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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
LannisterLion1 · 30/10/2019 19:42

We were given similar notice. We informed the estate agent that we had the right to quiet enjoyment of the property and given that they wanted to view on Friday they should appreciate we had dinner guests coming. We also had a very young baby so couldnt accommodate multiple views after 6.

We offered an open day and alternate times which was very generous given the LL and EA were cunts with regards to repairs and we had had to get environmental health round twice to shift their arses. As soon as we paid they let the place go to shit basically.

Twice they tried to let themselves in without permission. The dinner party night in which they tried to open the door but couldn't as our keys were in it for easy opening for our guests. They got an earful and the prospective tenants heard the truth and told the EA to remove them from their books. The second i was dozing, breastfeeding on the sofa and let rip when they walked in.

MulticolourMophead · 30/10/2019 19:42

I would offer a couple of time slots, but that's it. This is my home that I pay rent for, I work full time and want peace and quiet when home.

I'd also ensure I was present for those time slots, and install cameras to check if the agents were letting themselves in without permission at other times.

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 19:44

I was responding to a post saying it doesn’t cost landlords money.

Yes you were responding to me, and no it doesn’t cost the landlords money. Like I and others have said, LLs should plan to have a void period to cover repairs/maintenance, viewings, new tenant checks etc when a previous tenant moves out.

Quaffy · 30/10/2019 19:46

Yes I was responding to you and I don’t agree with your analysis. Even if they have that built in (which will be difficult for some landlords), that is a separate point - it is self evident that if a new tenant goes in 5 weeks after the previous one left, as opposed to 1 week after, the landlord is out of pocket. I genuinely don’t understand where the disagreement is coming from on that.

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 19:48

why would insurance cover change of tenancy?

It doesn’t- precisely because the LL is expected to plan for it. It isn’t an unexpected expense.

scittlescatter · 30/10/2019 19:48

Yes, yabu.

There is the letter of the law, then there is the decent thing to do.

Mumsnet seems to paint all landlords as money grabbing evil tycoons. In reality, no one here knows about the financial situation of this landlord, or there reasons for being a landlord (some people cannot sell and are forced into becoming landlords).

If you are unreasonable, and refuse to allow any viewings, then your landlord may not show goodwill regarding giving your deposit back in a timely fashion, and giving you a reference. Treat others as you would wish to be treated.

Fwiw, I am not a landlord.

SheruMoo · 30/10/2019 19:49

Honestly a tenant who rejects a viewing when you've specifically let them know ahead in the contract of the expectation is a twat. Just choose a time that suits and let them know. Push it and they will push it. Just why?

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 19:50

it is self evident that if a new tenant goes in 5 weeks after the previous one left, as opposed to 1 week after, the landlord is out of pocket. I genuinely don’t understand where the disagreement is coming from on that.

Grin I can see that you don’t understand it. The landlord is NOT out of pocket when there is a normal gap between tenants. That gap is normal and planned for. What happens sometimes is that a LL makes some extra money due to generous tenants allowing viewings before they move out.

ThatMuppetShow · 30/10/2019 19:50

I don't understand that hatred against landlords on MN either, and the need to try to get the better of them at all cost Hmm

Maybe it's easier in London, I 've never had to accommodate more than 2 or 3 viewings before my places found a new tenant. As long as it's reasonable, I genuinely don't understand why anyone would point blank refuse any viewing.

Cordial11 · 30/10/2019 19:50

Not sure if you seen my recent thread but we gave a month notice and we had 16 home opens before someone applied and was accepted!!!! I was getting so frustrated but worried re reference to put my foot down. Thankfully just as I had enough the remaining were cancelled!

thisneverendingsummer · 30/10/2019 19:51

Looking at the attitudes of a small handful of landlords on here, it makes me feel very little sympathy when get crappy tenants, and are left with a couple of grand rent arrears, and a property that's a shit-tip that takes a month to fix up.

Giving a shit reference PURELY because the tenant doesn't want people traipsing around THEIR HOME while they're trying to arrange their move/their new home, their finances, their packing etc, as WELL as trying to look after the kids/the school run, and clean and tidy the house (in the hope the landlord won't try and keep their deposit) is just plain mean!!!

What goes around comes around.......... Wink

I am soooooooooooo glad I am not in the private let game anymore... There are so many negatives to private renting, and the shady landlords (several who are on this thread) are a BIG negative!

As a pp said, hopefully, if someone sees a crappy reference, (where the landlord said the tenant refused viewings,) the new landlord will just see it for what it is...... an unreasonable landlord who has no clue about 'tenant rights.' Wink

thisneverendingsummer · 30/10/2019 19:52

Looking at the attitudes of a small handful of landlords on here, it makes me feel very little sympathy when they get crappy tenants, and are left with a couple of grand rent arrears, and a property that's a shit-tip that takes a month to fix up.

Giving a shit reference PURELY because the tenant doesn't want people traipsing around THEIR HOME while they're trying to arrange their move/their new home, their finances, their packing etc, as WELL as trying to look after the kids/the school run, and clean and tidy the house (in the hope the landlord won't try and keep their deposit) is just plain mean!!!

What goes around comes around.......... Wink

I am soooooooooooo glad I am not in the private let game anymore... There are so many negatives to private renting, and the shady landlords (several who are on this thread) are a BIG negative!

As a pp said, hopefully, if someone sees a crappy reference, (where the landlord said the tenant refused viewings,) the new landlord will just see it for what it is...... an unreasonable landlord who has no clue about 'tenant rights.' Wink

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 19:53

If you are unreasonable, and refuse to allow any viewings

That’s not unreasonable.

ThatMuppetShow · 30/10/2019 19:53

Why would you expect a landlord to lie thisneverendingsummer?

If a tenant is being a nuisance on purpose and refuse any viewing, how can they pretend they are a good tenant and they would recommend them?

You can only expect people to be factual -why should they make up a good reference? Confused

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 19:54

and the need to try to get the better of them at all cost

Grin wanting to live in peace and keep your home private isn’t “trying to get the better” of anyone. It’s just maintaining the status quo.

scittlescatter · 30/10/2019 19:56

cheese factory difference of opinions. I would say that refusing to allow any viewings is unreasonable. It is the norm to allow viewings. It would be reasonable for the tenant and landlord to discuss a mutually agreeable time. Unreasonable to refuse outright.

Quaffy · 30/10/2019 19:56

iwork whether It’s a “normal gap” or not isn’t the point. A landlord whose tenant does not allow them to conduct reasonable viewings will probably receive less rental yield than if the tenant left them. The tenant is enforcing the gap, which otherwise might not be there.

If I put a Grin now does that make my point somehow better?

thisneverending if it is a negative reference about things which aren’t true eg left the place in a state when they didn’t then I agree. But they are entitled to be truthful that the tenant did not allow reasonable viewings.

JacquesHammer · 30/10/2019 19:56

If a tenant is being a nuisance on purpose and refuse any viewing, how can they pretend they are a good tenant and they would recommend them?

I don’t equate knowing their rights with being a bad tenant.

Phimma · 30/10/2019 19:58

@JacquesHammer buts it's only her home while she rents, it actually belongs to the landlord.

It's mean to not allow the landlord to facilitate another tenant.

This renter is just being mean.

IMHO

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 19:58

It is the norm to allow viewings.

It’s really not. It’s up to each individual tenant and none of them should be punished by having deposits deducted/withheld or getting shitty references as a result of declining viewings. Honestly.

Pinkblueberry · 30/10/2019 19:58

I would offer a couple of time slots, but that's it. This is my home that I pay rent for, I work full time and want peace and quiet when home.

I could understand this perspective if there was a viewing everyday - but it’s one viewing at a pretty sensible time, they only take 5/10 minutes, unless you live in some kind of mansion. I can’t believe how petty and precious people on here are about ‘their own space’ when it comes to a simple house viewing - unless your house is a shit tip and it requires you to doing a massive deep clean before they come?? I thought this was a pretty standard occurrence in life when you finish a tenancy and I don’t think I know anyone who would make such a huge song and dance about it Confused

ThatMuppetShow · 30/10/2019 19:59

I don’t equate knowing their rights with being a bad tenant.

and neither is the landlord knowing their right a bad landlord 🤷

scittlescatter · 30/10/2019 20:00

Yes, it is the norm to allow viewings. I have viewed loads of properties as a prospective tenant. All were clearly currently tenanted. Changeover was usually a day (tenants move out, new tenants move in). It's odd to not allow viewings, and it seems the main reason here is to spite landlords.

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 20:00

whether It’s a “normal gap” or not isn’t the point.

It’s entirely the point. The gap is to be expected and planned for. some landlords are able to charge rent for that gap because their old tenants do them a favour. None are obliged to.

IWorkAtTheCheescakeFactory · 30/10/2019 20:03

Yes, it is the norm to allow viewings.

No it isn’t. (Wonders how many times this will go round Grin )

I have viewed loads of properties as a prospective tenant.

Me too. I said so upthread.

All were clearly currently tenanted.

All but two (one was occupied by the owner) of the dozens and dozens were vacant. So the norm in my experience is not to allow viewings. Your experience is different. That doesn’t make it the norm.