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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To refuse to accommodate house viewings

103 replies

Cornball · 26/06/2019 12:42

Hi all, I'd like some opinions on whether I'm BU or not. I'm relatively new to renting and don't want to be a pain for anyone - but I feel pestered to death!

We gave two required months notice to end our tenancy, there's 5 weeks to go, and every couple of days I'm getting texts or emails from the letting agent to request viewings. Initially they were asking less that 48hrs in advance, for example on a Saturday evening for Monday morning and its just not doable to rearrange work etc to accommodate them. I sent an email explaining viewings are more than welcome and I want to be as accommodating as possible but need reasonable notice to allow us to organise one of us being in.

It improved slightly with the notice but they're still arranging them constantly, this week they've arranged a viewing Monday, Wednesday, two Thursday and one Saturday. I am sick of trying to rearrange and I don't think the agents communicate because I often have to reply twice to different people.

Last week I rearranged a viewing with one agent because I said it wasn't suitable, then on the day another turned up with said viewing, we weren't in but the neighbours saw the agent knock then try to enter anyway - without permission. I later got a text saying that viewing had cancelled and moved to x date.

I'm fed up of it, we're so busy and this feels unreasonable. I understand they don't want the flat to be empty but would I be fair to say this isn't working and you can do viewings one day per week only, and with reasonable notice?

I cancelled an appointment last week to be in for them and they cancelled an hour before. This is still our home until we leave and I can't do five more weeks of this.

What would you do?

OP posts:

ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax · 26/06/2019 13:06

You are well within your rights to refuse all viewings regardless of what it says in your contract, especially given that you have tried to accommodate them so far. It is not your responsibility to ensure that your landlord has someone to move in the instant that you move out. Also, you say that you gave them the required 2 months notice - the usual notice period for the tenant on an AST is 1 month (assuming you pay your rent monthly, and not every 2 months).

19lottie82 · 26/06/2019 13:07

Give them an allocated a slot or 2 during the week, ie 5-7 on a Wednesday and 10-12 on a Saturday, and tell them that’s it.

Curious2468 · 26/06/2019 13:10

Can you not give the agent a key so viewings take place while you are at work? It’s really tricky as you are entitled to enjoy your home in peace but they will loose money if the flat stays empty and may need the money to cover their costs

Grumpyunleashed · 26/06/2019 13:11

Firstly I have no idea what your legal position or obligations are under your contract or the law require so check that.

However, assuming you are free to do as you like and you are actually inclined to be helpful perhaps you could offer a viewing session once a week. I.e. The agent could have a couple of hours on a Thursday evening or a Saturday morning to ship them in and out.
I have seen these open house ideas for selling so why not renting?

Seems to me you cannot simply keep rearranging your working life etc.

Good luck

Jizzle · 26/06/2019 13:13

As previous posters have said, either just outright refuse, as is your right, or say "all viewings are to be conducted between 10am and 2pm on Saturdays", to make your life easier.

dodgeballchamp · 26/06/2019 13:15

Why can’t you just give the agent a key (if they don’t already have one) and let them do the viewings while you’re at work? Whenever I’ve viewed flats that have still been occupied the tenant has never been in

BarrenFieldofFucks · 26/06/2019 13:18

If they are responsible landlords they will have factored in any down periods to their budget.

Say no full stop, or offer an 'open morning' if you are that way inclined.

BlueMerchant · 26/06/2019 13:25

Refuse all viewings or choose one day every two weeks and tell them they can arrange viewings on that date.
I'd probably refuse all. Well within your rights.

Original poster

Cornball · 26/06/2019 13:27

In our agreement they stated two months so I stuck to that. They have been quite overbearing for the duration of our tenancy, I think that's why I'm as sick of this as I am.

I think you're right about giving them a slot and I think that's what I'll do, sort out a suitable day or two and times and let them know.

It is tricky curious but this is teetering on harrassment with multiple messages a day I really am struggling to keep up! It's making me anxious to keep having to say we can't do it. If they atleast attempted to do them on the same day, not morning Monday then evening Tuesday etc.

We discussed giving a key but we're just not comfortable, it's our home for the time being don't want people in without us there. I wouldn't open the door to strangers and invite them to mooch round unattended. One agent can't keep an eye on 3/4 people and it's just not worth it if something went missing. It's maybe worth mentioning we're in a pretty rough area at the moment, and I wouldn't like everyone who wants to live here looking round.

We've never given permission to enter and have always said we will be there and have been. They tried the other day to get in without permission and haven't mentioned it because they know they shouldn't have. I hate the idea of people being in our home and us not knowing, it's creepy!

OP posts:

LivingDeadGirlUK · 26/06/2019 13:30

You don't have to allow viewings but if you have had a good tenancy and want to be accommodating how about giving them a couple of times a week they can do a viewing and decline anything else?

Personally I always just let the agent do the viewing with the spare key while I'm out but I appreciate not everyone is comfortable with that.

SweetNorthernRose · 26/06/2019 13:30

I don't understand why you have to be there for the veiwings? I've never had this situation when i was renting.

Lazypuppy · 26/06/2019 13:32

I think its weird you want to be there. Everyone i know who has sold a house goes out for viewings. YouXre making it more stressful than needs to be by insisting on being there

They do sound a pain, so just give them a 2 hr period or something when viewings can be done, say 4-6pm or something

Toomuchgoingon · 26/06/2019 13:33

I would let the agent have the key so long as they let me know when the viewings are. (that gets over the feeling of people being there without your knowledge and you can put stuff away etc).

To a slightly different view on it, the sooner they find the new tenant , the viewings will stop, so it would be good to get it sorted asap.

Divebar · 26/06/2019 13:34

Why the hell are you expected to be there? Just let them get on with it while you’re at work. If anyone’s required surely it’s the landlord?

Usernumbers1234 · 26/06/2019 13:35

YABU if you are insisting on being there, why?

thecatneuterer · 26/06/2019 13:36

Exactly. Let them get on with it (with some notice) when you're not there.

avalanching · 26/06/2019 13:38

Why do you have to be there? If they are expecting you to be there YANBU, if you are insisting on being there YABU.

Sunshine93 · 26/06/2019 13:39

Give them an allocated a slot or 2 during the week, ie 5-7 on a Wednesday and 10-12 on a Saturday, and tell them that’s it.

skybluee · 26/06/2019 13:39

because she doesn't want stuff to be nicked.

lyralalala · 26/06/2019 13:42

I’d go with the slot time and stick to that.

I’d also tell them that you know they tried to get in and of it happens again you’ll withdraw all cooperation with them.

Do you have contact with your actual landlord? If so I’d drop them a message as well, just letting them know that you are restricting to x time because of the issues (constant messaging, not turning up, etc) as they may not be aware the agents are being like that.

LaurieFairyCake · 26/06/2019 13:43

I know someone who had a pair of diamond earrings and an Ipad nicked. She hadn't given permission - the agent let themselves in while they were out.

And then claimed they didn't come round. A neighbour confirmed they did.

Insurance did NOT pay out as she had left the property 'unsecured'. In their view she needed to change the locks for the duration of the tenancy and change them back afterwards.

£4000 gone!

ilovesocks · 26/06/2019 13:44

I wouldn't want people looking round my house wit only an EA either. Don't understand why people are criticising that.

Original poster

Cornball · 26/06/2019 13:44

To be really blunt, we live in an absolute shit hole at the moment and everyone thus far that has viewed the property has been rough as hell. I wouldn't normally care, but 4/5 viewings a week with 3/4 people is nearly 20 people looking round per week and the liklihood of something going missing is, unfortunately quite likely! It's not worth risking it, and at the end of the day if I'm not comfortable with it it shouldn't be happening which is completely within out rights and fair so the agent has to accommodate that, as I have been so accommodating with their requests.

I'm sending an email later on with one day pw they can do as many viewings as they can fit in

OP posts:

OneStepSideways · 26/06/2019 13:45

I think you should just give the agent a key so he can show people round while you're out. Make sure all valuables are locked away in a desk/cupboard. Insist on shoes off or shoe covers.

It's awkward viewing a property when the owner is there, they get in the way and you feel like you're intruding especially if there are kids/pets about.

Even if you're there how can you watch viewers closely unless you station a family member in each room?

If the contact allows it I'd refuse all viewings until you move or be out when they view.

Original poster

Cornball · 26/06/2019 13:47

The agent manages it on behalf of the LL we've never met or spoken to her they said she lives abroad in Bangladesh I think with minimal contact.

Oh no that's awful, fairycakes. I thought about bringing it up but I didn't want to rock the boat more especially at the end of the tenancy

OP posts:

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