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.

Another option to adding a chain is to leave the key in the front door and go out through the back.

I appreciate this might be a bit sly, but when we had a similar issue of a landlord who just would not take no for an answer or recognise that we indeed had any right to say no, we solved it... by getting mouse traps and ant traps and putting them visibly around the house, and leaving our smalls drying on the clothes horse on show in the living room. We also bought some dodgy magazines to put in the bathroom (no children in the house!) Funnily enough after one viewing the EA/landlord stopped just turning up on the doorstep with visitors unannounced and made sure that we were aware of and in agreement to have the property ready for a viewing!

Also RN you can answer the door and tell them someone in the house has a cough but if they want to come in...

I would ring the agent and say you are nolonger willing to do any viewings.

My ex-landlord was a bloody nightmare for letting himself in. He was a perfectly reasonable person otherwise but twice I came home to find someone redecorating unannounced, and when he served notice because he was selling it became a real problem.

I tried being reasonable and always popped out when viewings were arranged. Eventually they stopped even warning me and just turned up, either the estate agent or the landlord himself. If I didn't answer within a couple of knocks they just came in anyway. I started leaving the key in the lock, half turned so he couldn't just force his way in, which backfired when he "accidentally" put his fist through the window.

It's not much help at times like this but you are perfectly entitled to refuse them entry. A lot of landlords want to have their cake and eat it - it's so much safer for them just to wait for the tenancy to end before allowing viewings.

This is bordering on harassment which is illegal. I suggest you make a complaint to both the lettings agent and the landlord about the frequent contact, repeated requests despite having already made your position clear, and unannounced visits. Tell them that if they persist you will seek advice from Shelter and contact the local council.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/harassment_by_a_private_landlord

You’ve been reasonable, they have not. They can’t do anything. Just refuse any viewings now. It doesn’t matter what your contract says.

I'm a landlord and don't think YABU at all!

You deserve quiet enjoyment and should just say no to viewings
He can show people round once you've left. How long have you got?

Yep find a backbone and stop letting viewers in if agent doesn't show. Bet they're relying you as you're at home.

As a previous landlord you are not being unreasonable. When we sold our property we asked the tenant if they would allow viewings, with a discount on the rent. They didn't want to so we waited until they had moved out.
If you don't feel strong enough let your mother loose on them.

He come to garden....WHAT? Absolutely not on, at all.