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AIBU?

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Original poster

Frustrated with tenants?

462 replies

thankunextex · 25/03/2019 10:13

I’m trying to view a house and the tenants have refused to let me view it both times. Appointments been booked in advance and then they say it’s not a good time an hour before.

I get it if you don’t want to actually leave the property (not sure if that’s the situation or not) but I’m just being messed around now.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 25/03/2019 10:52

The only thing I’d be thinking here if you can stand the hassle is buying a bargain. Are you viewing with intention to buy it with the tenants in situ?

Reaa · 25/03/2019 10:53

They have possibly been advised to stay until the landlord takes them to court and evicts them.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 25/03/2019 10:53

I had it written into the lease they signed that they have to give reasonable access for viewers.

That’s not enforceable though.

We don’t have much info to go on here so it’s hard to really determine if they’re being unreasonable or not, at the end of the day it is their home while they’re there and they are entitled to enjoy it in peace.

53rdWay · 25/03/2019 10:55

I was the tenant in a similar situation once. We had agreed set viewing timeslots with the landlord and estate agent but the EA kept trying to squeeze in more people outside those. So we regularly turned people down on what looked to them like short notice. Was the EA’s own fault there.

Lizzie48 · 25/03/2019 11:00

I would forget about this house and look elsewhere. It wouldn't sit well with me to buy a house when there are potentially tenants that are being evicted.

thedisorganisedmum · 25/03/2019 11:06

that's why landlords are nuts not to get rid of tenants before starting viewings, unless they hope to sell to another landlord.

The tenants will be a nightmare, not cooperative, make a mess of the place and you will pray they will get the hell out of there on time if you ever buy the property.

It might be worth it with the right house, but be prepared! And if it ever goes through, DO NOT EXCHANGE until a final inspection of the property on the day or the day before.

CalmDownPacino · 25/03/2019 11:07

I had it written into the lease they signed that they have to give reasonable access for viewers

It worries me that there are so many landlords out there who don't know that this ^^ makes no difference. It isn't enforceable. You can write whatever you like into a lease, it doesn't override the law.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 25/03/2019 11:11

that's why landlords are nuts not to get rid of tenants before starting viewings

Their greed is what drives this decision. They hate the idea of the property being empty and collecting no rent for a few months until it’s sold.

Justaboy · 25/03/2019 11:12

You can't enforce that, though. It's a standard clause in every lease I've ever seen, but it doesn't mean anything.

By such logic does anything in the lease then?.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 25/03/2019 11:13

By such logic does anything in the lease then?

Yes. Please do read up on the various acts which cover basic requirements and enforceable clauses of any tenancy act.

greenelephantscarf · 25/03/2019 11:14

yabu
the tennants don't need to let anyone enter their home if they don't want to.

IncrediblySadToo · 25/03/2019 11:15

If it’s your dream house, book the viewing at a time that doesn’t inconvenience you & tell the agent/LL to phone you when they’re actually inside the property and you will come to view it.

If you then want to buy it, be prepared for it to take some time and do not finalise until the tennant is actually out of the house.

If it’s not your dream house, walk away.

DarlingNikita · 25/03/2019 11:19

Tell the seller ie LL, that you will give up on purchasing if you cannot view, it is his responsibility to deal with his tenants.

I agree with this. The tenants are being a PITA from your point of view, but you don't know if this was sprung on them and/or if the LL isn't giving them enough notice of viewings, or what's going on. You can't deal with them; you have to deal with the seller.

TurquoiseDress · 25/03/2019 11:20

It all sounds like it has the potential to be a nightmare purchase

Personally I'd wait until the property is vacated- unless you are buying with tenants in-situ or other reasons for pressing ahead with the purchase

A tenant is entitled to decline viewings the property, but to cancel with just an hours notice is a total pain (unless some dire emergency took place)

IncrediblySadToo · 25/03/2019 11:21

Their greed is what drives this decision

Can you afford to pay a mortgage for several months on a property you’re not living in? Lots of people can’t & some of those will be people who own a house they’ve needed to rent out. Not all landlords are purely landlords doing it as a business.

TurquoiseDress · 25/03/2019 11:22

As others have posted, the tenants may be in the dark about what is going on possibly.

sounds complicated- tenants, vendor (landlord), estate agents and you the prospective buyer

ILoveMaxiBondi · 25/03/2019 11:22

Can you afford to pay a mortgage for several months on a property you’re not living in?

No, which is why I didn’t take out a mortgage on a house I wasn’t living in Grin common sense really.

Hippogator · 25/03/2019 11:23

It's a bit silly of them really. They certainly won't be getting a reference off the landlord. I'd be fairly wary and wouldn't exchange until they are out. They sound like they are playing silly buggers.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 25/03/2019 11:24

Not all landlords are purely landlords doing it as a business.

But that’s what it is. It is a business. People like to shy away from that and pretend that being a landlord just “happened” to them but it is a conscious decision with risks.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 25/03/2019 11:25

Can you afford to pay a mortgage for several months on a property you’re not living in?

Well rent is usually far higher than a mortgage so if a LL intends to sell in the future they should keep aside a percentage of the rental to cover costs. It’s not the tenants responsibility to help sell the house or allow others in while they’re living there.

BlueSkiesLies · 25/03/2019 11:26

Be pissed off with the LL who is too tight to obtain vacant possession and then sell.

Tenants do not have to facilitate viewings.

Iltavilli · 25/03/2019 11:26

We bought a house last year which had been rented out. The long-term tenant had handed in her notice so landlord decided to sell.
Sensibly, the owner / LL agreed with the tenant that they would only do a one day open house for all prospective buyers, on a Saturday, to reduce impact on the tenant; and we didn’t do a second viewing until a month later when she had moved out.
What stage are you at OP? If it is first viewing could the owner / LL do something similar to above to make the tenant more amenable?

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 25/03/2019 11:27

They sound like they are playing silly buggers.

We don’t know anything other than a couple of viewings were denied last minute, we don’t know why. Tenants aren’t obliged to allow people through their home whenever an EA or LL wants.

JacquesHammer · 25/03/2019 11:27

They are not being unreasonable to not want viewings

They are being very unreasonable to allow appointments to be made then pull out an hour before.

I would suggest looking elsewhere and making it clear to the LL that they may wish to serve notice so the house is empty before trying to sell it!

BlueSkiesLies · 25/03/2019 11:28

Can you afford to pay a mortgage for several months on a property you’re not living in?

All just part of being a LL. If you don't have sufficient cash flow to cover void periods you have no fucking business being a LL.

Or you do a deal with the Tenants. Reduced rent on the understanding they facilitate viewings and keep the house nice.