Not allowed to attend check out appointment when leaving rented property.

[Whatisthisfuckery]

I have an inventory appointment in the second week of July when my tenancy ends. The letting agent use an inventory company so I just spoke to them to ask what time I should attend. I was told that due to Covid the tenant is not allowed to attend appointments at the moment because it’s difficult to socially distance in a property.

granted this flat is pretty small, but one can still socially distance. I think it’s ridiculous, you can go to the shops now, people are mainly back in work and some DC are returning to school, but they aren’t allowing two people to be in the same flat at the same time. Mean while today I have received an email from the letting agent saying they would be showing a potential applicant round later this week. No request for me and DS to be out, not that they can request that, but clearly the letting agents think it’s fine.

I’m rather suspicious of these inventory companies, in that I believe they’re out to find reasons to deduct money from tenants’ deposits, so I think attending the appointment is important. I think they’re taking the piss big time and I don’t trust them as far as I could throw them.

Is there anything I can do about this? AIBU to be pissed off and suspicious?

I actually do think that’s bonkers. I think all you can do it take 100s of pics so if anything comes up you have the evidence.

Ironically we had the opposite problem with a letting agent. My ex has been looking for a flat, did the virtual tour and was happy, but they wouldn’t let him put the holding deposit down until someone viewed it. As he doesn’t live locally right now, I had to go with our toddler.

Of they won't give you time, photograph everything on day you move out to use as evidence

Honestly I feel like telling the agent they aren’t bringing anyone round to view. Sauce for the goose and all that.

They can't just tell you that they are bringing a viewer to the flat. You have every right to refuse it. We only allowed them when we were in and only In the evenings.

I will actually be in. I’m moving out in a week so I’ll be up to my ears in boxes. I wouldn’t mind but now I feel like telling them they can bloody well wait.

I wouldn't be having viewing during covid! Tell them they need to wait until you leave.

Property Manager here. Take photos of everything, including the boiler the doors. Light switches. The place we had lots of come backs was dust on the boiler and tank. Dust on tops of doors. Then a full deep clean was ordered. I hate inventory companies. Good luck.

Oh and the washing machine drawer.

Say no to viewings, they can do that when you have moved out.

I would tell them you will be at the premises for the inventory check, you will wait outside. The inventory person can run through any issues outside and you can inspect anything they raise.

I’d tell them to fuck right off expecting randoms to be viewing the flat then excluding you from the inventory appointment. I would refuse any viewings, you do not have to accommodate them.

I did let the electrician in last week to fix a light fitting so they’ll try to throw that one at me. It says in my contract that I have to make the place available to view. Can they enforce this at the moment?

Also the LL is having someone in to do some work between the date I leave and the end of tenancy, and I don’t want to be made responsible for any mess he leaves.

I’m really bloody annoyed about this. I think they’re taking advantage of the situation.

Wow so estate agents pay a company to do a final check - how much do these cost?

You will only be hurting the land lord OP.

@Blackhawkdown2020 thankfully there is a dispute service

Well, I got charged £120 inventory fee at the start of my tenancy last year. They really are a bunch of leeches.

Their contract doesn't override the law to you being able to have quiet enjoyment of the property. Tell them to do one with the viewings and I'd turn up for the inventory inspection.

You are not wrong to be suspicious, I agree they find everything they can to get money out of your deposit. The last check out we had they insisted they came hours earlier than they were booked in (because the lady wanted to finish early and we explained that the cleaners were still in. She barged in, counted every last little thing she could find, was so unbelievably harsh, counted the things that the cleaner couldn’t finish as she was doing the inventory down to the pebbles being misplaced on the drive! That her own bloody car had brought in! She also stated there was a door missing( which was ridiculous because the door was actually there!) and it just went on and on. I think they wanted to take £2000 off the deposit which was crazy as a- it was a damn site cleaner than we had got it in B- the whole house was about to be gutted and extended. So does one small nail hole really mean the whole wall needs to be replastered and repainted? Crazy. Insist on being there if you can. I hate renting! Good luck!

I can name and shame too if anyone is interested in who NOT to use!

I’ve emailed the agent to say that as the inventory company have told me I’m not allowed to attend my inspection because it’s not possible to safely socially distance, I am denying any viewings and refusing entry to the property. Two can play at that game.

Well done OP.

Good for you!

I’ll be fucking furious if they find fault TBH. This place was a stinking shithole when I moved in last year. I’ve spent a lot of my own money sorting it out and it’s a lot nicer than when I moved in.

When I moved in the oven wasn’t clean, so if the old tenants had been deducted for leaving it dirty the money certainly hadn’t been spent on cleaning it subsequently. The place was in a right old state, things broken, mouldy, it was noted in the enventory that the lights on the cooker hood didn’t work, this also wasn’t rectified. Most of the fridge shelves were missing, which I had to replace. It was a right old mess.
There are holes in the tiles where I removed the old mouldy bathroom blind and replaced it with a new waterproof one. The old one was in the window recess and water from the shower was pooling on the windowsill which had caused tiles to lift. The new blind sits outside the recess, which has prevented any further damage but I know they’ll try to say the whole room needs retiling. Funnily enough the lifted tiles were never replaced, despite me flagging it up several times during inspections.

I’m a bit surprised at the attitudes here about making the landlord fill property after you’ve moved out - everywhere I’ve rented they want someone to move in as close as possible to the day you move out, so there’s no period without rent. It’s always been written into my contracts that you must allow the landlord access for viewings as long as you have 24 hours notice.

remember that the LANDLORD (the only person you have a contract with, not the agent) has to prove any deductions from the deposit. Assuming it is protected (and sue his/her sorry arse if it isn't) then just take plenty of photos and raise a dispute if needed.

as you have done, tell the agent that you are not allowing access. The LANDLORD can enforce this by going to court if needed. Good luck with that one in a pandemic, with a tenant who is leaving anyway.

the fact that you (sensibly) allowed the electrician in is of no relevance to this