Aibu or are the letting agents regarding viewing property.

[saffronshawty]

So me and OH went to view a rental property earlier this afternoon, just a one bedroomed, one bathroom apartment. The apartment is currently tenanted, but they had 48 hours notice of the time of viewing.

so we meet the estate agent, who guides us up to the apartment, on entering the apartment, the apartment is full of smoke from lighting incenses. We couldn't view the bathroom as the tenants partner was currently using the shower? The tenant also had his mother over from another country, cooking food, so we couldn't really view the kitchen properly, and his guests were in the balcony all smoking, so it was really awkward to be able to look around properly.

At the end of the viewing, we asked if we could come back at another time so we could have a proper viewing, but the estate agent told us, that she had more viewings lined up so we must make a decision now or most likely another person will be ahead of us?
I told her that it was quite unfair that the tenants knew we was coming, but made it as awkward as possible (btw tenants are moving back to own country so it's not like they wanted to stay)

The estate agent just mumbled, and said her next viewings were downstairs.
So we left, and I just want to know, was I expecting too much?

@trianglebingobongo is absolutely right. Of course the contract is legally enforceable but there is little the landlord can do about the breach so it is unenforceable in pragmatic terms.

It’s not about “overriding” it’s contractual vs statutory obligations, they do not override one another but Co-exist.

Access for viewings is not the same as access for repairs. Access for viewings is not an enforceable clause.

It is for non essential repairs or maintenance which are not covered by section 11. If you paint the living room every 5th year that’s not covered by section 11 but might nonetheless be considered reasonable grounds for entry. Or a boiler service would be non essential, but a reasonable ground for entry (different to a gas safety check before you tell me those are a legal requirement).

i once went to view a flat, tenant knew it was happening so helpfully went out. however, they didn’t pick up their dirty knickers or put their, ahem, hooker shoes away. also stud pet turtle in the kitchen which smelled like death.

the agents did a deep clean before i moved in and it’s one of the best flats i’ve lived in. i had to move quickly as it would have been snapped up. sometimes you just have to go for it.

stud pet turtle? don’t know where that came from. just a turtle, no idea of its breeding status!

Viewing rental properties is just nothing like viewing properties to buy. Even if you are looking to buy, tenanted properties are different.

Of course the tenants have nothing invested in having the flat re-let. A viewing for them is almost always a massive pain in the arse with no pay off. And they just don't have to do it.

Also letting agents IME tend to make the entire process hideous and pressured. They often do mass viewings to make you feel panicky that you'll never get anywhere to rent and insist that, if you don't act immediately (on a property you've barely been able to look at), then it'll go before you've had time to breathe never mind think about whether you'd like to live there.

It's all hideous really.

I was amazed when I could finally afford to buy at just how much nicer the agents were to you out you were buying rather the renting. It really shouldn't be like that.

all the above of course should start 'in London'.

I agree with @WooMaWang huge difference in agents attitude between renting and buying which is totally wrong, especially as they likely make more money on the rentals!
I found our agents were awful when showing people around, very little noticed, didnt care if I was busy or said no it was bully tactics to get in. I then refused anymore viewings (we'd had more than 5 by that point) so they then said they needed a pre-inspection prior to us moving out, which consisted of them bringing a tenant round and telling me he can't do a pre-inspection until we move out and he can see what damage we've done!
I was bloody livid and my god did he know about it - and the new tenants, and the landlady when they all left....! Those poor prospective tenants did nothing wrong, yet I was obstructive, rude and told them very clearly what I thought of the estate agents. You may find the tenants were the same and fed up of having people walking through their home, and from the sounds of the agents attitude towards you before you've even signed a contract that wouldn't surprise me.
We saw a house we liked being sold by them recently and I refused to look at it as I would never deal with them again.

sorry - just to add, I think its important to look at a property clearly so you can highlight any damage or issues you'd expect sorting before moving in.
So it is important the house is empty or tidy if at all possible

@mencken I've never lived in London. IME letting agents are like that everywhere I've lived.