To be so upset at the way my landlord treated me?

[softandfloofy]

I rent a self contained studio flat through an agency and when I met my landlord 7 months ago he seemed ok, so no issues there...

This year has been awful financially - I was furloughed, then lost my job, now I'm on a temp contract. I told my landlord all this and he refused to budge on rent at all, so I had to stop spending money on basically everything else, and all through this I have paid my rent on time, every time and have never been late.

I gave notice to move out as I found a cheaper place to live, paid up last month's rent, gave more than required notice, no problems.

Then Monday my landlord gives me notice to do a viewing, I say that is fine, no problems, all wearing masks etc. He does the viewing, and afterwards we get chatting and I tell him I'm now working from home most of the day.

Yesterday he gives notice for another viewing today at 2pm, I said fine no problem. Then today at 12pm, I get an email saying they are not "sending an agent due to coronavirus" and "would i please let him(the person viewing) in the flat". I say I can't do viewings as I would be on my break at 2pm, and afterwards I'm working, in meetings, and I'm not really happy to have a stranger walking around the flat by himself whilst I'm working and on calls.

I come back from the supermarket after my break today, and my landlord has just turned up and I follow them in, rushing a bit as I'm late for my shift to start. Then the landlord tries to shut the door in my face! I have to force the door to get it open and literally push past him to get to my desk to start my shift.. after they left I couldn't stop crying! AIBU?

@SheepandCow

When I went through this, the deposit thing was so new there wasn’t any prospect of fines if the deposit was eventually protected even if the day before going to court.
Is that different now?

I had similar issues when working at home and landlord/agent wanting to do viewings when I was working and demanding to come in regardless (not really possible, my work is confidential).

I took to leaving my key in the door (depends on your door furniture obviously) and advised if they wanted to embarrass themselves in-front of future tenants it was up to them. They were so fantastically rude at that point (despite me offering multiple different possible appointment Times ) I refused all subsequent viewings. My deposit was protected though and I didn’t need a reference.

"Yesterday he gives notice for another viewing today at 2pm, I said fine no problem. Then today at 12pm, I get an email saying they are not "sending an agent due to coronavirus" and "would i please let him(the person viewing) in the flat". I say I can't do viewings as I would be on my break at 2pm, "

Why did you agree to a 2pm viewing then say you cant do it as you're on break at 2 PM?

@Elsewyre the landlord wants OP to do the viewing and show the prospective tenant around, when she’s supposed to be working.

@Elsewyre and is that really your question given how the landlord has behaved?!

That’s disgraceful I’m nearly sure there are laws to protect you from this,(like proper notice for viewings)and also, such cheek expecting you to effectively sell the apartment to a new lodger during your shift too. I think you are having a lucky escape here op! Regarding your deposit, did you document the issues or take photos when you first moved in that would be evidence of the poor state of repair of the place? This would help protect your deposit!

Might it be easier to just say you're self isolating with COVID symptoms/contact with a positive case that led on to symptoms if you really need to drag it out?

Cheeky fucker!

So your landlord entered the property later than agreed and tried to bar you from entering the flat. I’d be going for the jugular on this one and take him to tribunal. No more viewings for sure. You are in Scotland, I see and I’m in England. But I believe AST’s are the same in all the uk. Deffo in England as you returned the inventory with revised descriptions and they didn’t dispute your revisions, this is now the state of the property on entry and the ll cannot withhold the deposit based on their original findings.

Oh and when you say no more viewings, quote the reason being the quiet enjoyment of your property, which was breached yesterday when he entered the flat at a time other than agreed (he was late, no?) and attempted to deny you access to your home. Cheeky bastard.

Absolutely take him to tribunal. Do not let him bully you. You hold all the power here.

@Elsewyre

"Yesterday he gives notice for another viewing today at 2pm, I said fine no problem. Then today at 12pm, I get an email saying they are not "sending an agent due to coronavirus" and "would i please let him(the person viewing) in the flat". I say I can't do viewings as I would be on my break at 2pm, "

Why did you agree to a 2pm viewing then say you cant do it as you're on break at 2 PM?

The OP wasn't doing the viewing, she was making her home available for a viewing. The agent/landlord takes the prospective renter around and the OP can be in or not at her own discretion. Some people aren't be comfortable with having someone shown around when they weren't there, some people are.

I have yet to meet a decent landlord. My ll owns my house outright then still threatened to kick me out as I was a fiver short ( by mistake) one month. Charming. She owns at least 5 properties.
Yanbu op. What a twat.

OP your landlord has behaved poorly and I would not be inclined to agree to any more viewings.

About a decade ago I was looking for a rental in London. A Foxton's agent took us around a flat. We looked in the kitchen, lounge and one of the bedrooms then got a huge fright when we went into the second bedroom and woke up the trainee doctor who was sleeping after night shift. The agent had called and, receiving no response, decided they must be at work and it was okay to take us around. The tenant was furious and demanded the key back from the agent then and there. He kept making excuses for his behaviour but the were hollow. We were silent in the flat because it wasn't our drama but once we got out we told him we wouldn't rent from an agency with such little integrity and refused to see any more homes through them.

Rental agents can be awful, I'm so sorry you have to put up with this but hope your new place is much better. Stand up for yourself and get the most out of your remaining there.

Your landlord was out of order, that is your flat until you leave, you owe him nothing. He was very rude indeed and ought to be ashamed of himself. I did think maybe he didn't recognise you/ didn't realise it was you and acted instinctively but I'm being kind there.

You'll be out soon; don't let this incident spoil your life, it's a brief happening in the scheme of things.

All the very best, I hope you'll be very happy in your new home.

That is outrageous!

I have rented once in my life and was lucky enough to have a wonderful landlord, these kinds of stories make me feel even more grateful.

I hope your new landlord is much more professional.

No more viewings now until you've left, don't budge. Cheeky fucker.

Trying to stop you entering your home that you are renting is unbelievable.

Did he lay a hand on you?

How exactly did he try to stop you entering your home?

He definitely needs reporting.

101 would be getting a call from me in a similar situation.

Dreadful.

Sorry MzHz and OP. I forgot to reply about the deposit protection. Because it wasn't protected within 30 days OP can take it to a tribunal to claim up to 3 times the deposit.

scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_topics/paying_for_a_home/deposits/tenancy_deposit_schemes#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20paid%20a,amount%20of%20the%20deposit%20paid.

It just sounds like he thought you weren’t coming in because Covid and started to close the door. A minor miscommunication.

Change the barrel of the lock, about £7. Exchange for the old one on the day you leave. Refuse further viewings, he can lose money having an empty flat for a bit, he deserves no less, he’s been an idiot.