To think this was an outrageous request from our landlord and to be a bit suspicious?

[pinkowl]

We rent our house and have been here for 3 years, so it is very much our home.

Some background. The landlords aren't buy to lets, they inherited this house and we are the first tenants. Before letting they completely refurbished the property - new bathrooms, kitchens, windows, carpets, roof extension, the lot. They did it themselves to a high standard and it's lovely. I can imagine that they're proud of it (relevant)

We have a good relationship with them. They're not local but come down to see family sometimes and tend to use the opportunity to do any maintenance that needs doing. Recently they've been sprucing up the exterior.

Onto the outrageous request! She text me yesterday and explained that she was coming down with a girlfriend who knew the house as it was before, and would love to see what it looks like now. And could they come round today so the friend could have a look round the house.

I feel pretty disgruntled. This is our home and of course I don't want a complete stranger traipsing around looking at it out of curiosity. Surely as a landlord once a property has tenants, you leave them be unless there's a real reason. We have annual inspections with the leggings agency which is bad enough, but obviously accept as being part and parcel of renting.

I also feel a bit paranoid. It seems such an unreasonable thing to even ask that I'm concerned there could be an ulterior motive. Perhaps the friend is an estate agent who could cast an informal eye. I'd like to think that if they had plans to sell that they'd be upfront, but you never know.

They do have photos of the house as they were used in the original advert - can't they just show the friend those?! Why would the friend herself want to impose upon strangers in their home?!

I politely replied that it wasn't convenient today. But should I be concerned?

If she's valuing it she would have given you notice. She's allowed to do that for insurance purposes apart from anything else.

Wait till you rent from an agency!!

But pinkowl why is it inconvenient if you are not going to be there? When I was renting I would allow the landlord access when I was at work. That includes viewings after I gave notice as well as boiler servicing etc. It was better for me because I would not have to be polite to strangers

She wants to sell.

Maybe but more probably nope, don't think so. The LL has become a sort of "friend" they have transgressed the LL Tenant boundary a bit which may not be that bad a thing on balance they seem very good LL's you maybe haven't had many bad experiences of bad LL's and their very duff managing agents !

I suspect that she, the LL, just wants to show off what they have and have done nothing else.

Do bear in mind it is a rented house and the LL can sell at any time that's why you have the STL agreement so you know where you stand and you shoudl be aware of the notice periods if she does what you out.

If you want to get that attracted to a home of your own then buy one don;t rent OK maybe not that simple with the prospect of being forced to move out goes with the rented property territory!.

Green it's different because as an owner you have COMPLETE autonomy.

A renter often feels powerless and doesn't need the landlord breezing in with their mates on a whim.

greenbucket it's different if you own your house and it's significant locally as you will feel a pride over that. So I can understand how you might want to show it off. It's yours. But do you honestly think you'd feel the same if you were renting?

I've rented for years previously. Agencies were constantly coming round to check things. If you can't handle a polite request from an amazing landlord then buy!!

In fact if I were them I'd be thinking of moving you on soon in case you did get attached and decided to make a fuss when they try to get rid of you. Two years is ideal for a tenant, 3 okay, but after that I'd be looking to change the tenants.

Wow okay. You've clearly never been a tenant yourself and I sincerely hope you're not a landlord because that's a pretty shitty way of looking at things.

If you want to get that attracted to a home of your own then buy one don;t rent

I didn't think of that! Thanks

If you can't handle a polite request from an amazing landlord then buy!!

Never thought to do that. Thanks

I've rented for years previously. Agencies were constantly coming round to check things. If you can't handle a polite request from an amazing landlord then buy!!

Ah yes, the old "buy your own house argument". As if most people who rent do so by choice. Why didn't op think of that before I wonder

I don't see how asking if a stranger can look around your home for basically no good reason is in any way polite, even if the LL did ask politely.

Must inform my landlord that it's time to move us on since we've lived in the property for 2 and a half years already. I suppose I'd better get packing.

The way some people view rental properties and tenants, well I have no words.

Greenbucket you've really displayed your ignorance with your "then buy!" comment.

Not every can.

If you can't handle a polite request from an amazing landlord then buy!!

Dick comment

"If you want to get that attracted to a home of your own then buy one don;t rent"

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

shrugs both buying and renting have their negatives. I guess this is one of the negatives of renting.

WitchO not everyone is comfortable with complete strangers wandering around their homes whilst they're out.

Or OP might not want to tidy up to a visitors standard.

Green Wow. Insightful AND helpful!

I wouldn't worry about the request. It's he sort of thing I would love to do. My grandmother's old house has so many lovely memories for me, if I vaguely knew the people living there I might ask if they'd mind if I had a look. Not for any sinister reason, just because of the feelings.

I would hope that if they weren't comfortable with that, then they would say no, just as you have. Which is fine too. Worth an ask, not a problem if you refuse.

I'm a LL with a very good relationship with the tenants.

I would never, ever do this. It is their home!

I know that if they are planning on selling that saying no to the visit won't change that, but I get to maintain my privacy and not have to feel like I need to do extra cleaning!

That's my fear expat. They've said before that they're lucky to have us as tenants and really they are - we pay our rent on time, keep the house immaculate and are long term. I can imagine a scenario where they wouldn't want us to know their plans prematurely

Which is it? You keep it immaculate or you need to do a lot of cleaning before the LL comes around?

What do you mean by 'maintain my privacy'? What exactly do you have a problem with?

Some of us would value the good relationship we have with the landlord & let her bring a friend around. Some don't value it as much & would say 'no'. Just don't be surprised when they don't feel like going the extra mile to accommodate you.

The woman isn't a stranger off the street, she's your lovely LL's friend. It's not the same thing.

I've rented & now I own. When I was renting I'd have had no problem with this. It's the first time in 3 years she's asked, so no, I don't expect it to be a constant stream of people.

And as I said earlier, it's an ideal opportunity for you to ask her face to face if she's intending on selling & if not you'd like another long term agreement put in place.

Anyway, you've made your decision, so surely there's nothing more to say on the subject?

sleighbellend do quote the rest and its given context please! Ho Ho!..

Annie what a lot of tosh....it's OP's home. If a landlord was going to mark up crap like this and "deduct points" or something, then OP's better of without them...I mean! How petty would that be!

Some of us would value the good relationship we have with the landlord & let her bring a friend around. Some don't value it as much & would say 'no'. Just don't be surprised when they don't feel like going the extra mile to accommodate you.

Not wanting her privacy invaded so someone can be nosey does not mean she doesn't value the good relationship she has with her LL. Op is under zero obligation to allow this, to suggest otherwise is just plain wrong.

What do you mean by 'maintain my privacy'? What exactly do you have a problem with?

This is our HOME. Our private home. I have a problem with people I don't know looking around it like it's a showhome or something. It's not. This is where my family live. Where my young daughter has a bedroom. Why on earth would I welcome random people going round it?

Yes it is kept pretty immaculate. But I am very house proud and if I knew the landlord was going to be visiting I would feel the need to do extra cleaning. Which quite frankly, with less than 24 hours notice, I didn't want to do.

The things some people think and say about tenants are really quite horrible. And lack common sense in some parts.

Why would a landlord want to get rid of one tenant and get another one, assuming tenant is a good one? Will be likely to cost money in one way or another. And not sure what happens if tenants get attached to a house - how is that a problem for the landlord?