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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say no to viewings on the weekend?

83 replies

PeetaSue · 21/09/2020 15:14

Landlords are selling our house, which is fine obviously and we have purchased anyway and are moving out in the next month or so.

I have been receiving emails asking me if potential buyers can view at X date or at Y time.

I am working from home at a high pressure job (I've just managed to step away to have a sandwich and a sit outside for 10 minutes) so I have said I can only accommodate either weekday evenings or ideally, during my lunch hour which I never usually take but will if necessary to accommodate this but that I don't want people coming at various different times during the day disturbing my work.

I've also said I'd rather not have people coming in and out at weekend either. We have two kids and I am heavily pregnant. During the weekday it's only me at home but at weekend it can get manic and frankly, I don't want to be running round tidying up every weekend, heavily pregnant, chucking the kids out of their rooms to let people in to look etc...

AIBU to say I can only accommodate viewings during my lunch hour, during the week? And maybe an odd early evening where I can chuck DH and the kids out to McDonald's or the park or something?

OP posts:
Mrsfrumble · 21/09/2020 17:58

I don't have great fondness for the letting agent as it is to be honest, we've had heaps of problems with them before including them letting themselves in without telling us whilst we were out to carry out a repair (non emergency, something minor we'd mentioned). We only found out they'd been in the house already when we chased up a response and they said 'oh yeah we went in last week and did that'!

They always email as well as if it's a given just 'someone wants to view at 10am tomorrow, let me know if you'll be in or if we need to be there'.

Are the agents north London based and do they share a name with a Douglas Adams character by any chance? Sounds very similar to our experience. We tried to be accommodating but when the flat failed to sell the agents got more pushy and I ended up taking our small children out on weekday evenings (in Jan / Feb when it was freezing and wet) so they could do after-work viewings. I wish I’d stood up to them and refused but I felt sorry for the owners (who lived abroad and were being failed by the crappy agents as badly as we were).

I think in the current circumstances it would be perfectly reasonable to say no, especially as you’re moving out soon.

Twaddledee · 21/09/2020 18:07

You could ask for only 2nd viewings at the weekend with a few days notice. And only at a certain fixed time, say between 10-12 on a Saturday. That should be accommodating enough to please your landlord but also put most people off.

Original poster
PeetaSue · 21/09/2020 21:28

Thanks all, only just managed to sit down and relax!

So I've spoken to DH and I think we say we will allow one block appointment for viewings on one weekend and nothing else.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 11:30

So I emailed yesterday saying we can arrange a block Saturday viewing for one weekend and explained the reason why (pandemic, pregnant), we don't want people in and out of the house on random days for this reason.

And I've literally just had another email 'can we show someone round on Wednesday'.

I'm minded to just say no now. They don't respect our situation clearly.

OP posts:
namechangeinamillion · 22/09/2020 11:34

They might not have read your email yet. I'd say no and refer to your email. If you say yes they'll just keep asking.

roarfeckingroarr · 22/09/2020 11:36

You're within your rights but it's really shitty behaviour

seayork2020 · 22/09/2020 11:36

What does your lease state?

Porcupineinwaiting · 22/09/2020 11:39

@seayork2020 what the lease says is totally irrelevant as it doesnt supersed the law which says that the OP has the right to quiet enjoyment of her home.

Emelene · 22/09/2020 11:43

I think you're being more than reasonable. I'm pregnant too and very cautious about contact with strangers.

I'd just reply - see previous email and not engage...

Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 11:48

@namechangeinamillion

They might not have read your email yet. I'd say no and refer to your email. If you say yes they'll just keep asking.
They have seen it, they replied saying thanks for letting us know! And then 2 hours later, asked this... Hmm

In what way is it shitty behaviour? I am working from home because my work don't want me in the office due to me being classed as vulnerable, so in what world does it then make sense to have a load of strangers traipsing round my house at random times of the week and weekend?

This is my home, I am heavily pregnant during a pandemic and my main priority is not my landlords house sale but my child and health.

As PP have said, I don't have to allow any viewings but I don't want to do that so I've said I'll allow a block viewing so we can leave and get them all done at once.

This also means I can do one clean after they have left rather than every time someone comes round.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 11:48

Sorry the second part was to Roar obviously!

OP posts:
namechangeinamillion · 22/09/2020 11:55

They have seen it, they replied saying thanks for letting us know! And then 2 hours later, asked this...

They sound like eejits. Anyway you can speak directly to the landlord?
Send a reply back saying "as per my previous email, I'm unable to accommodate viewings at any other times than the day mentioned".

Then ignore.

Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 11:57

They sound like eejits

They are. Honestly I couldn't tell you the amount of times I've asked them to amend DHs email address because they always send it to an incorrect email address. 3 years later, and they still get it wrong on every.single.email.

They are completely shite. To a PP who asked though, no they aren't North London based!

OP posts:
BellaBella84 · 22/09/2020 12:01

Your landlord has essentially been profiting from your basic need for housing. You don't owe them Jack Sh*t.

Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 12:04

Anyway you can speak directly to the landlord?

I might do this to be honest. I have spoken to them directly before and they've always seemed nice enough so will give it a go.

OP posts:
Marisishidinginmyattic · 22/09/2020 12:07

I don’t understand why you’re wasting so much energy on this. You don’t need a reference from the landlord, the letting agents are being knobs... just say no!

Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 12:11

@Marisishidinginmyattic

I don’t understand why you’re wasting so much energy on this. You don’t need a reference from the landlord, the letting agents are being knobs... just say no!
Because to be honest, I just don't want to be obstructive to their sale in the current climate I appreciate how they may need a quick one and I don't want to deliberately hold that up.

But the more I'm pushed, the more likely I will just turn around and say no to all then.

OP posts:
namechangeinamillion · 22/09/2020 12:25

Yeah, I'd speak to the landlord. Be clear you don't want to be obstructive to the sale in anyway but as you're heavily pregnant, working from home and in the middle of a pandemic it's impractical for you to be able to let viewers into the house regularly at odd times. Explain the difficulties of the house being full of people (you, kids, dh, viewers) and social distancing.
Tell them you've tried to agree a block viewing on a Saturday that you can all vacate the house but the estate agents continue to ask about other times.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 22/09/2020 12:57

As a LL myself, I think it’s a nerve to expect tenants to put up with random strangers traipsing around their home.
IMO they should wait until tenants have left.

Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 22/09/2020 13:05

@PeetaSue

Anyway you can speak directly to the landlord?

I might do this to be honest. I have spoken to them directly before and they've always seemed nice enough so will give it a go.

Why? You have enough on your plate.
Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 13:19

They've just replied saying it's hard to get people booked in for block viewings Hmm

I've just gone back and basically said look, I've told you what I'm comfortable with and the reasons why, let me know which Saturday you want to do between 10 and 1 and I'll confirm its agreeable. Thanks.

Anything else now and I'll just reply with a simple 'no'.

You're right @Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd I don't need to get into anything else now with anyone else.

OP posts:
nevermorelenore · 22/09/2020 13:29

Normally I'd be accommodating but wow, they sound shit. And I've dealt with some shitty letting agents.

My only concern is that they may suddenly get difficult when you move out and start nitpicking and deduct stuff from your deposit. But you can appeal that sort of thing.

Original poster
PeetaSue · 22/09/2020 13:31

@nevermorelenore

Normally I'd be accommodating but wow, they sound shit. And I've dealt with some shitty letting agents.

My only concern is that they may suddenly get difficult when you move out and start nitpicking and deduct stuff from your deposit. But you can appeal that sort of thing.

As daft as it sounds I'm really not even arsed about this. I'll appeal it if they tried but the prospect of losing the deposit wouldn't deter me from putting my foot down.
OP posts:
Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 22/09/2020 13:33

You're being more than accommodating. Wouldn't clean especially or anything else. You need to work and pack, you're not selling a house. You're not doing them a favour by living there, you're paying for it. If they show up, don't let them in. 'That's not our agreement and this property isn't available for viewing right now'. Honestly, we had arsehole agents coming in when we were in bed, in the shower, even had them come in whilst we were at work without our knowledge and then send us a shitty email (at work!) pulling us up on having packing boxes all over the property (because we were fucking moving!) and how it 'looked bad'. Twats.

Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 22/09/2020 13:35

@nevermorelenore

Normally I'd be accommodating but wow, they sound shit. And I've dealt with some shitty letting agents.

My only concern is that they may suddenly get difficult when you move out and start nitpicking and deduct stuff from your deposit. But you can appeal that sort of thing.

Film everything and appeal it.