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?

Honestly, ignore the contract as it is not enforceable. Prospective tenants can view when you have moved.

does your contract say you have to allow viewings? Ours did in our last property, so we just said we were happy for the viewings to take place, gave them the key, got the agents to do it during the day.

We allowed viewings at our rental property in the last few weeks - we specified when we were in (certainly wouldn't have taken time off or cancelled anything) one week night per week between 5.30 and 6.30, and then 4 sets of viewers came during that time, one every 15 minutes. It was not too arduous for us, we could keep an eye on them going round, and the agents were very grateful (in our case the agents is miles away so they didn't want to do the viewings).
We were also in a rough area though so I see your point about people wandering round unattended.
I would specify something similar. Don't give up hours for it either - an hour a week for 2 or 3 weeks will be plenty for a cheap rental flat. No need to do an entire saturday morning. You are doing them a favour by allowing this.

I wouldn't let them in without you me being there
One slot a week, that's it.
Otherwise tell them to jog on.
Its all part and parcel of being a landlord, if they don't like it they should find some other way to exploit people make money

"viewings are welcome on X* day in the am/pm - Please do not try to schedule outside of this as we will not be able to accomodate any other day or time".

So say Tuesday Mornings between 9 and 11am. And tell them in no uncertain terms any viewings outside of that day/time will be refused.

if they don't like it they should find some other way to exploit people make money

There's no need to be rude and tar every landlord with the same brush.

@WipeOutTo

Perhaps not. Maybe I'm just a bit sore.
I have just been evicted after 12 years where I paid the rent on time every single month. I never made a single complaint, and no one complained about me. I only reported a repair twice in all that time - once when there was a gas leak and once when the drains were blocked.
I paid over £80,000 in rent, paying off their mortgage.
When they served me notice they said it was because they were going to sell the house and retire, and I thought, fair enough.
The day I moved out, they put in a planning permission form to turn my home into a 7 bed HMO
As it happens I have now got a lovely little house. Not that they would know that. They have never even enquired.
Rude? Well maybe, but not without some justification, because I thought that they were decent landlords

When selling a property, you have to let people view or you will never sell it.

People give keys to agents to do this and all take a similar risk that something will go missing. I do take the point that it's fairly rough though.

And yes, I know OP is a tenant rather than an owner but in both cases it is your home.

I don't think its weird that you want to be there for viewings. Its your home and your stuff and I am the same when we have moved. I've also been shown around potential rented accommodation and the agent at one opened all the cupboards and wardrobes etc. I just remember thinking, i'd be horrified if someone did that to my stuff.

It doesn't matter what the contract says just refuse all viewing. You're leaving anyway so they can exactly start evicting you.

You do not need to legally allow for facilitate viewings. You are legally entitled to peaceful enjoyment of the property. Just refuse the viewings and that's that. Don't let them argue or tell you that you need too. You don't.

Can viewings not be undertaken when you're at work? I'd give the estate agent a key and let them take people round. As long as you know in advance (& can tidy up), I think that would work. It's easier for people to look around an empty house too.

As you are on a fixed term AST, legally you didn’t have to give any notice at all. You could have just walked out on the last day of your tenancy. It’s only if you had renewed that you would have had to give notice. If you stay past the end of the tenancy agreement date, the tenancy would automatically go onto a periodic tenancy, whereby you are supposed to give a months notice but even this isn’t terribly enforceable. Whereas the 2 months a ll must give is.

Your agent sounds crap and a bit dodgy. Have the carried out repairs and furnished you with gas safety certificate? Are there smoke and carbon monoxide alarms? Is your deposit in a deposit scheme or did you pay for the insurance scheme?

If they haven’t done your tenancy by the book, I’d be wondering what else was wrong.

Does the contract allow you to refuse viewings?

if not, then give them one time per week. I completely understand why you want to be in.

Does the contract allow you to refuse viewings?

The law allows refusal of viewings.

My son had some toys stolen when my parents sold their house. I wouldn't allow viewing without being present.

Viewing clauses are not enforceable. But I don’t agree you should just walk out at the end of the tenancy and not given notice as suggested.
Will you need a reference from the agents for your next place?

Reading all your replies has been very informative and eye opening! I've always been too trusting, I ought to be more informed.

toomuch I understand that, but why should I take the risk?

mummy Thanks for the info, I should have a look into it and I won't be so blind going into our next tenancy. They've been crap at times, but whenever we need a repair they're straight onto it. The issue is almost they're too 'on it' and I can't get any peace. They do inspections every three months and always request a working day - in what job can you give yourself a day off every 12 weeks. We have all the necessary certificates and alarms installed, that they check every now and again. Deposit is in DPS scheme yes, not a chance in hell I would allow it to be unprotected!

The house is unventilated and hence prone to damp and mould that I regularly clean, they've made very clear that's our responsibility, so we freeze in winter having to air out the house lol. It's freezing in winter anyway, they replaced the boiler a while ago but not the radiators so it doesn't do much and isn't well insulated. Speaking of the boiler and monoxide alarms, their contractor had signed off the boiler replacement with the wrong flue fitted which another plumber condemned months later! We're so lucky it didn't leak.

We keep getting bitten at the moment too but I've found little holes they've glossed over on the skirting boards so I'm worried it's woodworm and they're coming out now summer months are coming. And that we'll get the blame if there is woodworm even though they've already painted over the damage before we moved in - we really need our deposit back. Nightmare really. There have been a few viewings with babies/toddlers and when they've asked me about issues I tell them the truth infront of the LA and I don't think they're impressed but it feels morally wrong not to tell them! I wouldn't want any baby breathing in bloody mould spores/damp that they'll paint over only to return

The more I type the more I think Jesus what an absolute nightmare. I can't wait to move out

We've sold loads of houses and have always been there for every viewing. Who wants strangers in their homes when they are out.
I can't believe people are happy with this.

Everyone assumes landlords are loaded but you have no idea about the landlord's circumstances. Having viewings only once the previous tenant has moved out can easily result in 4-8 weeks void period - that's a big chunk of money not only in rent but council tax and utilities they'll have to cover.

I do think YABU if you don't allow viewings. Suggest an "open house" style slot of availability on a weekend afternoon when they can have several people to view at the same time? And stop telling the people viewing about problems with the property. Of course they are struggling to find someone to rent it if you keep doing that so will need to have more and more viewings...

I speak as a former landlord and someone who is currently renting and has just given notice to quit.
You are under NO obligation to allow viewings. This is your home, you are still paying rent and you have the right to peaceful enjoyment.
As for landlord losing money, that's just tough, I'm afraid. When my tenants gave notice I never allowed any viewings until their tenancy had ended and the flat was empty.

Everyone assumes landlords are loaded but you have no idea about the landlord's circumstances. Having viewings only once the previous tenant has moved out can easily result in 4-8 weeks void period - that's a big chunk of money not only in rent but council tax and utilities they'll have to cover.

That’s something you have to take into account when letting the place out. And if you rely on the tenants goodwill then you don’t let your agent take the piss by harassing your current tenant constantly.

That however does rely on a landlord knowing they don’t have the right for access for viewings, so many don’t have a clue.

Everyone assumes landlords are loaded but you have no idea about the landlord's circumstances. Having viewings only once the previous tenant has moved out can easily result in 4-8 weeks void period - that's a big chunk of money not only in rent but council tax and utilities they'll have to cover.

Oops posted too soon – that's not the tenant's problem if the property might be empty. If you don't want to take that risk, don't be a landlord