To refuse viewings during tenancy

[Folle]

I gave a month's notice to end the current tenancy. I just received an email from the estate agent saying 'I have booked a viewing for 6pm tomorrow - will you be there to facilitate access or should we bring keys?"
This is a hugely stressful time for me and I simply cannot deal with strangers traipsing through the house.
Can I refuse to have viewings during the rest of my tenancy?

Thanks Again To All Of You!
Update - As Many Of You Warned The Agent Has Started The Bullying Stating That The Tenancy Agreement Says That I Have To Provide Access To Viewings Under A 24 Hours' Notice.

They are not bulling you there are asking you to honour what YOU agreed to

rwalker

They are not bulling you there are asking you to honour what YOU agreed to

The OP has said no, to pursue this makes it bullying and harassment.

@Folle so what happened? Did the estate agents attempt access? Have they continued contacting you about it?

I find it difficult to understand why anyone would refuse a viewing which would take 5 minutes. It's just being plain and simply difficult.

You seriously can't imagine any reason a time or date might be inconvenient and a viewing refused? Someone working at home, dc ill, guests over?

We refused as we had guests for dinner right when they wanted to view. We were not rescheduling our lives of our guests. We did offer to reschedule, but the EA tried to enter anyway and got short shrift.

Why are so many people so difficult about things. I've rented loads of properties and always let potential tenants look around. It's a bit of a pain but it's generally a few ten minute visits - I can't believe that people get so irate about it.

Student rentals are typically rented for year long leases and it would be impractical not to let potential tenants see the properties until after the old ones have moved outZ.

The idea that the landlord will suck up the extra cost is hilarious. I'd have thought it far more likely that they would increase the rent on the property for future tenants.

OP, the best way to deal with this is to speak to the agent and try and work out what suits you both. If you let them know times that would suit you then it's in their interests to try and make the appointments then.

I know their are plenty of shitty agents but in my experience and that of all my DCs while they were at Uni was that most were reasonable.

If you've guests for dinner, reschedule, it's not rocket science.

Seems to me some people just like to be difficult.

Reschedule plans i made 6 months previously the night before? No chance. Nor would anyone else with a life and brain.

The post said they tried to reschedule, @Phimma.

Wanting to reschedule the appointment to a more convenient time is totally reasonable. Saying a hard no to any appointment at any time is the part I think is unreasonable.

@Quaffy I agree totally, as I said previously, I think some people just like to be difficult, maybe it's a power thing.

rwalker

They are not bulling you there are asking you to honour what YOU agreed to

The OP has said no, to pursue this makes it bullying and harassment.

OP actual agreed to this she signed a contract to say she would

I’ve never refused and never had any of my tenants refuse - we agree in advance of viewing times that work for them (and its in the contract which was signed and agreed)

I always pay the deposit back within a day or two - the deposit has to be paid back within 10 days if the amount has been agreed (after the inventory) and if you meet the terms of your tenancy agreement (check your tenancy)

They could drag this out

And you may we’ll need a reference in the next two years (some ask for five years)

Of course on here many think all landlords are nasty and difficult so will encourage you not to

'Wanting to reschedule the appointment to a more convenient time is totally reasonable. Saying a hard no to any appointment at any time is the part I think is unreasonable.'

This (long time tenant here, though under a less bonkers system than the UK's)

A LL or agent dictating 'we have arranged a viewing for then and then and you will facilitate' is unacceptable, and they can throw around all the (unreasonable) clauses to the contrary they like. It's this kind of behaviour that gives LLs a bad name. But refusing to accommodate any viewings at all when notice has been given isn't in the spirit of 'quiet enjoyment', even if the concept is used to justify this behaviour.

The LL/tenant dialogue seems so polarised and adversarial in the UK (you see it on here: it's all 'nasty evil profiteering LLs' from the one lot and barely veiled versions ot 'tenants know your place' from the other). This has, IME, a lot to do with culture around renting as some kind of distant second best to owning and weak protections for tenants. Hopefully the shift to renting becoming more widespread will have the beneficial side effect of a bit more mutual respect and understanding that each side has a right to protect their interests. I

It does not matter what is written in your agreement abour viewings you are within your rights to refuse. They cannot do the viewings with out your permission. However I've just been through this, I didn't like the viewings but I just got on with it. You can tell them you have to be present, I did, and it has to be a convenient time for you, I did say no to one of mine.

Don't worry about it, just go about your business let them have a look and leave. Personally I wouldn't refuse.

In the last place I rented, the landlord was trying to sell the property, so the agent expected not only sale viewings but also surveyors, builders, tradesmen etc for almost 6 months whilst the sale went through. I started arguing after the 3rd sale went through, knowing that it would all start all over again, and the agent simply started letting themselves in. I knew because it was autumn and I’d come home to muddy bootprints everywhere.

It did sell just as I was about to leave and when I told the agent - for the fiftieth time - that I didn’t want anyone coming in without me knowing, they told me I was lucky I’d have a new landlord who’d give me a nice reference because the current one would have mentioned how difficult I was.

I relate strongly to you OP. legally they can’t do anything but morally they feel entitled to it it anyway because it’s their ~income~.

When I was a student I lived in the same rented flat for all three years. Even so each summer my landlord would turn up unannounced to show people round. I would say to him in front if them why us he showing my flat ad I'm stopping? His response is my flat was an 'example' of his properties. I always dreaded to think how bad his other properties were if mine was the one he would prefer to show.

I wish I had more confidence to stand up to him to say no. I wasn't the cleanest person and he would show up in a Sunday morning when i was still in bed and the place was a tip 😟

This is why I change the locks as soon as I move into a new rental.

At the end of the day, if it's in the tenancy then you agreed to it when signing the contract. Can't really refuse and you'll only have a bad reference for it.

If it isn't in the tenancy then tell them to fuck themselves. My tenancy doesn't mention it so my landlady won't get to do this, not without a reducement in final month's rent to compensate.

That has been addressed quite a few times now.