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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

House for sale - viewings AIBU?

48 replies

KinkyAfro · 02/03/2016 18:32

We privately rent and after 3.5 years in this house, LL is selling up and moving darn saaaarf. Estate agent phoned today to say they've arranged for a viewing at 3pm tomorrow and are we ok to let them in. He seemed very surprised when I informed him that we wouldn't be taking time off to be in for all viewings. AIBU?

OP posts:

Inertia · 02/03/2016 19:28

You don't have to let viewings take place at all.

You are definitely not being unreasonable to be at work when they've been booked!

specialsubject · 02/03/2016 19:31

and again...viewings only with your consent, so 'not at all' is within your powers!

perhaps a compromise is an open house at a weekend for 2 hours, but you don't have to do that.

had your section 21 yet? No-one can exchange contracts until you have vacated.

you hold all the cards here.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 02/03/2016 19:34

I agree with everyone else. You are within your rights to refuse all viewings, and you could - do you want to? Or are you hoping to stay there when the house is sold (if it sells to another LL)

I was in this situation - I found the best thing was to pretend they'd asked politely and reply (in writing by email so they can't pretend they didn't get it) something like this:

'Dear Estate Agent,

Unfortunately, we will be unable to accommodate the suggested viewings at [time specified]. We would be able to accommodate viewings between [date and time and date and time], and we would be glad to let you and viewers into the property with 24 hours advance notice.

Yours,

Tenants.

That way you sound polite and reasonably helpful, but you don't get into detail about why you can't let them in.

Original poster

KinkyAfro · 02/03/2016 19:37

I'm a bit OCD with cleaning so it's spotless pretty much most of the time. EA has said that he will always let us know when they are doing viewings and there won't be any evening/weekend viewings which suits us.

OP posts:

mathanxiety · 02/03/2016 19:43

Where I live (US) it is unheard of for the resident to be there for viewings.

It was actually a pita to have viewings as I had to bundle the DCs out to the car many evenings with dinner or homework for the hour window allocated each time to viewers. We sometimes had two viewings per evening.

The estate agents were supposed to have all the details of the property and be able to answer questions. Buyers brought their own agents. No potential buyer could go for a viewing unless accompanied by their agent. Sellers had sellers' agents. I always left out the information sheet with all the particulars on my house (floor plan, dimensions, what was going with the house, year built, age of roof, type of heat, average cost of heating in winter, local taxes, all sorts of other info.

The house keys were in a little lock box attached to the front door. It was a swipe card lock box and only EAs could get in, and only with advance notice from my selling agent's office. We got 12 hours notice at best.

Original poster

KinkyAfro · 02/03/2016 19:44

Have told them they can view whenever they like, they told us it will be weekdays during the day, no weekends. They told us they will always let us know when they are coming in. We're not hoping to stay, we've already got another private rental lined up. LL has told us he doesn't expect any notice, we've got a dog too and not all places take pets so this new one is ideal. New place is available from 1st April and new LL is letting us move in 20th April which is the day the rent is paid. Both properties managed by same agents so all should go smoothly. Apart from today, LL has been great, left us beer and wine on moving in day, sorts any problems out straight away so we're not going to be awkward about anything, what would be the point?

OP posts:

SquareholeRoundpeg · 02/03/2016 19:47

What does your contract say? A landlord only has to give you 24 hours notice to do viewings.

Can you give the estate agent a key and tell them they can go ahead with viewings without you, and just send an email confirmation so you know when they will be there.

Or you could give a time a lot in Saturdays in which you are happy to accompany the viewings. They could book them all in bulk so it does not inconvenience your day so much

mathanxiety · 02/03/2016 19:47

There would be no point, and it seems you have arranged the viewings at times that are convenient for you. The issue seems to be the key/access. Surely an EA could have a key cut?

If you worry about the security of your things, leave out a sign-in book for the visiting parties to sign in and state time of viewing.

Phalenopsisgirl · 02/03/2016 19:50

Oh you are good, I wasn't suggesting there was an obligation to clean for viewings but if you are like me you'd rather have the chance to 'pretend' we always live like this and of course never have washing up on the side or clothes on the bathroom floor! Tum tee tum

SquareholeRoundpeg · 02/03/2016 19:52

The viewer won't know you or ever see you so does it matter if it isn't immaculate?

clam · 02/03/2016 20:01

Off-topic, I know, but how come you have a dog if you're out from 5.30 until 20.00 during the day?

Original poster

KinkyAfro · 02/03/2016 20:06

I couldn't give a shite what the viewers think, house is always tidy so it's not an issue, it's just as it usually is.

Re the dog, mum has her Mon-Fri during the day as company for her highly strung Westie. She's much better behaved when my dog is around

OP posts:

specialsubject · 02/03/2016 20:21

for the umpteenth time on here, if this is England/wales the contract cannot override common law which is that there is NO ACCESS without tenant consent except for emergencies. Minimum notice is 24 hours.

so you aren't being awkward at all. Remind the agent of the law and tell them to do some work.

regardless of what the landlord says; give your month's notice when the time comes.

Loqo · 02/03/2016 20:21

I like it when OPs describe situations where landlords, EAs and tenants are all nice and are all acting reasonably.

It's been a while since I rented but I was always been happy to show prospective buyers or new tenants around. Ive always found landlords and EAs respectful and considerate in return.

maybebabybee · 02/03/2016 20:31

Not my experience loqo. IME you're only considered reasonable if you're happy to have prospective tenants in to view whenever the estate agent wants. Had request at 11.45am yesterday to show someone the property at 12.15. When I said no the response was "oh but you're on maternity leave so you're in all day aren't you"

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 02/03/2016 20:32

Yanbu, doesnt sound like the EA is either if the LL has told them you'll be there. LL definitely unreasonable

deste · 02/03/2016 20:37

My friend gets £10 to show a house for sale.

mathanxiety · 02/03/2016 20:44

Why stand on her rights, Specialsubject?

Original poster

KinkyAfro · 02/03/2016 20:45

Yup EA has done nothing wrong. Just spoken with landlord, said he didn't think when EA asked if we'd be in, he's dropping his key with EA tomorrow morning so all good. He already knows when we're moving, he has no issues. Everyone happy

OP posts:

Tabsicle · 02/03/2016 20:46

I once had an EA bring round a bunch of potential tenants with absolutely no notice while I was in the bath. I was stark naked and soaking when I heard voices on the stairs. I was half out of the bath and half wrapped in a towel (and half not!) when the bathroom door opened.

I was incandescent with rage. EA can be such jerks.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 02/03/2016 20:56

Glad to hear a good result, Kinky.

MsVestibule · 02/03/2016 21:02

The first I knew of my (rented) home being on the market was when a couple turned up on my doorstep, asking to be shown round. I assumed they had the wrong house until they said "we were told a MsVestibule would show us round".

When the LL turned up half an hour later I remonstrated with her for just sending potential buyers round without even telling me that the house was up for sale. Her response was "Well, it is my house" '

Saz12 · 02/03/2016 21:19

Tabsicle - a very similar thing happened to me - only it was a bungalow and I was in the shower. The EA gave the viewer the key to the house, and he went to view it alone (!!!).
I grabbed a poker from the living room and accosted the viewer in the kitchen...don't think he bought the house, in the end...

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