to tell landlord to get to fuck?

[GrumpyFucker]

LL has been a PIA since we moved in. Insisted that she wanted a long let but then decided that she wanted to sell 6 months in which was always the case but she couldn't find a buyer so said she wanted a long let just to get us in. I have lived with the threat of a notice to leave (Section 21) being issued for almost a year unti, LL finally issued a new 6 month AST in October. There have been intermittent periods of having to facilitate viewings for potential buyers which I find greatly intrusive although we did not need to as we were not in the last two months of the lease. We could have left before but there was nothing else suitable to rent and we did not want to go to the expense.

During the last round of viewings, LL increased the rent with the letting agent bullying us with the threat of eviction if we did not agree to it and stating that the inconvenience to us of allowing viewings was 'irrelevant'.

Our current contract expires in April and we intend to leave then. LL's estate agent has now contacted me again to arrange a viewing as they are now ramping up the marketing due to the property being empty in 3 months. I am due for a major op next month and I can't be arsed to have to facilitate viewings again when I am recovering.

The estate agent being used for the sale is not the letting agent and in principle I do not have to deal with them at all but I have done to help the LL.

I have just told them that I will not allow any viewings. They can do what they want when we leave and also that they are not to contact me again as I have no contract with them at all.

I am also going to email the LL and tell her to do the above. AIBU?

I'd just be really wary of giving them any opportunity at all to hold on to any of your deposit.

By work round you, I mean work around your perfectly reasonable request to be left in peace for the duration of your tenancy.

They can't hold the deposit as revenge. They'd have to prove to the deposit people why they were keeping it and not doing viewings isn't a good enough reason!

Years ago I was renting and the agency used to let themselves in for viewings, no notice or anything.

once I lest the house in a real state, was late for something and the beds were not made, breakfast dishes on the table, dirty clothes on bathroom.

They stated ringin after that, well in advance.

Magic.

When I come to do viewings between tenancies I book all viewings into one block of time so the inconvenience to the tenant is minimized. Ideally I like a 2 week gap between leases so I can go in and fix anything that needs looking at. When I have sold a place it's always been after the tenant has moved out. I need the control because I like the place staged with furniture and the little things fixed or updated. I can't do that with a tenant! It's me not the tenant that has the issue and as I normally sell in 30 days or so the lost income isn't too much.

If the house hasn't sold by the end of your tenancy, I'd be so tempted to leave an open bag of frozen prawns under the floorboards so it doesn't start to smell until you have your deposit back .

Well glad to know IANBU! I just think that we've had enough of trying to maintain a good relationship with this landlord (rent alway paid on time SunBeam) when she is blatantly not giving any consideration to us at all.

She will probably have a void period if she can't do any viewings until we vacate but is that my problem ?.

I think there should be a law that landlords cannot sell/show prospective tenants until the property is empty. You wouldn't hire a car and expect to have to let prospective hirers to take it for a test drive whilst you were still paying for the use of it would you?

Trouble with the prawns trick, You, is that's rather an expensive waste of £5.50 these days. Wouldn't mustard seed in the carpet be a better option? especially if the place is damp

The phrase you use is 'quiet enjoyment' and viewings stop that.

The reality is even if they took you to court to evict you, they probably wouldn't have the property back before your due to leave anyway.

I did viewings in my last home, it was horrible. It feels a violation, the estate agents treat you like shit (forgetting you are potential clients). They'd turn up when they liked and not when arranged. Second time the house went on the market, the day we were told I had to have an emergency operation and told them no viewings. They were OK with that as the house wasn't in its best state as we were packing and clearing. We also had a new house sorted within the month.

But do remember you may need a reference, so that's perhaps worth baring in mind too.

I agree. It's highly intrusive and you've been very accommodating already. I also agree that LL's should commence viewings when the property is empty.

Things like this give LL's a bad name.

I found shelter very helpful when having rental probs. You can also complain to the renting agents ombudsman or at least threaten to, to give you more power to your elbow.

Be aware that some agents/estate agents will just ignore and do it anyway.

I had that happen I insisted on 24 hours notice - wasn't trying to be unreasonable only for work to fuck me round with wages and holiday so I took holiday so was around the flat - and found the estate agents were just letting themselves in with potential new tenants.

They claimed first was crossed wires and talked me into letting them look round and they were both very rude about my things and me having started packing - next time thank goodness had chain on door as I was in bed. Refused a few times after that - which upset them but they kept trying it on.

I viewed a property to buy once which was tenanted.

The tenant came to the door in just her underwear, followed me round (in her dressing gown) pointing out all the damp and mould and told me all about the problems with draina At the end she said very politely "my landlord asked me to be helpful, I trust you found the information I was able to pass on useful".

I did - it was very useful and the house was still on the market 10 months later and well reduced in price.

Not that I am suggesting you would want to be helpful to prospective buyers or anything ......

I would say forget it to them about the viewings if she can't be civil about it when you are the one being put out by it if you are within your rights to decline I would!

They should not be able to withhold the deposit as revenge I think that's why by law now all deposits have to go to a Deposit Protection Service.

I had various issues with my landlord but the majority was actually the estate agent he went though what a liability they were!

When did she decide to increase the rent? Rent cannot be increased once a AST is in place but once the AST is over and it becomes a rolling contract they do have the right but it has to be within tenancy guidelines (it has to be reasonable market rent based on similar properties in the area) and you have to have written notice of the intended increase! When negotiating the next AST they are allowed to negotiate a rent increase.

Though in regards to your deposit she could try to say you caused damage to the property in order to keep your deposit.

I didn't let it get that far with my landlord or estate agents I took photos myself before I moved any of my belongings into the property, inc electric, Gas and Water meters. (They took photos but they failed to show half the faults, eg photo of the bathroom, the bottom of toilet was smashed but still water tight which they managed to cut that part off and the broken tiles) I cleaned the whole place, cleaned carpets as were cream (nightmare) and I retook all the photos and I sent them to the landlord and to the estate agent and I asked DPS for 100% of my deposit back and I didn't get argued with!

Keep your key in the lock when you're at home so they can't just let themselves in. Or change the lock barrel and then put the original back in when you leave.

Though in regards to your deposit she could try to say you caused damage to the property in order to keep your deposit

she could try. Without proof (signed inventory at check in and check out evidence) this won't work.

changing the locks is allowed if needed. Put the old ones back when you leave and make good any damage.

Thanks guys i thought as much. My husband said we have no choice but i had a gut feeling didnt sound fair anyway.

Our last agent would text 6pm and arrive 9am in morning that was 24hr notice apparently?, just for house check. Even if i said ihad school run they didnt care. The actual guy who did inspection was really understanding its ppl back in office . I think husband was too soft considering we pay rent always on time,and they said the place is immaculate. Id be running round like headless chicken early morn tidying up.

Its awkward new tenants viewing house if ur present id leave husband to it and make an exit. still intrusive since ur still living there all ur possessions there, i dont like it but tolerate it.

the 24 hours is the minimum suggested, and obviously that timescale is not 24 hours. You can say no.

landlords should check properties for fixes needed (and tenants should report any) but if nothing is flagged up twice a year is plenty. I give my tenant a choice of dates and 2 weeks notice if I need to do something.

I once rented a house that came up for sale at the end of my tennancy. I didn't like the ll, so I really enjoyed showing viewers round... "There's a bit of damp here". "The toilet leaks..." Etc.