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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tenants

42 replies

Peaceonearthplease · 10/08/2017 08:47

I own a small rental property, the current tenants have given notice. I have booked annual leave and will be travelling down to sort out a number of matters with the flat and would like to hold a mid-week open house viewing to meet prospective new tenants from 4-7.30pm. This timing will allow people who work to make the viewings and will means the current tenant will not have to deal with random viewing appointments. However, because my request will impact current tenant's toddler's dinner/bath/bed routine and they want to do the viewings 3-6pm. I've bent over backwards to accommodate this family in a number of ways before, including holding this open house. I've got a small child in a routine but realise that sometimes adult life gets in the way and that you have suck it up. AIBU?

OP posts:
DoesAnyoneReadTheseThings · 10/08/2017 08:49

YABU assuming you're in England, they don't have to allow any viewings at all at any time.

YellowLawn · 10/08/2017 08:50

yabu
do the viewings once the current tennants have left.

CockacidalManiac · 10/08/2017 08:51

It's still their home.
Sort it out when they've left.

CockacidalManiac · 10/08/2017 08:52

And it's you that has to 'suck it up', I'm afraid.

HighwayDragon1 · 10/08/2017 08:52

Yep YABU, they're accommodating viewings at a time suitable for them, if you're going to be an arse about it they're within their rights to say no viewings at all.

SuburbanRhonda · 10/08/2017 08:54

I would do the viewings at the times your tenant has suggested. It's not ideal but she doesn't have to allow them at all so I'd take what you're offered.

Having said that, I'm surprised they've agreed to 6pm, especially for a toddler.

sirfredfredgeorge · 10/08/2017 08:54

YABVU your tenants are being so helpful, don't push it or they'll tell you they'd like some quiet enjoyment, and that's no viewings at all.

They are doing you a favour with every viewing they allow, it's not adult life!

Onetwothreeoops · 10/08/2017 08:55

YABU they are exercising one of the few rights tenants do have. Why are landlords generally so ignorant of tenants rights?

53rdWay · 10/08/2017 08:56

YABU, sorry, it's still their home that they're paying you rent for and your leave/finance issues really aren't their problem. Appreciate it's frustrating especially when they're the ones who gave leave, but a 3-hour window is already pretty good and if you push it further they might well say no to that too.

HighwayDragon1 · 10/08/2017 09:00

one it's not just lls eas can be just as bad. I turned them away at my door once because they showed up "but we sent you an email yesterday so you have to let us in" err no! Then the EA sent me a picture f my contract highlightung the 24hour nonsense. She didn't seem to realise that my right to quiet enjoyment supercedes their contract.

wheresmyphone · 10/08/2017 09:02

Annoying but go with it. It's better to do which their blessing. I have viewed properties when tenants hated their landlord: plates in sink, unmade beds, unflushed toilets, all curtains drawn.....really grim. Go round, suck it up
And give them
A big bunch of flowers to say thank you.

53rdWay · 10/08/2017 09:04

EAs can be cheeky bastards. Last place I rented that the landlord was selling, we agreed to early evening viewing slots and they repeatedly booked people in outside of them and then said "ooh well while we're here, there's someone else coming at 7 so we'll just wait around." No, you won't. Ended up threatening to cancel all viewings and they behaved, grudgingly.

Laiste · 10/08/2017 09:04

Some land lords seem to assume they're doing society a massive favor by renting out their properties.

As pp said - your own financial decisions re: next tenant are NOT your current tenants problem and should not be made to be so in any way.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/08/2017 09:14

I think they're being the accommodating ones TBH! They could have simply refused viewings and instead they've offered you a very similar alternative time window (and it's a long time window). I think YABU.

Slimthistime · 10/08/2017 09:17

The decent thing is to wait till they've left
If they're kind enough to agree a date and time then do that I guess.

Kickhiminthenuts · 10/08/2017 09:18

It's properly shit when you rent doing viewings, there's people traipsing round your home, looking at you and your furniture. Judging you, your life.
Everyone all seems a bit awkward (except the ea).
You scrub the house top to bottom, you keep your child quiet and tidy whilst all that is going on.
Meanwhile your also trying to pack and get ready for your own move.

YourDaughterHasATattoo · 10/08/2017 09:22

As a landlord I have to agree with pp. As a parent I completely agree with the tenants too. I think 3-6pm will be fine. They are being very accommodating opening their house for that length of time on a week night when they're probably both tired from work!
Will they accommodate weekend viewings (prospective tenants will be able to come outside work hours). Not that they have to of course. This is their home.

It's an absolute pain I understand this. But you have to look at it from your tenants perspective. This is their home, they have a right to privacy and the quiet enjoyment of their home.

TBH your 'bending over backwards for them' was probably in your interests as much theirs?

Kickhiminthenuts · 10/08/2017 09:23

Presumably they are paying full rent until they leave?

Donostia · 10/08/2017 09:25

YANVVVU. Yes an open house is more convenient to them than many viewings in terms of having to clear up toddler toys etc once rather than many times but they don't have to do either and I think they're being very generous offering you a decent window near enough to your times as possible. They are presumably planning on being out during the open house and you want them to take their toddler out at dinner/bedtime.

I don't think you should be doing it while they're still living there. It's still their home and they've probably got enough on with the move before trying to work around you with you grumbling about how unreasonable they are for their efforts . As PP have said they legally don't have to at all.

BishopBrennansArse · 10/08/2017 09:25

YABU.
Do
Your open house after they've left instead of bulldozing over their right to quiet enjoyment.

swingofthings · 10/08/2017 09:26

If prospective tenants are interested, they will manage to come before 6pm rather than 7pm, so I don't think it will have a huge detriment on your chance to find new tenants. It is your choice not to use an agency for viewing, you can't hold this against them.

CaptainHammer · 10/08/2017 09:27

Yabu. Tenants don't have to let you do any viewings at all so to let you do 3-6pm is great.

Herefornow1 · 10/08/2017 09:27

As a landlord, I think you are being unreasonable.

I too have bent over backwards for my tenants, incl being very relaxed on their numerous late rent payments (but they always communicate this asap to me and always do pay in the end). But, they look after the house as if it were their own and while they are living in it IS their home. I'd be pleased with the 3-6pm time frame if that's what worked for them.

EssentialHummus · 10/08/2017 09:31

What everyone else said. I tend to offer a reduction in rent for the last month to allow viewings in a few blocks, which tends to secure agreement very quickly.

hannah1992 · 10/08/2017 09:32

Yabu. As a tenant I wouldn't be having random people coming in my house at half 7 at night to "look around". My kids go to bed at that time the house is often a mess with toys and dishes from tea it's usually the time my dh gets in and we have our dinner before cleaning up.

In my last house my agent and I discussed viewings when I handed my notice in. I agreed people could view during the day and on weekends but I wanted at least 24 hours notice but they were all before tea time and on the weekends.

She's paying you rent if she's giving you a time stick to that or sort it when she's gone