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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be really fucked off with estate agents?

54 replies

maybebabybee · 01/04/2016 17:26

I had a baby 2 weeks ago. Traumatic emergency c section. We are moving into our own place end of April, currently in private rented. Estate agents have been showing prospective tenants round for nearly a month now, haven't managed to shift it primarily because they keep getting the wrong people in - ie sharers when the second bedroom is a box room, or people looking for furnished when this is unfurnished - everything belongs to us.

They're really starting to irritate me. They asked to do a viewing at 4.30. I said yes as a one offeven though I'd said before I only wanted post 6pm or Saturday mornings so oh is around to help me if I'm feeding or in bed (still in a lot of pain). Then changed viewing to 5pm. It's now 5.25 and no sign of them and they've not had the courtesy to even phone to let me know. They know I have a newborn and am recovering from surgery. They do this constantly.

AIBU to be pissed off?

OP posts:
DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 01/04/2016 21:16

The tenancy agreement doesn't trump the law, that's why. Whatever they have written in there, you do not have to let them in.

unimaginative1979 · 01/04/2016 21:19

You don't have to allow viewings. Say no. They will have to view once you are moved out- tough.

Original poster
maybebabybee · 01/04/2016 21:19

I probably shouldn't have let them in but am so wobbly at the moment I just didn't have the energy for a fight at the door.

OP posts:
MrsKoala · 01/04/2016 21:22

I really feel for you OP. We were in the same boat 19 months ago. I had a c-section and pretty crappy time and was back in the flat with my 'rambunctious' 2 year old and new baby and dh working long hours. It was a tip and i was trying to establish bfing - ds2 was constantly on the boob. They called daily asking if they could pop round in half hour, or even called from the doorstep. I always said yes and was polite, but they were so rude. They would open the oven and grimace and say 'obviously all this will be professionally cleaned' when i was sitting right there. They also would say some of our furniture was part of the flat (as there was no storage at all) so i would have to say 'no it isn't, that's ours'.

The people being shown round looked really uncomfortable too. It was hideous.

Charlesroi · 01/04/2016 21:23

Words in a tenancy agreement do not give the landlord(or his agents) the right to treat you like a serf.

I'd write to the agents saying they can show people round between 1 and 4 pm on a Saturday (or whatever suits). Access will be denied at other times.
Quiet enjoyment is your right and you are paying for it, so don't take any more crap.

ABetaDad1 · 01/04/2016 21:24

You have a legal right to 'Quiet Enjoyment'.

You do not have to let any agent into your property at all.

Simply flat refuse if they turn up outside the agreed time in your email. The manager of the agency needs to be contacted and you need to lay the law down.

The agents often have no training and do not know the law. I rented for many years and letting agents often look down on tenants and treat them despicably.

You need to tell them the law and insist on it being observed.

Be very firm and put everything in writing about any intrusive behaviour by the agents and make sure your LL gets a copy. Many LL simply have no idea about the law or what their agent is up to either.

newmumwithquestions · 01/04/2016 21:29

YANBU. I have a little flat I rent out - fully managed by an agent as I live too far away. I'd be horrified that an agent was doing viewings with someone who'd just had a baby, especially where there had been a CS or complications. The landlord is probably oblivious to what's happening - if it was my flat I'd want to know.

Original poster
maybebabybee · 01/04/2016 21:34

Ll just responded saying the agents have said they're finding it difficult to get prospective tenants in with the restricted timings we've given.

This is utter bollocks! I'd said viewings either after 6pm on weekdays so dp is there (we're in London and evening viewings are perfectly normal here) or on Saturday mornings between 9 and 12.

OP posts:
Original poster
maybebabybee · 01/04/2016 21:35

I should add we've only said no a few times - whereas they've cancelled or not shown up loads!!

OP posts:
ABetaDad1 · 01/04/2016 21:37

They are just being utterly disrespectful to you. You need to push back firmly. They will only respect you if you draw the line and shut the door in their face.

They are low grade salesmen on a commission and have no interest in you or your life and will walk all over you if you are in the way.

catkind · 01/04/2016 21:46

Of course agents are telling the ll that, they're making excuses for not having relet the flat yet.

WonderingAspie · 01/04/2016 21:54

Tell them you have tried to be accommodating but they aren't playing ball so enough is enough and you need to recover from your major surgery and they will have to wait 3 weeks until you leave. They are taking the piss.

PegsPigs · 01/04/2016 21:56

I think the example of they said 4.30 but didn't turn up till 6.45 is evidence enough that they're the problem not you.

WonderingAspie · 01/04/2016 21:56

And and tell your LL that they are having trouble finding tenants because they are telling them things that aren't correct, like the flat is furnished, the garden is private and it is suitable for flat sharers. A waste of everyone's time all around showing people like this!

Normandy144 · 01/04/2016 22:01

We are in the same boat as you. I'm 7 weeks post c section and have a 3 yr old too. We gave them almost 3 months notice as we had completed on our home, but we only needed to give 2. We told them in no umcertaim terms that we would not.have any viewings at all until early March whem i would be at least 3+ weeks post partum. We advised they could do an open day on a Saturday and we'd vacate for a morning. That never happened - they failed to take advantage of the extra time we had given them and list the property early to build up a list of viewings, and we they finally did list they were too greedy and listed the property for £105 more pcm than we currently pay, hoping they'd find some sucker to snap it up. Lo and behold about 2 weeks later after one paltry viewing they reduced it by £50. We have had another 3 viewings but it's still listed.
After it was clear the open house wasn't going to happen we told them what times and days were convenient but they still ignore us and call to see if a 6pm viewing (right in the middle of DD's bathtime) is OK? So we say no. Stick to your guns.

SquareholeRoundpeg · 01/04/2016 22:01

I think most estate agents close the office at 6pm so that would make it difficult for them to do viewings.

LynetteScavo · 01/04/2016 22:05

Wow, I am actually so Angry on your behalf I can barely post!

But I see you have had some good replies already.

Flowers Congratulations on the baby.

I think you are being beyond reasonable. I would phone the lettings manager first thing in the morning and give them a piece of my mind. I would then email them to remind them you have had major surgery, and the times and why they cant come during the day, and copy to the LL.

The agent is being unbelievable. And I say this as someone who had their house on the market desperate to sell and didn't let anyone round for a week after a very easy birth, and also as someone who has worked for a lettings agent.

shiteforbrains · 01/04/2016 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LynetteScavo · 01/04/2016 22:08

SquareholeRoundpeg Agents are often happy to do early evening viewings, usually on their way home, once the clocks change. It can be the only time working people can do. In the winter they're not so keen, as people don't get a proper feel for a property in the dark.

Sunnyshores · 01/04/2016 22:15

The Agents will be telling any lies they can think of to explain why they havent rented it out all ready. Send one final email back to ll, tell him how many viewings youve already had, the mistakes theyve made and the times theyve been late.

If ll choses to believe Agent or not to care about your welfare, then just leave it there - dont get into more debate - and refuse viewings from now on unless you are happy. Your deposit will not be affected. Please look after yourself these early weeks with baby are critical.

Original poster
maybebabybee · 01/04/2016 22:19

Square in London it's totally normal to do evening viewings on rentals. The agency in question operates 8am - 8pm.

Thank you everyone for your supportive responses!!

OP posts:
whois · 01/04/2016 22:20

Do you love with DP? Can he fight this whilst you are recovering and dealing with new baby?

Time to play hardball. Tell LL and agent that you have been accommodating. The LL have taken the piss and are showing round people for whom the flat is unsuitable.

Assert your right to quiet enjoyment and tell them you no longer give the agent or LL permission to do viewings. The tenancy agreement doesn't trump the law.

whois · 01/04/2016 22:21

Square in London it's totally normal to do evening viewings on rentals.

Yeah how else do working people go check out flats? Can't be taking time off work all the time.

Original poster
maybebabybee · 02/04/2016 10:23

I have now received an email from one of them saying can they pop in in half an hour. I've said no. DP also called the manager of the branch and bollocked him. He was v apologetic, not that that seems to mean much.

I want to ban all viewings tbh.

OP posts:
GoldPlatedBacon · 02/04/2016 12:07

I only ever view properties after 6 or at the weekend.

I'd email the letting agency setting out what you have offered in terms of the timings, that you agreed to accommodate at 4.30 viewing but they were over two hours late, that they keep showing inappropriate tenants as it's unfurnished with a shared garden so it wastes everyone's time , explain you have a Newborn, explain what you are willing to do (if anything) and copy in ll.