To feel like I'm being unfairly pressured / bullied into allowing viewings?

[CheesyT]

My landlord is selling our house.

I am being absolutely pecked by the agent to allow viewings at all times of the week and weekend and if I say no because a certain day or time doesn't work, I get text messages and voicemails from my landlord directly asking what the problem is and suggesting they will bring people round themselves.

I am working from home at the moment due to being vulnerable to Covid and work being unable to accommodate additional measures so they thought I safer this way. I have explained this several times to the agent and to my landlord. I have offered multiple suggestions of just a few set days and times where I can leave the house but it's constantly ignored and I am asked over and over and questioned if I can't agree.

I agreed after being hounded the other day to let them show someone round during the week day (whilst I was supposed to be working) and said I would go out for 20 mins so they could show them.

The viewer turned up early and the agent never did so it was a good job I was still in about to leave otherwise the viewer wouldn't have been able to get in.

Every weekend now for weeks I've been hassled to take my family and go out so they can bring people in (too many for the rule of 6 otherwise).

I'm so fed up of it.

Just say no and remind them you are entitled to quiet enjoyment of the property for so long as you are paying the contractually agreed rent.

I would state specifically that you can allow viewings only at set times/days (eg wednesdays 5-6.30pm and Saturdays 10-12 or something, and then ignore further phone calls.

Ps your problem will likely disappear soon anyway as its likely there will be a circuit break lock down soon and viewings won't be allowed.

I'm just worried my landlord will turn up. They do this, they turn up randomly to 'do the garden'.

What does your contract say about allowing access to the property? Can you buy a screw on bolt for the inside of the door and simply lock it? I would get really angry with the landlord and explain that if he continues to block your quiet enjoyment of the property you will withhold rent. It will take him longer to evict you than is worth if he wants to sell.

Can you not just say exactly what you said to us? You are working from home; you are vulnerable to Covid. There is, unfortunately, no time that is suitable for you to allow viewings. You can't do it.

You're presumably reconciled to the fact you're going to have to move out at some point (or are you?), so you don't have very much to lose here. Sure, they can kick you out, though it's somewhat harder at the moment, but they can't take your deposit or enforce viewings.

I get that it's tough on the LL who wants to sell, but unfortunately, a tenant who can't allow viewings is one of those things that can happen, isn't it?

I guess my biggest problem is I am just rubbish at confrontation I've tried to put my foot down and repeat when I can accommodate and when I can't and why but the continuous pressure just ends up getting to me and I agree.

This sounds really pathetic I know... But my mum has said she will answer the phone next time if they don't stop (she is far better than me at this stuff) 😂

@CheesyT

I'm just worried my landlord will turn up. They do this, they turn up randomly to 'do the garden'.

Why on earth have you allowed this? You don’t have to agree to viewings. They are not allowed to just turn up to do anything.

Can you not just say exactly what you said to us? You are working from home; you are vulnerable to Covid. There is, unfortunately, no time that is suitable for you to allow viewings. You can't do it

I've said this time and time again. I've emailed the agents setting out exactly the reasons and apologising for being 'difficult', I've spoken to the landlord directly etc... I've emailed setting out exactly when I can allow viewings and when I can't and said I don't feel comfortable having multiple people in and out all the time due to X Y Z.

It just gets ignored. I had a voicemail the other day from the agent saying 'i know you've said you're vulnerable and can only do viewings on X date/times but....' and then going on with themselves.

I've had messages directly off the landlord asking what the problem is (even though they know) and saying they will bring people round themselves if I won't let the agents.

The reality is that the only thing a landlord can actually do about a tenant who refuses to allow any viewings is serve notice of eviction. Presumably you are moving out soon anyway, so that actually doesnt give the landlord any power.

There's a good blog here www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/blog/my-tenant-wont-allow-me-into-the-property-for-viewings/

You don't sound pathetic. They sound a bit intimidating. Can we draft you an email? This may not be right, but how about:

Dear LL's name,

I got your request for more viewings on [date]. I am really sorry to say this, but I won't be able to accommodate any more viewings before I move out.

Yours,

Tenant.

If you really want to be kindly and nice, you could offer to take loads of pictures so prospective buyers can look, but you're not required to do that, nor do you have to explain yourself.

I have been a tenant for ages, and I generally find the best approach is to be perfectly polite but also to say as little as possible by way of explanations - just say 'no, unfortunately that won't be possible'. Same if they turn up on the doorstep. 'Sorry, I won't be able to let you in'.

Sorry, I cross posted.

I think you're explaining too much.

If you'd already said no to viewings, you should not have shown round the person who turned up.

You can just not answer the door, too - it's fine, plenty of people don't answer the door while working from home; it's totally normal.

I’d contact them again saying if they persist in disregarding your tenancy rights you will be changing the locks. Provided you put them back again when you move out this is allowed.

And TBF, if I were an estate agent or a LL, and my tenant got into a complicated explanation of when they could or couldn't manage, I might well not realise they fundamentally didn't want to allow viewings. The LL may be asking what the problem is because s/he genuinely hopes it can be easily solved.

You need to be clearer about the fact you just don't want to let them in.

Thanks. I know I need to grow more of a backbone! 😖

I'll do as suggested and stop explaining, just say 'no this won't be possible'.

It is horrible having viewings in your home, you feel judged and on edge. Having to keep your house visitor ready all the time is stressful as well

I’m so sorry

What’s your situation for moving on?

OP, time to ignore them. You've been accommodating.

Have you been given notice to vacate the property?

With one of my houses I just put my foot down and said no, I even shut the door on the agents face once (they’d turn up without arrangement), I was packing, trying to manage the kids etc I didn’t need that shit as well.

Yes. Put it in writing, an email to the letting agent copied to the landlord. Word it so that they can see, actually, how accommodating you have been so far.

As a pp suggested, I'd allow viewings for 3 hours on a weekend day at a time to suit you at the absolute maximum.

As other have suggested and if the landlord turns up with viewers I would make a huge fuss in front of them about he’s breaching your right to enjoyment.
That’ll put them off dealing with him!
Landlord has to give you 24 hours notice before he can just turn up

Worst comes to worst tell them you’re self isolating as have been around a positive case

You don’t have to allow viewings if you don’t want to, in fact you do not have to allow entry to the property at all if you don’t want to. What is more, if the garden is part of your rental and written in your contract as such, your LL is breaking the law by just turning up. They have to give you 24 hours written notice before they attend unless it is an emergency.

Would you Landlord actually let himself into your house with viewers without your permission? That is illegal. If you have reason to believe he would do it, change the locks. It's cheap and you can do it yourself with the help of a YouTube instructional video if you don't know how to do it. As long as you change the locks back when you leave the landlord can't do a thing.

Did you know that many insurance policies have a little bit that states no one you do not know personally and do not allow access to your home should not have a key? You could be turned down a claim.

And a landlord does not need a key for emergencies. He is legally entitled to get a locksmith if access is required quickly and if you're at fault or uncontactable, may be able to charge you the locksmith fee. If it's not a real emergency, or not your fault or the LL does not attempt to contact you for emergency access then it's them who pays.

You have tried to accommodate viewings. As the agent and landlord will not work with you, it it’s time to stop working with them. I would send the letter suggested upthread by Sarahandquack and add that the neither the landlord nor any agent working on their behalf has permission to enter the premises without your explicit consent.

If you're worried about changing locks, you could fit a door chain and make sure it's in place when you're at home.

We had to add a chain in a very similar scenario. The landlord just couldn’t understand that he couldn’t just come into the flat with prospective tenants.