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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Original poster

Vintagejazz · 29/09/2014 13:40

No my sister isn't making it up Usually. I have friends who were also told this when selling. However I'm in Ireland so maybe it's different here.

OP posts:

HungryHorace · 29/09/2014 13:40

Your sister owns her house. It's for her benefit to be out as she wants to sell. That is not the case with a tenant, so you are not only BU, you also don't seem to be able to differentiate between selling as an owner and a landlord selling the house the tenant lives in.

mausmaus · 29/09/2014 13:42

yabu
the place is full of the tennants belongings and estate agents are not exactly known to be trustworthy
I would not leave my home so some viewers can have a nosy.

tbh I have viewed a few places with tennants and it was fine. a polite 'hello how are you' and taking shoes of sets the tone.

RCheshire · 29/09/2014 13:42

The tenant has every right to be there as everyone else has rightly said.

It's their home. No-one else's. The fat they don't own it doesn't detract from that.

One of the reason's why it is easier to give your tenants notice and then sell your house - but most landlord's would prefer your discomfort to losing their letting income!

SaucyJack · 29/09/2014 13:42

YABU. You are inconveniencing the tenant, and invading their privacy in their own home which they'll be paying hundreds of pounds a month for quiet enjoyment of.

MrsWinnibago · 29/09/2014 13:43

I had to sit through MULTIPLE visits from prospective buyers when I was a tenant. I tidied up every time and always tried to accommodate the bossy agents...but I was buggered if I was leaving the house just to make them comfortable!

Why the heck should I wander the streets!? Get over yourself OP.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 29/09/2014 13:44

How very dare a person sit in their own home while strangers want to walk about opening the cupboards?

JeanneDeMontbaston · 29/09/2014 13:45

Sorry, I'm another one who would refuse viewings unless I was there. You know you're honest, but the tenant doesn't know you from Adam and probably wants to keep an eye on their things. Plus, the one time I let the agent come round when I was out, she left the door unlocked when she went!

MinesAPintOfTea · 29/09/2014 13:46

If you were a tenant coming on who had been evicted, the advice would be that one or two slots a eek and insisting on being present for them is reasonable. So yabu.

The LSAT house we left, we gave notice when I was 7 months pregnant. Should I have waddled the streets to make viewers more comfortable?

And I suspect your sister wad advised houses sell quicker if the vendor isn't present, not that she had to leave.

MrsWedgeAntilles · 29/09/2014 13:47

We've had landlords and estate agents offering our stuff to prospective buyers/tenants as part of the deal, we've had people rummaging about in drawers when the property has been offered unfurnished, we had a couple stand in our living room for 25 minutes arguing the toss about whether to take the place or not, someone even took the shampoo out of the bathroom during one viewing so I'm really sorry OP but your discomfort counts for nothing at all, for you its 15 mins of feeling a bit awkward, for the tenants its weeks.

Original poster

Vintagejazz · 29/09/2014 13:47

Okay, mea cupla. IABU. It's just something that never happened to me when buying before so I found it strange.

OP posts:

RCheshire · 29/09/2014 13:48

Also when you're renting the house is full of your belongings - I would want to keep an eye on them.

polarpercy · 29/09/2014 13:50

Is it still the case that a lot of mortgage lenders won't lend anyway unless a house is vacant, when there have been tenants?

Planetwaves · 29/09/2014 13:50

The tenant has the legal right to "quiet enjoyment" and technically does not have to allow viewings at all, so YABU, and yes, you were invading her privacy (in both moral and legal senses).

JeanneDeMontbaston · 29/09/2014 13:51

It is quite uncomfortable, I think, vintage. I always feel as if I should be apologizing for being there.

But you have to be a bit hard-nosed and smile then ignore them.

BumpNGrind · 29/09/2014 13:51

I'm surprised by some of the reactions. I thought it was good manners to at least accommodate the viewing. When our rented flat was being marketed I scrubbed the place from top to bottom because I couldn't bear the thought that someone might think we were unclean or messy.

When we were looking to buy our house we visited a house with tenants. The tenants had left a giant poo in the en suite toilet which the estate agent then crammed us all in. We then moved on to one of the rooms where there were about 5 teenage boys sitting on the bed so we didn't even feel comfortable walking in. The tenant then then pulled out a letter from the council to tell us how expensive the council tax was. It was so uncomfortable and we couldn't wait to leave. The tenants plan worked, we bought the house 10 doors up, with no existing tenants.

specialsubject · 29/09/2014 13:52

ignoring the usual anti-landlord bile ; the tenant has rights to her home, and does not actually have to allow any viewings at all. Sounds like she doesn't want to leave, but if the landlord needs the money from the house then there is no choice.

the house may not be making enough on the rental and the landlord may have to sell or have it repossessed. Which will make the tenant homeless.

who knows?

if you are buying a tenanted property be aware that a resentful tenant may not leave until evicted. This is why most landlords sell after the tenant has left and have to absorb the cost of it being empty.

polarpercy · 29/09/2014 13:53

I remember when I was renting recently and the landlord was phoning on a daily basis towards the end telling us he would be doing viewings that evening. I put my foot down because at the end of a long day I want to relax in my home. He whined that it was the only time the viewers could do (really every time?), and I told him tough luck. Didn't want viewings taking place when I wasn't there as I'd found stuff on my dressing table moved about after one set when I hadn't been around.

polarpercy · 29/09/2014 13:54

Sorry realise my last post makes it sound like I never allowed viewings. I suggested he block-booked them for a Saturday morning, but he said that didn't suit him. Tough luck!

DorisIsALittleBitPartial · 29/09/2014 13:55

The tenant does have to allow viewings - this is a condition of their tenancy agreement, but most of them will be unhappy as it means they are essentially being kicked out of their "home". They often (IME as an ex-Lettings Manager) want to be there as they are not trusting of people being in the house when they are not there. Tenants are worse than owners for viewings for acting up which always surprises me as they would have been in the position of viewing properties themselves.

TheWitTank · 29/09/2014 13:57

My Dh and I viewed a house years back. The agent showing us around mentioned the current tenant was at home sick. She didn't mention the tenant was in bed. It was incredibly awkward when the agent strode into the bedroom and started showing closets and the ensuite while the poor lady lay in bed looking at the three of us while clutching a sick bucket.
We didn't rent it!!

Staywithme · 29/09/2014 13:58

WTAF? I would tell the estate agent to get stuffed if they told me I had to be out of my own house when they're showing people round! I live in N.I. So maybe it is different up here, but what's the estate agent going to do if someone says no? Refuse to sell their house?

Btw, I don't see why a tenant should have to leave the house/flat during viewing. It's their home until the tenancy runs out. I would see it as an advantage and try to get the opportunity to speak to the tenant about the area. They'll be more knowledgeable truthful than the agent.

specialsubject · 29/09/2014 13:58

hmm....tenancy agreement may say that viewings should be allowed in the last month or two of the lease, but not sure if that is enforceable. There should certainly be as much notice as possible, not 'we are coming tonight'.

polarpercy · 29/09/2014 13:58

No they don't have to allow viewings, it may be written in, doesn't make it law or enforceable. But quiet enjoyment is a legal right and overrules this.

LeftRightCentre · 29/09/2014 13:58

It surprises you, Doris? Seriously? I would have thought the reason why would be obvious.

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