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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:
thecatneuterer · 30/10/2019 16:59

don't worry about a reference, landlords with sense ask the last landlord but one as the current one may want to get rid of a tenant.

Also, if a reference for a current tenant comes back as glowing then the people asking may well wonder if it's legit. If it comes back saying they won't allow viewings then of course they would believe it.

Chocolatelover45 · 30/10/2019 17:03

*We lived in a private let house, in the early 2010s for several years. We allowed 9 or 10 sets of people in over 5 or 6 weeks, (who were looking to rent it, as we were leaving.) We spent about half an hour - to an hour - with each set.

We told them the area is nice, the house is snug in winter, and the neighbours are pleasant, and basically 'sold' the house for the landlady. We gave them coffee and biscuits, and entertained the kids while they looked*

This is bonkers - a viewing should take no more than 10-15 minutes, you don't need to look after children or provide cups of tea or sell the property!

SheruMoo · 30/10/2019 17:07

Technically you can refuse BUT I've known plenty of landlords who will simply let themselves in if you choose to refuse. And yes you can take the legal route as can they but realistically it's not worth anyone's time. We had a tenant who refused viewings even though we had clarified with them that they would allow them at any time convenient for them. We refused to give a reference....they didn't get their onward accommodation that they hoped for. Being difficult serves no one. Just choose a day that works.

Venger · 30/10/2019 17:07

You don't have to allow viewings if you don't want to for any reason or even for no reason at all. It doesn't matter who owns the building, it is your home for the entire duration that you are paying rent on it and you're under no obligation to be "nice" about the inconvenience of allowing viewings. The agent has no right of entry either despite what they might claim.

Back when we rented privately we had a letting agent who tried this. We firmly told them that we would allow viewings but at our convenience and they were not to let themselves in. We said they could have viewings on a Sunday between 3pm and 6pm. Agent then turned up at the door one week day afternoon, unannounced, with a prospective new tenant. I told them they were not coming in, told the prospective tenants that these were the standards they could expect from the agent if they took the property, shut the door on them and then emailed to say no further viewings would be allowed and they could wait until we had moved out. It did affect getting our deposit back as it was held in a deposit scheme and we got the agent out to do an inspection the day after we moved out, we took our own photographs and we both signed a form to say we were satisfied the property was clean, tidy, and in good repair.

Do what's most convenient for you OP, if you don't want to have viewings or allow the agent access then that is fine.

19lottie82 · 30/10/2019 17:09

As others have pointed out, you don’t have to legally allow viewings. The agent / LL may argue that there is a clause in your contract, but your legal rights over rule this.

However, to keep the peace can you tell them you will allow viewings at certain times, say 6-7 on a Wednesday or 11-12 on a Saturday?

The agent may try and bully you but please stand your ground. (I am a LL btw!)

19lottie82 · 30/10/2019 17:10

PS please put your instructions to the agent in an email, that way there can be no “confusion” on their part.

rwalker · 30/10/2019 17:11

I wouldn't refuse but would only do them at time convent to myself.
If you do refuse I would expect the landlord to be super through on your departure and possibly loose some of your deposit.

Phimma · 30/10/2019 17:12

Why refuse? Your landlord obviously is keen to get another tenant. It's not that difficult surely?

Venger · 30/10/2019 17:12

As for a reference, just be upfront with future agents and landlords: "the agent at xxxx property was very difficult and not at all professional. They will probably give me a bad reference ornrefuse a reference out of spite however I can provide additional character references/an employers reference/references from other previous landlords as well (whichever you have) as well as proof that my rent was always paid in full and on time".

One of my friends recently moved and her landlord wouldn't give her a reference because she made a complaint to Environmental Health about the repairs he was refusing to carry out. She did the above, I provided the additional character reference, and it was fine. She got her onward property with no problems and the letting agency who manages it told her that the landlord is known to them for being awkward.

JacquesHammer · 30/10/2019 17:12

Why refuse? Your landlord obviously is keen to get another tenant. It's not that difficult surely?

It’s her home. Why should she be disturbed?

19lottie82 · 30/10/2019 17:15

Why refuse? Your landlord obviously is
keen to get another tenant. It's not that difficult surely?

The OP clearly explained in her opening post why she doesn’t want to allow viewings.

Yes the LL is keen to get another tenant in so he can make money. That’s understandable, but why should this over rule the OPs comfort in her own home? Hmm

DawnOfTheDeadleg · 30/10/2019 17:15

The OP has explained quite clearly why she wants to refuse and why it would be difficult.

Venger · 30/10/2019 17:16

OP doesn't have to allow anyone access to her home for any reason barring an emergency.

Original poster
Folle · 30/10/2019 17:21

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.

OP posts:
Deicide12 · 30/10/2019 17:23

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OneForMeToo · 30/10/2019 17:24

Fuck em them op. Refuse all viewings and is set up a motion alarm WiFi camera. It they enter without permission change the locks barrel and put original back when you leave.

DawnOfTheDeadleg · 30/10/2019 17:25

Tenancy agreements don't trump legal rights.

Malbecfan · 30/10/2019 17:30

OP, the contract could say you have to dance naked round an effigy of Boris Johnson every Wednesday afternoon between 3 and 3.30; it's just as unenforceable. Letting Agents are invariably clueless. You don't need any qualifications or training to be one, so they will just spout whatever suits them.

You haven't said whether or not you need a reference. If you are buying, then you don't, so you can do as you please. However, I do think that whilst you don't have to allow any viewings, it may be prudent as others have said to allow a couple of slots, say one weeknight between say 6 - 8pm and one weekend one. If the agents start to get funny, you have the right to change the barrel of the lock (YouTube is your friend here) - put the old one back when you move - and let your LL know. Alternatively, offer open access but in return for a reduced rent. Good luck

katseyes7 · 30/10/2019 17:36

l lived in one house as a tenant for 5 months. The reason being that the letting agent only let me sign for 6 months, and also didn't tell me that the owner was keeping it on the market for sale until l'd signed the tenancy agreement and picked up the keys.
ln those 5 months, l had 12 viewings. l was sick to death of it. Thank goodness l wasn't working at the time.
The last people who came while l was there were a lovely young couple. They said their children went to the local primary school as grandparents lived nearby, and they were thrilled they'd found a house so close to school and family. l asked if they were intending to rent or buy, and they said rent. So l asked if the letting agent had told them the owner was keeping it on the market with the intent to sell. They hadn't, and these people were horrified. They could have signed a 6 month tenancy, then been turfed out if she found a buyer. l don't know what happened but they said they were going to drop it into conversation casually with the letting agent.
l thought that was absolutely shitty behaviour - it wasn't advertised as a short term let, but they were only allowing 6 month tenancies. lf l'd been used to renting, maybe l'd have suspected something, but l wasn't. And the agent's board only said "To Let" - no mention of it being for sale.

QueenArseClangers · 30/10/2019 17:54

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IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 18:01

We had a tenant who refused viewings even though we had clarified with them that they would allow them at any time convenient for them. We refused to give a reference.

They said they would allow viewings when it was convenient for them- it clearly wasn’t ever convenient for them. So you screwed them over? Nasty piece of work.

bloodywhitecat · 30/10/2019 18:01

Please allow access, it makes things very hard for the landlord when you don’t. They could sue you for access, and this would be tedious and worrying for everyone.

Especially for the landlord who would lose.

Itsarainyday555 · 30/10/2019 18:03

@IWorkAtTheCheesecakeFactory or @JacquesHammer or anyone else please can you provide a clicky link to something which says a clause in your contract which provides for viewings is unenforceable? It would be helpful.

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 18:05

Try shelter @Itsarainyday555

BarrenFieldofFucks · 30/10/2019 18:06

Well the contract may say that. You still don't have to allow viewings. If you felt kind then suggest one afternoon a week that you'll make available, otherwise don't. If they did deny you a reference that would make them an arsehole. References should really be around paying on time and looking after the property.

If they can't manage a few weeks or so empty they're in the wrong business. And it is a business after all.

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