Letting agents expecting us to do viewings!

[NotAnotherUserName5]

We have given notice on the house we currently rent. It's been put on the market to rent for a stupidly high price, and as a result we have had viewings every day this week and no one has taken it. It's a good £350PM over priced for the area.

Now they have booked viewings for the weekend and are expecting us to show people around!

This is all starting to seriously annoy me-we are trying to pack and I only had a baby 3 weeks ago. Fed up of people coming and going all the time.

We move out in less than 2 weeks and so much to do.

Are the letting agency BU or me?!

Our LLs put the house we were living in up for sale and expected us to allow viewings until it was sold and still acted like arseholes about the deposit, just say no.

Can they really justify screwing us over on the deposit if we don't allow viewings betteroffwithouthim?

Not surprised you left the industry behind.

Why should you compromise because as a pp mentioned, being totally rigid might mean they "find" reasons to withhold your deposit. They're bad enough for it anyway, without a chip on their shoulders about viewings. I didn't mean compromise and work for them for free, I meant compromise and allow viewings at a time to suit.

Say no!

Cheeky fuckers.

I would contact them and make sure they know the answer is no.

Tell them no. Unless of course they want you to tell the viewers how much they have raised the rent by!

We have compromised and allowed all 7 viewings this week. It is just getting a bit much now. I know they won't get anyone at the amount they are advertising for the house in the condition it's in.

I can see this scenario going on up until moving date

What does your tenancy agreement say?

I'd honestly tell them to go and fuck themselves. Sideways. This is between the landlord and the estate agency.

Of course they can't screw you for your deposit for not allowing viewings.

It also doesn't matter what your tenancy agreement says. Just say no more viewings - or if you are feeling generous pick a 2 hour window and offer them that.

Your deposit is held separately so should be safe. I would say no to all viewings until your tenancy ends. We turned up to view a house that was for sale that we didn't realise had tenants in and they refused entry to us and the estate agent. It was annoying for us as we had driven a long way, but within their rights. It is also why as a landlord you have to plan for times when the property is empty - it should be marketed after you have left.

It's a common myth that tenants have to accommodate viewings during the notice period if their contract says it does. In fact, the law says the tenant had the right of quiet enjoyment, which means they don't have to accommodate any viewings, regardless of what their contract says. Where there's a conflict between what the law says and what the contract says, the law wins. So a contractual term about viewings isn't enforceable.

However most tenants, landlords and letting agents don't realise this. Or the landlords and tenants do know, but rely on their tenants not knowing.

There is no way that they can fleece your deposit for this reason - it should be secured in a deposit scheme and if they want to make deductions for any reason then you can challenge them as part of that scheme. The dispute will be decided independently of the letting agents and landlord.

The LA are completely taking the piss. I would tell them not only will you not be showing prospective tenants around, you will not facilitate any further viewings while you're still living there. It is still your home until you leave.

Fgs stop moaning about it op, it's your fault for letting them take the piss
You do have a mind of your own don't you ?

Haven't you told them no yet?

provider5sectorzz9-yes I do thank you

When we were renting, our landlord tried to sell the apartment we lived in. Only few viewings were arranged during the time we were in and we had plenty of notice. We had a good relationship with the landlord so we accommodated the change (also, there was no little baby yet) but we were never expected to actually do the viewing ourselves. Why should you do the viewings if you have no vested interest in selling the place?

Then just refuse already!
everyone is telling you you don't have to conduct viewings and you keep making out as if you're obliged to do it

provider5sectorzz9-I suppose I'm venting a bit too now. It's made me so annoyed.

Have called them and shared my feelings on the matter. Problem solved

I'm annoyed for you too op😡
i want you to tell them to shove it up their stupid piss taking letting agent arses

Your deposit is completely safe OP. You are under absolutely no obligation to facilitate viewings. It doesn't matter one jot what your tenancy agreement says; you can write anything into a tenancy agreement but it doesn't override the law.

When I mentioned deposit, most agents are now bound by the rules of a government body to hold deposits but they can make it difficult by finding silly little reasons to withhold some of it, I.e. Scuffs on walls or marks on carpet, etc. If you have an inventory and the house is as you found it you'll be ok.

@betteroffwithouthim no, the house does not have to be as the OP found it. There is allowance for wear and tear, depending on how long they have been tenants.

Every agent has to register the deposit with one of the schemes, it's not optional and there are severe penalties for failing to do this. Again, it is not up to the LA or the landlord to withhold money from the deposit, the tenants have to agree and if they don't then it goes to dispute. The LA will then have to prove that their request to withhold money is a reasonable one.

Thank you, yes I was an ARLA registered agent and I know the rules, however, whether an agent in this unregulated industry sticks to the rules is another matter. Registration of deposits depends on type if tenancy and is not compulsory. Dispute can take months. I am just advising on the potential downfalls, please don't assume you know more than everyone else.

Regardless OP tell them it's not convenient for viewings and they most definitely should do them themselves if you allow them.

Good.
If they're going to take the piss tell them to shove it with viewings full stop.
If it suits you to allow viewings after this point then you can do with them respecting your right to quiet enjoyment but otherwise they can poke it.

I think you have been flexible enough already.

When I was in a similarly situation (moving out, with 2 young kids), I gave them 2-3 slots a week where I would be available e.g. Sunday 2-4 & 1 week night 5-7.

Do you need a reference from them? As a LL, I always ask about whether prospective tenants have allowed reasonable access for repairs, viewings etc & wouldn't take on someone who refused.