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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell my landlord to jog on

120 replies

sahknowme · 23/06/2017 13:12

I've given notice on the flat I'm renting, and the landlord has said they're looking to sell it anyway. They now want to come round, send the EA round to do a valuation, take photos and do repairs while we're still living here.

The happened to us before in a previous rental, and the landlady really took the piss, so I'm only going to let them come round when it's convenient to us, and I'm not going to let them send the EA round, or do repairs while I'm still here. AIBU???

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 23/06/2017 13:12

What does your tenancy say?

ImperialBlether · 23/06/2017 13:13

Why are you assuming that just because your previous landlord took the piss, this one will?

VintagePerfumista · 23/06/2017 13:15

Yes, you are being U.

PestoSwimissimos · 23/06/2017 13:15

Why be awkward if you're leaving anyway? Confused

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 23/06/2017 13:16

It's usually fairly standard to have viewings and the like when you give notice on a rental so I don't see why this is any different

Nowwhatsthis · 23/06/2017 13:16

YANBU. Let them have an EA around only when it is convenient to you.

Wanting to do repairs whilst you're still there is taking the piss so don't let them do that.

If they want to have viewings whilst you're still there, ask for a reduction of rent to compensate of around 10%. Otherwise say no.

BubblesInTheTub · 23/06/2017 13:16

YANBU.

Nowwhatsthis · 23/06/2017 13:17

What does your tenancy say? It doesn't matter what the tenancy says, the OP can still say no to viewings etc.

HirplesWithHaggis · 23/06/2017 13:17

YANBU at all. You are entitled to peaceful occupation for as long as you're paying rent. If your LL wants to sell, s/he's going to have to wait til you're gone. (Regardless of what it says in your lease, btw.)

Hereward1332 · 23/06/2017 13:18

YANBU. The repairs will not benefit you, so why should you put up with the inconvenience. They can be done once you have left.

You would BU not to let EA in - you are within your rights, but a bit needlessly difficult. EA can do a valuation, but unless the repairs are done, it and the photos are pointless.

araiwa · 23/06/2017 13:18

Yabvu - youre leaving. If ll wasnt selling you would have new tenants viewing anyway. So let estate agent cone round with suitable notice. Repair work would depend on its scale

Original poster
sahknowme · 23/06/2017 13:22

Tenancy says they have to give 24 hours notice for repairs and in the last 28 days they can show around to new tenants/buyers.

OP posts:
PenguinOfDoom · 23/06/2017 13:23

If your current LL has been decent then you would be a bit U to not even discuss allowing some access at times which suit you.

Dailystuck71 · 23/06/2017 13:24

You do not have to give access. Right to peaceful enjoyment and having all of that done is not peaceful. That and I wouldn't expect a tenant of mine to allow an EA to photograph their belongings for advertising - plus I wouldn't want a photographer or an EA showing a property with a tenant as you have no idea how they live day to day. Place could be untidy etc. Tell them to go away.

Nowwhatsthis · 23/06/2017 13:26

Tenancy says they have to give 24 hours notice for repairs and in the last 28 days they can show around to new tenants/buyers.

That's not worth the paper it's written on, your till don't have to allow viewings if you don't want to.

I think you should consider it if the landlord has been good all along. If not, then don't allow any access at all.

Original poster
sahknowme · 23/06/2017 13:29

I was going to suggest another time conveient to me, but last time this happened, all of my stuff was moved around, my things were damaged, and it was the day before Christmas, so was trying to pack presents and get ready.

OP posts:
MrsExpo · 23/06/2017 13:32

I think the LL may have a right to visit at mutually convenient times (depends what your contract says). What sort of repairs do they want to do? If it's just routine maintenance like servicing the boiler, for example, why would you object? If it's major building work, then you may have a point. But as you're leaving anyway, why be difficult about it? Also, as pp has said, just because your previous ll took the p#%^ (not sure what you mean by that) doesn't mean this one will.

19lottie82 · 23/06/2017 13:36

The LL doesn't have the right to enter the property, no matter what it says on the tenancy agreement.

However as a compromise OP, I'd advise providing the LL with set times where you will allow access, such as 2 hour slots twice a week or similar.

It makes no sense to market a property when it's tenanted anyway (unless you are selling with a tenant in situ), the LL just wants to have his cake and eat it.

flumpybear · 23/06/2017 13:38

You'll have to follow the tenancy I believe. But lock away your things, wardrobes etc and tell the ll that you want the EA to accompany viewers as you're wary of theft of items

mothertruck3r · 23/06/2017 13:39

YANBU. They have to give you 24 hours written notice if they want to enter the flat and I think you can refuse to leave them in your home alone (it is your home afterall!).

LRDtheFeministDragon · 23/06/2017 13:42

Yes, legally you can refuse them access. It's not an emergency, and your right to quiet enjoyment takes precedence over anything they chose to write in the contract.

But you don't need to be an arsehole about it, just because your previous LL wasn't very nice. You just reply politely that it's not convenient for you to have repairs done/visits. Or that it's only convenient at x times. I'd probably let them come do some visits one day of the week, because I'm a softie. But repairs is taking the piss a bit.

Mummyoflittledragon · 23/06/2017 13:47

I'm a landlady. I wouldn't subject my tenants to this. Tell them no, you refuse to get it into a viewing ready state for sale. Viewing state for rental is different imo. They have no right to access the property without your permission. You'll be gone in a few weeks and they will have to wait. The only reason I'd potentially let them in is if I needed a reference to get a future rental and wanted to keep them sweet.

SexandDrugsandaNiceCuppa · 23/06/2017 13:51

Just a note of caution - when we left our last rented property and moved here, the lettings agent required a reference from our previous landlord before they would let the house to us.
Obviously, that may not be the case for you, and you absolutely should not let them ride roughshod over you, but just be a bit careful if you're relying on your LL saying nice things about you Grin

Jng1 · 23/06/2017 13:52

Yes YABU.
Just because your last landlord took the piss it doesn't mean this one will?

Why is your default starting point to be difficult and aggressive Hmm?

Of course the LL should try to accommodate your timings, but why can't you just be a little more co-operative?

Will you ever need a reference from this landlord?
Are you hoping to get your security deposit back?

When my tenants were moving they were really helpful and let me take photos of the rooms (which looked so much better furnished/with pictures etc).
When they discovered they couldn't get everything in their self-drive van I let them leave stuff locked up in the shed for the weekend. And even though I could have legitimately charged them £200-£300 for damage their rabbits had done to the carpet I just let it go and put it down to 'wear and tear', figuring that because of their help I was going to be able to let the property 1-2 months sooner than if they'd been difficult about access before they moved.

I'm a big believer in 'karma' - why be unnecessarily angry and difficult?

EssentialHummus · 23/06/2017 13:53

What LRD said. Arsiness tends to beget arsiness in these situations, IME.

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