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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

.. to not allow prospective new tenants viewings while still living here?

373 replies

Lola528 · 04/08/2020 21:32

My landlord wants prospective new tenants in tomorrow to view the property we currently rent. We vacate on September 21st, so a good 7 weeks yet. I really don’t want to have anyone in my home right now (have asthma, not shielding level, but still a risk).

Our contract says they can give us 24 hours notice for viewings, but what about our “quiet enjoyment of the property” rights?

WIBU to say we will not accommodate viewings and they can wait till we leave? We will be gone around 14th September but pay/rent legally until 21st. So that gives them a week where we are still paying that it will be empty and ready to view.

OP posts:
Gruesome2some · 08/08/2020 20:21

I agree that I should factor in some void time and I probably could take it now ( in fact tennant hasn't paid last months rent which is annoying but we can manage) but there were times when the rent paid our bills, we are not high earners but managed to have the property to let due to my mum dying. Don't assume all landlords are rich! I've so rented for years and I wouldn't dream of being so awkward as to refuse. Under current circumstances I might ask them do video viewings etc so I only had to let the estate agents in once but I think it's a bit unreasonable to refuse outright.

2020StepAwayFromTheCake · 08/08/2020 20:22

I refer you back to your first comment ‘Are you high?’ I think it’s your general demeanour which is patronising to be honest. No problem at all with being told I’m incorrect, but if it’s done nicely it never feels like you’re being personally attacked. You clearly feel superior in this area, what a shame your communication skills are so poor. It’s not difficult to do it nicely, pumblechook managed just above your post.........

Posts like yours are exactly why I rarely post in AIBU.

lyralalala · 08/08/2020 20:33

And for all of you suggesting that landlords chose this option, not always they don’t. It’s not that black and white. Consider that sometimes it’s the only option whilst a complicated legal situation ie a Will is being resolved, and that sometimes you don’t have the money to leave it empty.

That’s still a choice that isn’t the tenants issue.

Landlord problems (and I am a landlord) are for the landlord to deal with. Not the tenant.

And the only person on the thread suggesting people were saying the tenants can refuse access for anything was you. Everyone else was talking about viewings. Which, again, is a landlord problem.

If a landlord can’t afford a void between lets they shouldn’t be renting out. When else are they going to do essential maintenance? for example in this case getting a damn gas safety certificate that has been ignored for months

TrainspottingWelsh · 08/08/2020 20:37

This reply has been deleted

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PiataMaiNei · 08/08/2020 20:41

@2020StepAwayFromTheCake

I refer you back to your first comment ‘Are you high?’ I think it’s your general demeanour which is patronising to be honest. No problem at all with being told I’m incorrect, but if it’s done nicely it never feels like you’re being personally attacked. You clearly feel superior in this area, what a shame your communication skills are so poor. It’s not difficult to do it nicely, pumblechook managed just above your post.........

Posts like yours are exactly why I rarely post in AIBU.

Oh please. You're irresponsible enough to rent out property without bothering to properly appraise yourself of the relevant law, then berated the OP for wanting to exercise her legal rights during an actual pandemic on that basis despite the law having already been clearly set out in the thread. Asking you if you were high was mild in comparison. If you want explanation of the law to be delivered in the manner of your choosing rather than of mine, pay someone for it.

I'm not making any assumptions that you're rich gruesome, the opposite if anything as you said a short void would be a problem. But any landlord who needs tenants not to enforce their legal rights in order to avoid financial issues could potentially come unstuck.

DameXanaduBramble · 08/08/2020 20:42

I think it's a bit unreasonable to refuse outright.

Hang on, the tenant pays a good amount to rent, it’s not a freebie. It’s not them doing you a favour, they are not your friend, why the chuff should they put themselves out of what is already a busy time moving home, they might work, have children, hobbies etc. And now you're asking them to allow strangers into their HOME, the home they pay good money for, disrupting their lives so you can benefit financially. Yeah, not happening.

DameXanaduBramble · 08/08/2020 20:47

It’s this fucking patronising tone of ‘My time is far more important than yours’ on this thread which does most of the LL on here no favours.

Gruesome2some · 08/08/2020 20:49

DameX
I'm just really surprised by this attitude to be honest! I guess I just go through life not trying to be deliberately obstructive! Smile

DameXanaduBramble · 08/08/2020 20:53

Read again what I’ve written, @Gruesome2some and it might help you to understand. [patronisingheadtiltemoticon]

Gruesome2some · 08/08/2020 20:56

I read it and understood it very clearly. Just glad none of our tenants have had the same view.

DameXanaduBramble · 08/08/2020 20:58

Just don’t always expect it, it’s not your right.

CheshireChat · 08/08/2020 22:24

Well, since I am in Manchester, I can't have anyone over as per the new lockdown rules so not a cat's chance in hell I'd allow a stranger to come over 🤷🏻‍♀️*. And I would never be happy to have people over in my home without me there, no way.

*Though I've always thought that cats would do quite well in hell personally.

Smallsteps88 · 09/08/2020 00:04

I couldn't afford to have the property empty for 4-6 weeks to allow new tenant to go through necessary checks etc.

Then you can’t afford to be a landlord. Sell the house.

but you wouldn't be getting a positive reference from me.

That would be massively scummy of you. A tenant who pays their rent on time and leaves the home in good condition should have a good reference. Doing the LL a favour is not part of their obligations and threatening to give a poor reference for declining the request to do a favour to which you have zero entitlement is appalling. You are clearly have no respect for your tenants as actual people, they’re just serving a purpose for you. You shouldn’t have the power over whether someone gets a home or not. You lack the required level of humanity.

AlwaysLatte · 09/08/2020 00:20

When I let my old house out to tenants I waited until they had finished their term and moved out before putting it on the market. Much easier!

orangenasturtium · 09/08/2020 00:30

but you wouldn't be getting a positive reference from me

I would advise any tenant whose landlord gave them a bad reference for asserting their legal rights to make a formal complaint against them, @Gruesome2some. Any reputable letting agent/referencing company will disregard references from a former landlord/letting agent if a formal complaint has been legitimately raised.

This is why we need all landlords and letting agents to be licensed and penalised if they don't respect tenants' legal rights.

Diplidally · 09/08/2020 00:43

The clause is unenforceable. The law of right to quiet enjoyment overlies it. It’s an unfair clause.

Trust me I went through this helping a friend defend herself against a very dodgy landlord.

HouchinBawbags · 09/08/2020 07:02

@Smallsteps88

I couldn't afford to have the property empty for 4-6 weeks to allow new tenant to go through necessary checks etc.

Then you can’t afford to be a landlord. Sell the house.

but you wouldn't be getting a positive reference from me.

That would be massively scummy of you. A tenant who pays their rent on time and leaves the home in good condition should have a good reference. Doing the LL a favour is not part of their obligations and threatening to give a poor reference for declining the request to do a favour to which you have zero entitlement is appalling. You are clearly have no respect for your tenants as actual people, they’re just serving a purpose for you. You shouldn’t have the power over whether someone gets a home or not. You lack the required level of humanity.

^^THIS!

Refusing a reference or writing a bad one when the tenants have done everything they are legally required to do such as allow maintenance, inspection and repair access, reporting repairs in a timely manner, keeping the house in good condition and paying rent in full and on time makes you a POS landlord. Getting a tenant to give up their rights and allow strangers into their home to save YOU money under the threat of no or bad reference is disgusting.

PiataMaiNei · 09/08/2020 08:46

My friend shopped her old LL to HMRC when he wouldn't give her a reference. He was a dodgy fucker.

NoemiaElara · 09/08/2020 09:21

Maybe we've been lucky but you wouldn't be getting a positive reference from me.

How sad that you'd deny someone potentially fining a new home just because they exercised their LEGAL RIGHTS to not want viewings while currently living there. It's scummy LL's like you, that bully tenants into accepting strangers traipsing through their home, that contribute to giving LL's a bad rep.

Redhair23 · 09/08/2020 11:26

@NoemiaElara absolutely well said, it’s abuse of a power imbalance and of the law

AliceinBunnyland · 09/08/2020 11:38

YABU

If your tenancy gives the landlord a right to access for viewings then these are enforceable notwithstanding your right if quiet enjoyment

You rent a house. The landlord will have expenses and obviously wants someone lined up to go in when you've gone.

You are not shielding so ask that the people viewing wear a mask, wash or sanitize hands when the come in and / or wear gloves and you could wait outside.

It's not more risky than going to the shops. You're just being difficult.

Smallsteps88 · 09/08/2020 11:52

@AliceinBunnyland

YABU

If your tenancy gives the landlord a right to access for viewings then these are enforceable notwithstanding your right if quiet enjoyment

You rent a house. The landlord will have expenses and obviously wants someone lined up to go in when you've gone.

You are not shielding so ask that the people viewing wear a mask, wash or sanitize hands when the come in and / or wear gloves and you could wait outside.

It's not more risky than going to the shops. You're just being difficult.

😂😂😂

another one.

CheshireChat · 09/08/2020 11:53

To everyone saying it's fine- then is it fine to have friends or family over? I mean I trust them a lot more to tell me if they're sick as opposed to some random stranger.

thedancingbear · 09/08/2020 11:57

This thread illuminates beautifully why LLs have such a bad name. Far too many of them are willing to ride roughshod over the law, and their tenant's rights, for their own convenience and profit.

SorrelBlackbeak · 09/08/2020 11:59

@AliceinBunnyland

YABU

If your tenancy gives the landlord a right to access for viewings then these are enforceable notwithstanding your right if quiet enjoyment

You rent a house. The landlord will have expenses and obviously wants someone lined up to go in when you've gone.

You are not shielding so ask that the people viewing wear a mask, wash or sanitize hands when the come in and / or wear gloves and you could wait outside.

It's not more risky than going to the shops. You're just being difficult.

You are completely wrong.