord has given them notice because he wants to sell. The landlord actually has no right to show buyers around during the notice period, so he may have coerced them into allowing viewings. I am a tenant, and I would be majorly pissed off with people comeing into my house and looking in my cupboards, where I keep my personal possessions, when I am being forced out of my home for no fault of my own. It is an invasion of privacy. Which isn't your fault, but I can totally understand why they are pissed off that someone is in their home looking at their personal possessions when it isn't something they have invited in the first place. Just to give you an opposite point of view!

SistersOfPercy · 29/09/2014 13:34

No eat you aren't alone, I also think OP is BU.

The tenants are still in their own homes, they haven't made the decision to sell, the home owner has and the tenants are being obliging by allowing the visits.
I also agree a kitchen cupboard is much of a muchness.

Bambambini · 29/09/2014 13:35

We were tenants recently and the house was on the market. I was there but kept out of the way - wasn't really a problem.

Mammuzza · 29/09/2014 13:35

as if we were invading her privacy

Well.. that's pretty much it is going to feel from the tenants perspective isn't it ?

It's bad enough having strangers wandering around your house when you chose to put it on the market. Especially the ones that have few manners.

I wouldn't go out so a load of strangers could potentially poke through my home and stuff. Their discomfort at my presence would matter less to me than my discomfort at my home being invaded and me not being there to say "oi!" if they cross a boundry too far.

gamerchick · 29/09/2014 13:36

Heh bugger off out scum you're not wanted in my presence spits Grin

We really are turning into a world where a chunk of people are disposable.. scary shit man!

HungryHorace · 29/09/2014 13:36

YABU. If I'd have been told to make myself scarce during viewings when our rented house was sold, I'd have stopped making it available for viewings.

Tenants are entitled to quiet enjoyment of the property during their tenancy. This does not include being banished during viewings if the house is put on the market.

If you don't want to come face to face with a tenant, then specify you want to view houses with owner occupiers only.

Original poster
Vintagejazz · 29/09/2014 13:36

The place was on show for fifteen minutes on Saturday morning. It was made very clear that this was the only time we could view the place (to buy, not to rent) as the tenant would be there at other times. I just assumed that the reason there was such a short time slot to view was to convenience the tenant, who would just have to absent themselves for a quarter of an hour.
My sister is currently selling her house and they have been told by the Estate Agent that they must be out of the house on Saturday afternoons while the house is being shown.

OP posts:
SunbathingCat · 29/09/2014 13:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EduCated · 29/09/2014 13:37

When I moved out of my last flat they were doing 3 or 4 viewings a day. Luckily most were while I was at work and it wasn't on the market long, but had they been days when I was at home no way would I have gone out every time. It was my home!

Tenants are paying to live in that flat, of course they've got the right to be there when and how they want!

Original poster
Vintagejazz · 29/09/2014 13:38

But I take your points. I suppose the issue here is owners putting places on the market before the tenant has moved out.

OP posts:
RiverTam · 29/09/2014 13:38

yabu. It's not up to the tenant to facilitate the sale of the house, which is, after all. their home. Uncomfortable for you, I agree, but totally not reasonable to expect the tenant to make way for you, or any other viewer.

firesidechat · 29/09/2014 13:39

Isn't this just the same as a person selling the house they own and still live in? I showed the potential buyers around most of the houses I lived in and most of the time we were shown around by the sellers when we were house hunting.

The tenant was far more inconvenienced than you in this case, so YABU.

UsuallyLurking1 · 29/09/2014 13:39

Your sister is either making that up or the agent is using their house for clandestine meetings on a Saturday afternoon!

No decent agent would ask a tenant or owner to make themselves scarce on a Saturday afternoon

miceinthemouseorgan · 29/09/2014 13:39

My sister is currently selling her house and they have been told by the Estate Agent that they must be out of the house on Saturday afternoons while the house is being shown.

her choice to sell her house though. Not the same situation at all.

RiverTam · 29/09/2014 13:39

selling your own place and the agent asking you not to be in is one thing, but in this instance the resident is not the owner and the agent can't dictate to them.