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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To refuse viewings during tenancy

295 replies

Folle · 30/10/2019 15:36

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?

OP posts:

stucknoue · 30/10/2019 16:00

Most tenancies have a clause that means you need to facilitate access where reasonable, if tomorrow isn't possible you would need to suggest an alternative

Footiefan2019 · 30/10/2019 16:02

It’s not actually your house though is it? So really it’s a bit crap to jeopardize the sale of the house

HappyHarlot · 30/10/2019 16:03

Most tenancies have a clause that means you need to facilitate access where reasonable, if tomorrow isn't possible you would need to suggest an alternative

This clause is unenforceable.

thecatneuterer · 30/10/2019 16:04

It's threads like this that make me so grateful for all the lovely, reasonable and helpful tenants I have and have had. Out of the literally hundreds of tenants I've had over the years there have only been two that were difficult about viewings - not that that surprised me - they were arsey people in general and I was glad to be shot of them. Of course all viewings would be by appointment and condensed into a suitable time slot.

No it's not the OP's responsibility to ensure that the LL doesn't lose rent, but it's very mean of her to be unwilling to allow a couple of appointments knowing her actions it will cost the LL a lot of money.

Elementalillusions · 30/10/2019 16:04

You have every right to refuse access for anything other than essential work.
It doesn’t matter what is written in the tenancy agreement, that’s the law.

bloodywhitecat · 30/10/2019 16:05

Most tenancies have a clause that means you need to facilitate access where reasonable, if tomorrow isn't possible you would need to suggest an alternative

They may well do but that clause has no legal leg to stand on, a tenant has the right to 'quiet enjoyment' and that means they can refuse viewings if they want to. If the OP chooses to go down that route the landlord will have to wait until the property is vacant before viewings can happen.

JacquesHammer · 30/10/2019 16:06

YANBU.

Landlords absolutely need to factor the loss of earnings into any decision to sell a property, especially if they’re selling with vacant possession.

saraclara · 30/10/2019 16:06

You're the one who's decided to leave, so I think it would be unfair if you to refuse to allow viewings.
If the landlord was chucking you out, obviously you'd be within your rights to stock to the letter of any contract you have.

Also your reason for but wanting the viewings is a bit daft. No-ne's going to install a camera. But if you're that anxious, then stay while the viewing is taking place.

Throckmorton · 30/10/2019 16:07

You can absolutely refuse. It doesn't matter what's in the contract.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 30/10/2019 16:07

My friend had an estate agent visit for inspection while she was out and found a camera fitted in her bedroom the next day.

Did she call the police?

BossAssBitch · 30/10/2019 16:07

No one is going to install a camera in your home without your permission.

If you don't want viewings to happen while you are at home then that's fair enough. When I was a tenant I sometimes went out if a viewing was on a Saturday and the weather was nice. I think it would be incredibly precious of you to not allow viewings when you are out. Unless your landlord is a twat then don't let him do any viewings.

DaisyMay25 · 30/10/2019 16:09

Oh god this has only just occurred to me!
Usually I wouldn't mind, especially with Christmas approaching people want move soon.
My situation is that I'll be giving notice in two weeks, I'll be 7 and a half months pregnant. I'm very unwell physically and mentally and I couldn't deal with people viewing the house. I'm gonna have to read my contract...

thecatneuterer · 30/10/2019 16:09

Landlords absolutely need to factor the loss of earnings into any decision to sell a property, especially if they’re selling with vacant possession.

I think the viewings are for new tenants. And of course, LLs need a buffer. But it's shitty to deliberately cost someone lots of money when all you have to do is offer a couple of appointment slots.

JacquesHammer · 30/10/2019 16:10

I think the viewings are for new tenants. And of course, LLs need a buffer. But it's shitty to deliberately cost someone lots of money when all you have to do is offer a couple of appointment slots

Even so, given the tenant is required to have quiet enjoyment which is enshrined in law, you really should not have such tight overheads that you require to bother your tenant.

JacquesHammer · 30/10/2019 16:11

I’m gonna have to read my contract

You don’t. Any clause in there regarding you having to allow viewings is unenforceable.

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 16:12

Absolutely you can refuse OP. Regardless of what it say she in your tenancy agreement. Having empty periods is part and parcel of being a landlord. They should plan their finances to account for it. You don’t have to ensure they don’t have any gaps in rental income.

sdb1hcs · 30/10/2019 16:13

Of course you can refuse viewings OP.

The landlord can also take a while to return your deposit.

They shouldn't, but if they're pissed off with you... I'd have a little think about it.

Derbee · 30/10/2019 16:15

YABU

avosalad · 30/10/2019 16:15

I really don’t understand how this is allowed in rentals, I can see the point of it when a house is for sale though as often the owners need the money from the sale to move. I have never in my life viewed a rental property that someone is still living in! I rarely ever see photos on the listings with peoples furniture still in it, it’s more commonplace with houses that are being sold. I think it’s a gross invasion of your personal space and privacy. What if you had a newborn baby? You’re expected to wake them up so some viewer can have a mooch around your house? What if you were bed ridden or seriously ill? Is the viewer supposed to come look at your bedroom whilst you’re in bed? Very bizarre and it should be banned. If you cannot go a month or two without receiving rent whilst people are viewing the now empty property then you probably shouldn’t be a landlord. As for listings, if nothing major has changed in the property then there should be no reason why the old listing photos cannot be recycled. I know my estate agents have used the same pics for 12 years since absolutely nothing has changed

thecatneuterer · 30/10/2019 16:15

Even so, given the tenant is required to have quiet enjoyment which is enshrined in law, you really should not have such tight overheads that you require to bother your tenant.

Yes, we all know what the law says. And we also know what being a nice, thoughtful human being is. And it isn't deliberating costing someone lots of money.

avosalad · 30/10/2019 16:16

To add, I don’t think you can get a full feel of a house with someone else’s furniture and belongings in it anyway as you can’t assess the space or furniture could be hiding disrepair

JacquesHammer · 30/10/2019 16:17

Yes, we all know what the law says. And we also know what being a nice, thoughtful human being is. And it isn't deliberating costing someone lots of money

You could also say being a “nice, thoughtful human being” isn’t expecting to regularly disturb someone in their home for your own monetary gain!

Chocolatelover45 · 30/10/2019 16:18

They should give you 48 hours notice, and it would also be polite of them to ask whether it's ok rather than just say it's happening.

Of course you can refuse altogether but I'd just specify a couple of time slots. Let them do the viewings if you don't want to be in. They are not going to install any cameras. That's ridiculous. Presumably your friend reported this camera to the police and the case went to court? Otherwise I would not believe a word of it.

I can't really see how being out for an hour once or twice with a decent amount of notice is going to adversely affect your mental health

namechangedyetagain · 30/10/2019 16:20

Absolutely refuse. I wish we had. It added to an already stressful time (LL sold house despite the agent telling us they were photographing for building purposes - first we knew was we saw house on RM)

Russell19 · 30/10/2019 16:21

My estate agent in my old house said that they could turn up as long as they gave 24 hours notice and that I didn't have to agree. I was annoyed because all of my personal things were there and they were all day time viewings while I was at work.

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