Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say no to some house viewings?

27 replies

Namechangergeneral · 20/01/2016 13:53

Landlady is selling the property I rent. It went on the market this morning, and I have already had 5 texts 'confirming' viewings that have been booked, all at different times on different days.

They have given 24 hours notice for all, but would I BU to say 'please book on these days between say, 2-6 only? As it is a pain in the bum when I have a small toddler and times I'm scheduled to work from home, or we are staying in or whatever!
I know she has to sell, but it is so annoying!

OP posts:
EponasWildDaughter · 20/01/2016 13:56

Lots of info and opinion on this thread running right now OP.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2552089-why-me

YANBU

specialsubject · 20/01/2016 13:56

go read 'how to rent'. You don't have to allow ANY Viewings at all, so you are doing them a favour if you do.

the '24 hours gives guaranteed access' is not and never has been true.

take control. Offer a 2 hour 'open house' IF you want.

how long is your fixed tenancy? TBH unless she sells to another investor, you'll need to be gone before she can exchange contracts.

Original poster
Namechangergeneral · 20/01/2016 13:58

I've found somewhere new, she's tried to convince me to stay until she has sold but I'd rather be in control!

OP posts:
WickedWax · 20/01/2016 14:00

You don't have to allow any viewings and receiving those texts would really get my back up.

But (speaking as a LL myself) it would be very good of you to agree to an 'open afternoon' for a couple of hours one weekend.

specialsubject · 20/01/2016 14:00

perfect. Give your notice, then she can have all the viewings she wants once you are gone, and it will be easier to sell. Win-win.

(in case of LL-hater-bleating, no she can't keep your deposit for this!)

Twerking9to5 · 20/01/2016 14:01

I'm a landlord about to put our flat on the market. We told the tenants last week and we've said to the estate agents we want to cause as little inconvenience as we can to tenants. I think it's unfair to have potential buyers traipsing through at all different times of the day. We also want the tenants to keep the place as tidy as poss so will buy them a meal to say thanks.

YANBU to request more convenient times at all.

seastargirl · 20/01/2016 14:01

We're selling our house at the moment with 2 toddlers in tow and our agent will only do block booking of appointments for us as they know it's too hard to do it any other way. Just put your foot down and say you'll clear out for a Saturday afternoon or something but that's it!

KakiFruit · 20/01/2016 14:01

Don't say please, just say "I will only give access on Xday between 2pm and 6pm with 24 hours notice" and then stick to that. If it's convenient for you, you could say one weekday and then a 1 hour slot on a weekend so people who work can view - but it's really not your problem. Make it work for you.

WickedWax · 20/01/2016 14:04

I've found somewhere new, she's tried to convince me to stay until she has sold

Sounds like she wants it all her own way Hmm.

In that case, as you've found somewhere new (and I'm presuming you've given notice), text her "I can't accommodate those viewings. As discussed, I've found a new property to move to and will be out of here by XX (date) so you will need to rearrange any viewings for after that date.".

Twerking9to5 · 20/01/2016 14:05

special subject doesn't it depend on the individual contract with regards to accessing the property?

Stratter5 · 20/01/2016 14:07

Tell her to arrange an open house viewing?

KakiFruit · 20/01/2016 14:09

Twerking9to5 you can put what you like in a contract, but a clause saying "must give access to all viewings" wouldn't be enforceable.

DartmoorDoughnut · 20/01/2016 14:10

Agree with everyone else, when I was a tenant I had them all in a Saturday but I had no kids to worry about then, did have a dog however and didn't want random people walking into his home without me there! When I was a LL I sold once the tenant left so no bothering them with viewings etc.

rallytog1 · 20/01/2016 14:11

Twerking very much no. Even if a contract says you have to allow access, the law sees it as an unfair term because it conflicts with the tenant's right of quiet enjoyment of the property. So it can't legally be enforced, even if the tenant agreed to it.

Twerking9to5 · 20/01/2016 14:12

Ah-interesting. Thanks!

specialsubject · 20/01/2016 14:13

for the umpteenth time, contracts cannot over-ride common law. Landlord access to a tenanted property is ONLY with express permission except in emergency.

selling, viewing, maintenance - all only at tenant consent. 24 hours is the minimum acceptable notice but does not give guarantees.

learn your rights, everyone. look on gov.uk for the how to rent booklet, but the above is not new.

Twerking9to5 · 20/01/2016 14:16

special. This is not something I have heard umpteen times before, so I was merely interested to know about it. Luckily we've had no problems with our tenants so haven't had to look into the legalities of things to get access.

specialsubject · 20/01/2016 14:28

you're a landlord???????????

please get informed about how your business works. This kind of thing gives the landlord haters extra ammo.

Twerking9to5 · 20/01/2016 14:31

FGS. Yep I'm a landlord who has never had any issues at all. I've only ever had express permission from tenants for access. I've always had an excellent relationship with tenants. Not sure why anyone would hate me?

Anyway, you sound lovely.

Sorry for thread derail OP, good luck getting sorted!

CremeEggThief · 20/01/2016 14:37

YANBU, op. In my last house, the letting agents had the cheek to tell the estate agents they were using to market the property that I was happy to show new tenants around! Out of goodwill, I showed two around, who were booked in for the same afternoon, but made it clear that was it. And after all that, the bastards had the nerve to try to keep my deposit!Angry (I did get it back, but it took 3 months). Thankfully, I'm now in a H.A. property.

Mandolinoparadiso · 20/01/2016 14:39

As a landlord, I always arrange block viewings on one day, at the current tenants' convenience. It must be awful to have people traipsing through your home, and I want to make it as painless as possible for the current tenants.

IShouldBeSoLurky · 20/01/2016 14:42

We're going through this at the moment. We've bought and are doing work to our house so not ready to move for another 3 months; our landlord is selling the property we're renting. We don't want to be arsey about it but we also don't want to be given notice, and it goes without saying that we don't want viewers traipsing in and out at all hours.

So far we have said yes to the LL coming in to do some decorating, which took about 5 hours on a Saturday, and for the EA to take photos. We've said yes to one morning of viewings and no to another, and we're going to accommodate one more block of viewings for a couple of hours. The LL would have wanted more access; we'd have wanted less. Seems like a fair compromise to me.

NNalreadyinuse · 20/01/2016 14:43

I wouldn't allow any viewings tbh. The ll should wait until you have moved out imo. Why should you be inconvenienced - the ll wanting to sell the place is not your problem to solve.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 20/01/2016 14:48

Tell them you're packing so the house isn't in a viewable state right now, they can do viewings of the empty house after you've gone

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 20/01/2016 15:06

YANBU. If you like your LL, it would be kind to allow some viewings whilst you are still there - but it's still your home. You still get to say when strangers can or can't come & have a look around it.

I would tell the EA that they need to call you before booking firm appointments.