Is the letting agent being an absolute twat here?

[HarrietKettleWasHere]

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.

You can refuse viewings full stop op!!!!!

Omg his bastardisation of the English language is pissing me off. If you own a business bloody well write properly fgs

Thank you Mumsnet

I've had a few wines now but your advise had been totally brilliant.

advice

Good luck with your situation. Grrrrr...I am realising how much I have been ripped off over the years.

Perper I regret not putting up more of a fight.

I had that once. We had two locks so I changed one. Obviously I'm not supposed to do that, but obviously he only found out when he tried to enter without my permission. (Five mins earlier he'd have walked in on me starkers - that might have cured him even more effectively than changing the locks!) Anyway, after the embarrassment of bringing clients to a locked flat, he always made sure he'd given sufficient notice and actually secured my agreement.

Letting Agent is acting inappropriately (and appears to have done so in the past - the unscheduled entry when he though you were on holiday). I would suggest a formal written complaint to the owners / directors of the letting firm and the landlady. It sounds as though you have been reasonable and flexible in terms of viewing - while retaining your rights to enjoy the property (for which you are paying rent for). I would also suggest that you should threaten that you may sue for a reduction / refund in rental for the remaining part of the tenancy if the letting agent continues to disturb your right to enjoy the property unmolested (again copying in and explaining to landlady). BTW if anything in the lease suggests more favourable access it is unlikely to stand if the lease contract was challenged.

@Underconstruction You are allowed to change the locks.

OP, if he tries it on with your deposit (i.e. tries to keep it) please feel free to PM me. I've been through it with two nightmare landlords, researched it to death, and wiped the floor with both of them.

@evangeline3 Thank you. I didn't know. Luckily all was resolved and it was a long time ago. Now own my own house and leaky roof, dripping taps and smelly drains all my own problem. Sometimes I miss the days of the irritating agent!!!

Thanks DailyMailReadersAreThick! I'll remember that. I wouldn't be surprised of we are in for a bit of shit with regards to the deposit...

SO glad we do not have to pay for professional carpet clean or their own ('family friends apparently.... ) cleaning company. He'll go nuts again when he finds out we are not forking out for either of those things.

Very much doubt he can enter property for viewings. This is all to accommodate his client (owner) who doesn't want to lose money. Tough! You are trying to accommodate him, being reasonable offering times etc. Just tell him he can have as many viewings he wants whenever he wants once you have moved out. Twat.

It's in our lease that he can enter to do viewings in the final three months! The actually law says differently but he's ignoring that and keeps citing his stupid lease.

I haven't read the full thread but what does it say in your contract? As that is what you need to go by. If you have signed to say they can do viewings then that's the legal document. I myself went through similar. I wanted to be there when viewings taken place they messed me around that much booking them then cancelling then going back to previous date then cancelling i told my lanlords they can wait till I leave. I had a new baby at the time and didn't want all the disruption plus didn't have the time to message back and forth they agreed this was ok but only because I said i was moving a week before my tenancy ended so it would be empty apart from a few bits. Bit they reiterated my contract to me to say i didn't have much choice.

No, I really do think a contract has no weight if it contradicts the law!

Otherwise anyone could just say whatever the hell they like on a contract!

When does the letting agent fee ban come in to force? Is that why he's getting his pants in a twist?

fluffy
the contract cannot supercede the law.

If the contract is being enforced unreasonably then they can shove it where the sun dont shine it isnt lawful.

On a slight tangent, can anyone on here recommend a decent but inexpensive carpet cleaner?

Am I allowed to name and shame or would be libel?

Just looked on zoopla and there are three other flats up for rent just in this block. Exactly the same as ours but are on for less.

willow i didn't know that. It worked out well for me in the end as they didn't send anyone round until i moved most of my stuff out but I'll take note of that in the future. Thanks.

Hi harriet glad you seem to be feeling a bit better about this now. Your agent is a shit!!

Just wanted to add that the deposit scheme websites have some really good advice re getting deposits back, claims and disputes etc. Case studies too so you can see how previous judgements were made, what evidence is required (pre and post tenancy) and how costs are calculated etc. it really is a very fair process and lLs don't get new for old etc and there are accepted ways of calculating wear and tear.

The TDS is one scheme, also MyDeposits, I can't remember the other one but they produce a joint guide as well as info on their individual websites.

From his behaviour so far I'm sure your agent will try something dodgy so it really is worth reading so you can be prepared.

Hope that helps :) Good luck!