To refuse to accommodate house viewings

[Cornball]

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?

You don't have to allow any viewings at all, so you would be well within your rights to refuse completely. If you want to be very reasonable, the pre-agreed time slots is a good idea. Can you lock your valuables somewhere out of the house?

Just say no, this is your home, you don’t benefit from this on any way. Do not allow them in when you are not there. Tell they are not allowed to enter the property with out your permission.
Give them a date and time when they can show lots of people around in one go.

To those who suggest giving a key to the agent: would that not invalidate household insurance? would you really allow a group of strangers rifeling through your things? what if they break something or take "souvenirs"? given the behaviour of this agent - would there not be the danger of them letting themselves in unannounced at all times?

Yanbu. We refused viewings without us there as we didn't trust the agent one bit, they'd lied and entered without permission before for their own look rounds. On one occasion they told viewers they could have our wardrobes and freezer!

In our agreement they stated two months so I stuck to that That is against the law, a contract cannot overrule a law! The law states that a tenant need give 1 month's notice, it is the landlord who must give 2 months notice.

That and just tell them that you will not accommodate any viewings. You wish to retain your quiet enjoyment, tey do not have your permission to show anyone round the property at any time. That too is your legal right, no matter what your contract might say!

Hop over to the Residential Lettings forum on Landlordzone. The resident landlords and tenants over there will quote you chapter and verse to help you out - they universally detest LL and LAs who mess tenants around like that!

To those who suggest giving a key to the agent:
would that not invalidate household insurance?

No. As it would be deemed to be part and parcel of renting. I go into peoples homes daily with management keys from a number of agents and LLs, as do many other trades people. It is common practice and covered in rental insurances.

Giving them a slot is a good idea. I'd also put in writing that the volume of texts and emails is bordering on harassment and if it continues you'll be seeking police advice.

and if it continues you'll be seeking police advice

Oh I can just imagine now exactly what the police advice will be 🙄

Another here for giving the agent a key, but make it clear you want them to let you know when there are viewings. If this doesn't work, then I wouldn't bother rearranging any more, tell them it's not convenient and when is.

If you only offer a very small window of availability with this level of interest, they might just decide to do block viewings. So you would need to ensure everything of value is nailed down even if you attended the viewing.

How many have viewings have they done so far? I think if you have accommodated 8+ and they haven't let the property, it sounds as though it’s going to prove difficult... you say it’s a shit hole.

I think get through as many this week as you can then tell them no more. It’s preventing you from quiet enjoyment of your tenancy, which is a legally valid reason to stop viewings. Not that you have to allow any. You’ve been more than accommodating and this is now taking the piss.

I’m a landlady and if my agents acted like this to exiting tenants I’d be appalled. Normally if a property doesn’t go with 3/4 viewings it’s because there’s something wrong with the property. Either the state it’s in or the price. Usually the former as the latter can be negotiated.

The last time I relet a house, I told the agent it wouldn’t let. They said they’d try it but after 3 negative viewings, I removed it and revamped the whole property. New carpets and full decoration would have sufficed. But the kitchen and bathroom were getting dated - it’s in a good area so people like new.

The agents sound dodgy making you sign a 2 month notice period. You are legally under no obligation to do so even having signed this contract. The ll otoh must give 2 months notice.

Once cornball tells the agents she is only allowing viewings on Saturdays between 10-12 (or whatever she decides) the multiple messages from the agents trying to arrange viewings should stop. If they keep trying, the response is just a copy and paste 'as per my message of 26 June ...' You may need to repeat yourself a few times, but eventually they should get the idea.

OP sounds like you've been so accommodating, I'm a landlord and when my tenants give notice I make sure viewings suit them and limit viewings to one day a week.

Honestly, I'd consider refusing anymore viewings for a week or two so you can have a break, and like PP have suggested offer one day (eg Saturday 10am-2pm) you can fit a good 6 viewings in that time!

You are under no legal obligation to allow anyone access to your home.

I've had a look at the agreement and it states we have to permit entry and viewing of the property within the last two months of the tenancy. For the notice it says, at least two months notice if the tenant wishes to end tenancy provided such notice doesn't expire earlier than the end of the fixed term. If the agreement continues beyond fixed term then one month's notice. So our tenancy ends in five weeks, which is the date the contract finishes. That's okay isn't it curious. Thank you I'll have a look

With my last house it was in a highly sought out area so as soon as it was advertised online the agency was getting alot of interest.

We had so many people interested that it was becoming an issue for us, so I spoke to the letting agents and we made an arrangement to do a few open hours for people that were interested. So whilst we were out on the weekend or in the week for a few hours the agents would go to the house and anyone interested could turn up during that time and have a look. Worked out a lot easier for us and we didn't tidy the house to show home quality it looked very lived in with clutter etc as we were packing to move.

Just arrange for a certain times on certain days where they can have an hour or so for people to look at the property.

If you want to be there during viewings that is absolutely your right.

And no you don't have to give the agent a key. I know someone who had an ipad stolen during and viewing for a house they were selling. EA denied it happened and they just had to write it off.

Agree with pp give a time slot that's convenient to you. And tell them to stop bugging you with requests for viewings.

It's you're home until you move out and you're entitled to 'quiet enjoyment of it', in other words to live in it without all this upheaval and harassment.

As as for the LL needing someone to be in as soon as you leave as a pp suggested, that's not your problem, nor your responsibility .

After my last tenant moved out of the house I let it was empty for two weeks while I had it redecorated and had work done to replace several things that were looking a bit worn.

As a LL I factor those kind of things in to my financial thinking and generally find that after someone leaves there's usually one or two things that need doing while the house is empty, even if it's only a coat of paint in a couple of the rooms.

The agreement with your LL or their agent cannot change the law. They can write what they like in their contract but it isn't legally binding if it's outside the law.

The law is that you don't have to allow viewings. You've been accommodating and they have taken the piss.

Just insist on allowing viewings when it's convenient to you.

Mine says the same as well but I've also been told before by a lawyer that there's plenty of things in a rental contract that can't be enforced by law.

We were in a similar position a month ago. Also had 2 month notice.
If I remember correctly we gave our notice on Friday evening, and next Tuesday we already had 2 viewings. The first week was horrible. Endless calls and text messages from agents (there were around 5 or 6 agents trying to arrange viewings, so you can imagine how many calls a day we got). We said no to one of the viewings, they said they have the keys and can enter without us being in the flat. We didn't even let them consider that, as we have a lot of valuable stuff around.

After one week of this, we complained to the manager of those agents and gave them 2 slots during the week when they can arrange the viewings (4 h per week), we said they can bring as many people as they want, but not bother us again in any matter. And that was the end of it.

Tbh I think this practice needs a bit of changing. Usually there is a clause in rental agreement about quiet enjoyment. Surely accommodating dozens of viewings a week is not in any way quiet enjoyment.
And considering you are still paying full rent, it just doesn't seem right to go out of your way to accommodate those viewings.

Thank you everyone, after posting this I feel comfortable with emailing and restricting it to one day a week. I think that's reasonable so I'll stop feeling walked all over now and tell them.

mummy I wouldn't mind a block booking because we can just stash anything worth looking at for the day then it's over and done with. But every day going round and putting everything under lock and key would be so inconvenient, two laptops, ipad, jewelry, ipod, daft things like a regrettably expensive skincare set along with the other stuff that sits on my dresser etc. I'm getting anxious about keeping the place clean and ratty with DP about dishes and crap because I feel like people are in and out constantly, and now wary they'll just turn up. It's nice to get this little rant off my chest! Thanks everyone! 😆

I've had a look at the agreement and it states we have to permit entry and viewing of the property within the last two months of the tenancy. For the notice it says, at least two months notice if the tenant wishes to end tenancy provided such notice doesn't expire earlier than the end of the fixed term. If the agreement continues beyond fixed term then one month's notice. So our tenancy ends in five weeks, which is the date the contract finishes.

Your contract doesn’t, despite what many landlords and agents think, override the law.

Anything that’s not legally enforceable is basically relying on tenants good will, and then not knowing it’s not enforceable.

The only legally binding things in the tenancy are things that a court, should your LL take you there for refusal, will say you must do/allow.

I could put in my tenant’s contract that they have to make me dinner every Tuesday night, but that would be no more enforceable than access for viewings and access without permission or notice for non emergency repairs.

I’d agree with everyone who says to sort out a specific time, for the people who say don’t let anyone in at all, chances are there’s someone at the end of this who needs to rent the property ASAP out so they can pay a mortgage!

Red, harassment is simply repeated, unwanted contact. The content doesn't have to be offensive for it to be classed as such.

We refused all viewings, no one gets to wander around looking at my stuff. It's still your home.

I've had a look at the agreement and it states we have to permit entry and viewing of the property within the last two months of the tenancy. For the notice it says, at least two months notice if the tenant wishes to end tenancy provided such notice doesn't expire earlier than the end of the fixed term. If the agreement continues beyond fixed term then one month's notice. So our tenancy ends in five weeks, which is the date the contract finishes.

The LL is being poorly served by that agent... they either encourage such silliness or do nothng to dissuade it. It maks you wonder what else they don't do according to the law...

No, it is not OK. That seeks to override the law and relies upon your ignorance of the law to do so! The technicalities are fun. If your contract ends in 5 weeks you didn't have to give any notice, just leave at the end of your contract. And you are always entitled to the quiet enjoyment of your home, so they cannot insist on viewings, as they are not emergencies - the only reasons a LA or LL could enter without your express permission.

It does seem bizarre that you have to do all the work to get new tenants in when you are just the outgoing tenants.