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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is the letting agent being an absolute twat here?

300 replies

HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 10:41

Any advice appreciated. Not the most exciting AIBU but I'm really pissed off.

Gave notice on our flat. Have six weeks left in tenancy. Landlady lives abroad so we deal with letting agent who has been up until now ok (apart from the time he told us off about the washing up when he he came round to look at the bathroom and when he entered the flat randomly to measure up something saying he thought we'd gone on holiday)

Now, understandably they don't want a gap in the tennants but they put the poky flat with awful plumbing and no storage space on at £1100 (London zone 3) so there's been quite a slow take on it. They made the photos look good though so people want to veiw it. That's ok, we've tried to be flexible BUT the letting agent was texting and saying 'can I block book 6-8pm on Wednesday night' or 'can I do a viewing this lunchtime?' I mean, we live here. All our stuff is here. We are still paying rent here. No consideration to any of that but as we were going to be out of the flat for three week nights last week I offered those. Letting agent could only do one. No takers.

Asked to book a viewing at 9am on this Saturday morning. I said no, (we are out at a party tonight and I don't fancy getting up early to tidy and vacate on a weekend) BUT you can do it when we go out for lunch at 12. Can't do that so now apparently we have 'jeapordised the chances of re letting a flat for refusing to let them in on Saturday)

Anyway, after reading up on a few tennants rights etc, I found the 'right to quiet enjoyment law' which actually means we could refuse viewings altogether if we so chose. I also know that he has to give us 24 hours notice of he wishes to access and we have to give permission unless it's an emergency. So I emailed him quite a balanced and fair email this morning, saying that viewing times need to be worked around us and not the other way around, and offered him a couple of days next week.

He's sent one back and I'm livid but DP is saying take a step back for now before we respond.

Just going to work out how to blur names then will screenshot the emails.

How to respond? I think he's wrong. He states that he has every right to access the property. I am sure that's not correct but DP is worried we've rocked the boat now.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
ItsNachoCheese · 18/08/2017 11:31

The lettings agent sounds like an absolute bellend. He has to remember this is your home for the next 6wks

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 11:32

He's obviously sweating that there'll be a gap in the rental and he'll lose out.

They were stupid to put it on at £1100 plus bills.

OP posts:
SapphireStrange · 18/08/2017 11:34

There are loads of knowledgeable people on here and I can't pretend to have anything useful to add.

Just came on to say a) what a twat, b) your DP needs a word with himself and c) no, YANBU!!!!

MrsOverTheRoad · 18/08/2017 11:34

I had this...so I contacted the manager of the agency. I was super nice but told her that I would no longer have ANYTHING to do with the twat who insisted she could come into our house when she pleased for viewings.

The manager dealt with us from then on and we had no problems arranging viewings between us.

specialsubject · 18/08/2017 11:38

The position in England is simple.

The answer to viewings is 'no' if you don't want them. That applies throughout the tenancy, whether you are a good tenant or not, whether you pay the rent or not, whether you are destroying the place or keeping it beautifully.

24 hours is a minimum notice but doesn't guarantee access. People cannot just walk in any more than they could if you had a mortgage.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent/how-to-rent-the-checklist-for-renting-in-england

LaptopLoverrr · 18/08/2017 11:40

@Hammy12345 where does your agency stand on three monthly inspections, just out of interest? Along with photographs that are then sent to the landlord?

ShotsFired · 18/08/2017 11:43

Oops, sorry @HarrietKettleWasHere I misread one of the screenshots.

Your regenerate prefacing was quite correct Blush Wink

Willow2017 · 18/08/2017 11:45

"This is the game for us..." ffs is he 14?

Definately complain to the regulators. THis is bullying and unlawful.

He either doesnt understand the law or is deliberately ignoring it to make life easier for him.

Tell you DP to stop making excuses for him trying to bully you and ask if someone else was doing something against the law against him would he be happy about it?

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 11:47

I will complain to the regulators.

I obviously wound him up so all professionalism went out of the window!

OP posts:
ohforgoodnessake · 18/08/2017 11:50

Is your deposit registered with one of the 3 schemes - Deposit Protection Service, Tenancy Deposit Scheme or My Deposits ?

Big penalties i
If not!

TmiTuesdays · 18/08/2017 11:50

One thing - the stuff he said about the whole place, carpets etc being professionally cleaned - is that in your contract?

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 11:53

I need to look at the contract.

We were going to hire one of this rug doctor thingies as it's a fraction of the cost of professional cleaning.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 11:53

Pretty sure professional deep clean at the end of tenancy is in there though.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 11:54

Deposit is protected. I will still complain about this though, I feel quite bullied if I'm honest.

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SleepFreeZone · 18/08/2017 12:02

Sounds like he is gearing up to claim the house was left in an unclean state and thus will reduce your deposit. I have to say though I wouldn't use a Rug Doctor as I've found those things worse than useless. I would be shopping around now for some professional carpet cleaning deals on Facebook. You can haggle them down if need be, don't just accept their prices. Then you have a receipt to show letting agent twat if he tries it on re. deposit. Also take loads of photos before you leave.

notevernotnevernotnohow · 18/08/2017 12:02

I'm a landlady, I no longer live in the uk but rent out 3 properties there. I do not have the right to enter a tenants house without 24hrs notice

You do not have the right to enter even WITH 24 hours notice. Or a week or a months notice. You have no right to enter at all unless it is an actual emergency.
Worrying that ll's don't understand this.

AdalindSchade · 18/08/2017 12:05

Was it professionally cleaned when you moved in? They can only insist on like for like

StarHeartDiamond · 18/08/2017 12:05

Not ever - what about checking the boiler, bleeding the radiators, checking the roof/attic/loft for leaks?

ohforgoodnessake · 18/08/2017 12:05

Please don't use Rug Doctor if professional steam clean of carpets is a contractual requirement - it is not the same thing.

Glad to hear about deposit.

rizlett · 18/08/2017 12:06

He might be getting a bit frantic because his agency have agreed to cover any gaps in tenancy but that doesn't excuse his unprofessional behaviour.

Emmeline123 · 18/08/2017 12:06

My old contract required me to act reasonably to facilitate viewings. Make sure yours doesn't. Certainly didn't feel like I needed to leave the flat to permit viewings.

AdalindSchade · 18/08/2017 12:09

Not ever - what about checking the boiler, bleeding the radiators, checking the roof/attic/loft for leaks?

Gas safety checks are a requirement but the tenant can arrange those at their convenience. Bleeding radiators and checking the loft are not emergencies so no right of access.
Landlords are wise to cultivate mutually respectful relationships with tenants. My landlord has family locally and occasionally texts me askin if he can pop in to check or fix something- I almost always say yes because we respect each other and it works in both our favours.

notevernotnevernotnohow · 18/08/2017 12:09

Not ever - what about checking the boiler, bleeding the radiators, checking the roof/attic/loft for leaks?

Nope. Not without permission from the tenants. You only have access rights for emergencies.
Boiler should be serviced regularly, ask tenants to arrange a time with technician.
They can bleed their own radiators, and why would you randomly need to check for leaks at any given time? If you do, you ask permission from your tenants, who do not have to give it if they don't wish.

Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 12:09

Thanks about the rug doctor advice! That's very helpful.

I think the carpets were new when we moved in. They're five really apart from a bit work in the 'high traffic' areas.

I am going to insist on being there at check out so we can get everything signed off there and then.

DP is apparently going to 'set him straight' when he's on his lunch break. Apparently. He just says it benefits is for the LA to be favourable with us. But I feel like we're being walked all over.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarrietKettleWasHere · 18/08/2017 12:09

Thanks about the rug doctor advice! That's very helpful.

I think the carpets were new when we moved in. They're five really apart from a bit work in the 'high traffic' areas.

I am going to insist on being there at check out so we can get everything signed off there and then.

DP is apparently going to 'set him straight' when he's on his lunch break. Apparently. He just says it benefits is for the LA to be favourable with us. But I feel like we're being walked all over.

OP posts: