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

[Vintagejazz]

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?

"One poster on here was eating breakfast with his wife in the kitchen on a Saturday morning, in dressing gowns, when the agent and viewer entered with no notice or warning."

It annoys me when people don't tell them where to go...

I had an estate agent who forgot half the viewing for next tenants - so first I knew of some of them was someone letting themselves in and walking round the flat. Nothing I said changed this.

I ended up putting chain on when in - just as well as one weekend I was still in bed.

I also had prospective tenants complain that my stuff was packed up - days before I was leaving.

Just ignore them OP - or try to though I'd think twice about property where you got the impression girl was going to stay as long as possible.

Yabvvvvvu. The tenant doesnt have to allow viewings. Bear in mind this is their home and they paying rent.

Vendors have a vested interest in buyers having a good impression of the house, so will tidy and keep out of the way. Tenants don't, and in fact may prefer the house not t sell, as it's their home and all. No way would I vacate my home for viewings in a million years.

The bed thing was the final straw after that if I was there and they gave no notice I'd not them in. I was quite young and by myself and the estate agents were pushy as hell so I didn't find it very easy to do.

Oh, they did, RChes. It was someone called MoreBeta who was really well-versed on tenant rights.

By the way my ea man was found looking through my underwear drawer when he turned up without notice and let only himself in. No viewers were with him. My mil found him. Our flat is up for let. We told the agent every viewing has to be agreed 24 hours prior in writing. They agreed because they know we dont have to allow any viewing legally despite whats written in the contact. No way would we allow viewing without us. One viewer pcame around and id spent all day cleaning, and announced in a loud view how dirty the place was. Was shocked as you could have eaten off the toilet. Its an excuse why they didnt want it. Tbh our landlord is awful (still waiting for shower to be fixed) any viewer had lucky escape but we keep quiet.....

What??? Are you having a fucking giraffe OP? The tenant should have to leave their home which is being sold by the landlord? How horrible.

Anyway, a serious buyer will see last a sulking tenant and look at the house.

of course all this can be made a lot less painful by people talking to each other and being informed.

tenants - you don't have to allow any viewings at all, and this will not affect the return of your deposit. If you want to be helpful, you can allow viewings at a time to suit you, e.g. an 'open house'. You don't have to leave during viewings. You don't have to let anyone in without reasonable notice. A viewing is not an emergency.

landlords - make sure your agents are doing what you pay them to do, and following the law. (remember agents are unregulated) If there isn't an agent, note the above. Ask for your tenant's co-operation and give plenty of notice.

buyers - be considerate to the tenant and I repeat, a pissed-off tenant may just possibly not leave and will need to be evicted, which takes four months. Buying a tenanted property is a risk unless you are buying it to continue the tenancy. Remember that a sale is not a reason to end a tenancy prematurely.

I would much rather the tenants were there! Then you can ask questions about problems with the property, what the bills are like, what the landlords like, what the neighbourhood is like, etc etc to someone who has no vested interest in the property!

EAs tell a pack of lies to suit themselves.

I never understood why the agents aren't better with the tenant, after all I need somewhere to live too!

I have friends from Australia and in Australia the owners of a property (and I assume this applies to tenants too) HAVE to vacate the property during all viewings. My friends had a new baby. Hugely disruptive and occasionally pretty upsetting.

YABVVVVU.

to be fair, notallytuts, the tenant might spin a pack of lies too, if they are pissed of with the LL selling up.

Selling agent might not have letting dept, Damn, perhaps?

I think prospective buyers should be very cautious looking at properties with tenants in. My landlord is selling the house I'm in and has done an illegal eviction. It's going to be long and messy. Completely his own fault for being a lying, cheating prick and not protecting the deposit.

Definitely I don't think I'll be looking at any more properties where the tenants are in situ. I didn't realise it was so messy legally, or that I could be inheriting tenants with every right to refuse to leave.
I suppose really LLs shouldn't be putting properties on the market until they've been vacated. Fairer to the tenant and also to the buyer.

Stampy go to cab. If not protected the deposit your ll could be fined the deposit (usually just that amount but can be 3 times). Some ll arent aware they need to tell their mortgage provider if its let out and the tax office....

tenants that refuse to leave at the expiry of a tenancy will be going eventually, but it will take a while. I wouldn't say that they have a 'right' to do it, but the legal process takes time.

this is why all landlords need legal expenses insurance.

If I were a landlord, I'd be inclined to offer the tenants an incentive to go out during viewings (£50 to go out for the day, say), but ultimately, people still have a right to be in the home they're paying for, and will want to ensure the security of their stuff. The easiest solution is to give the tenants notice first, and then do the viewings once the property is empty - and it's more likely to sell faster that way - but some LLs and EAs just don't see it from the tenant's perspective.

bear in mind it could be an incompetent landlord who doesn't understand the concept of quiet enjoyment and that you have to give at least 24H notice of a showing.
It was at least twice that DH and I would come home to a house full of random and one of the landlord's peons. Strangely, viewers didn't stick around for long...

I agree it's totally counter productive to put a property up for sale if the tenants are in situ, resentful, and likely to try and sabotage the sale by having the place like a tip, badmouthing the area etc. I suppose maybe some landlords do it if the tenants are being awkward about moving out, even after the legal notice has been given, because they think it might get the message home to them.

I'm renting, I will be at home if the HA ever decided to sell stock.

The reason I have a lot of valuables and I don't trust people not to have sticky fingers. I have my late nan ring in my jewerelly box and it would break my heart if that got stolen.

Can't believe you'd go through the cupboards in someone else's home on a first viewing! How fucking rude.

Londonrach, thanks I have. There is a massive back story to this and after the five years of hell he has put me through it will go as far as court and legal wrangling.

Another thing I don't want people looking behind cupboard doors.

It's my things in that cupboard. The airing cupboard I have all my towels and bedding ect. It's not a place that gets cleaned often and it embarrising.
The kitchen cupboard are not always well organised. I don't want people seeing my cupboards like that.