To dread handing my notice in to LL during lockdown?

[Rae34]

I posted a month or so ago having problem after problem with my flat due to faulty installations that predated me. It lead to endless stress and people coming out to for repairs.

Next several people came to do checks required by law plus some other bits and pieces. The last guy that came wore no PPE and kept standing close to me and touching my belongings so I reported him.

Long story short - I've bought my first home and can move in whenever. Like clockwork the LL has phoned me again wanting to do a PAT test this time. I have to give 28 days notice and I have a feeling the second I hand it in they'll be sending people round for viewings each week (need to clean after very time and with lockdown there is nowhere to go/it is freezing outside) and no doubt will think up even more repairs.

The current flat is small & the area I work is open plan so every time someone comes it is disruptive. They are always asking when is convenient but the truth is I work in an industry where last minute client calls are required often. It is becoming so stressful trying to balance these.

I've half a mind to just give my notice in shortly before going but it would mean paying a full month of rent that isnt cheap. Thoughts?

OP - what do you think will happen if you DON'T give them access?

They're not going to evict you, are they? Because you have given notice. They'll just be a bit pissy about it and think you're a twat, but so what?

@Sheleg see reasons above. There have been delays on getting furniture into the new home. Plus this concern.

And seriously? Are you quite well? What a completely ridiculous unempathetic thing to say during a global pandemic.

Say you have Covid as pp suggested

@NoSquirrels I don't expect them to, no, but I've never been in a scenario of not allowing viewings due to a pandemic.

I doubt it and I would hope not!

Contract may say you have to give access. Law says you don't as you have right of reasonable enjoyment to property. Law trumps contract.
Give notice and then say that doesn't work for me for viewings/access (unless its a safety issue, then allow accesss).

The time you are wasting dithering with this!

Give notice.

Move out and suck up the dual costs to save the drama of viewings etc.

Don’t move out save money and allow the viewings.

Don’t move out, do not permit the viewings. This will require a spine.

If you have 28 days notice, just wait until they ask to access and then say you’re isolating. Any then repeat. Sorted.

They CAN'T evict you. So you have nothing to worry about.

Just hand in your notice now. Say no to the PAT test. And any other request. And then move to your new place, regardless of whether the furniture has turned up on time. You can camp out for a bit.

Or pay the extra rent and hand your notice in whenever. But then you can't refuse the access for things like a PAT test.

Choose a course of action and JFDI.

Probably not the popular answer but.....give notice it will take a few days to sort, do it on a Wednesday that gives you till the Monday say your 14 day isolating and then when that’s done a few days to catch up at work that leaves about a week offer 1 day plenty of hand sanitizer or make them wash their hands (play happy birthday to them) your things will be packed ready to move. When I rented my house the previous tenant was a nightmare would always go out before we got there. in the end we had to wait till he moved out.

Its not clear but I'm assuming you vab move to your new place now. Could you express your feelings about strangers coming in and out for viewings and see if your LL would be willing to let you leave without giving the 28 notice period so he can show them round an empty flat instead? If not, take the hit on paying a month's rent and mortgage payment and just move to your new place. Can you ask that he organises all the viewings on one day so that you just need to clean once and its not such an inconvenience to you?

Do you not own any of the furniture in your current flat? Can't you just hire a van and move that instead of getting all new stuff?

Honestly, there is no way i would be staying in a rented flat if i had my own place to live in. Perhaps you could go to your own home for the day/weekend and tell the LL that they can do viewings that day/weekend ONLY.

@UKsounding

"Long story short - I've bought my first home and can move in whenever."

So, why don't you just move in now? Why do you need to stay in rented accommodation when you can move into the home you own today?

Flippin eck that was a quick house purchase, when do you complete/exchange? I’d just move asap, far less stressful for you. Good luck in your new home.

This thread is so confusing

OP, I moved out of rented and into bought last lockdown. Refuse all viewings, firstly because of COVID and when they push say you have the legal right to quiet enjoyment of the property you are paying for. If they say that viewings are part of the contract then suggest they take you to court for breach of contract. You'll be long gone before it gets to that.

Why don't you you move a chair and table into your new house and work from there during the day.

@negomi90 thanks. I think this is what I will do. I will aim to hand my notice in by the end of this week.

I'm not willing to just camp out without furniture. I'm a professional working person and I need my desk and chair to wfh for a start. On top of this curling up on the couch each night and getting cosy with a book or such really helps my mental health a lot during this time.

I'll hope the furniture will all be in place by the end of the month. If I have to fight the LL then so be it. I really can't be bothered.

Hand in your notice and move into your house. No big deal. You will have to pay the months rent either way. No

@Neolara

Why don't you you move a chair and table into your new house and work from there during the day.

I was just about to suggest this. It know it's a pain, but even if you picked two days a week to work from your new house and told the landlord that any viewings must be done on those days that would be allowing reasonable access. Insist that masks are worn and hands sanitised before entry, and then use a disinfectant wipe on all surfaces that you are likely to touch when you get home.

Surely allowing viewings means in empty properties. It’s not legal to have anyone in your house at the moment, let alone strangers traipsing through one by one. I don’t think you’re making a bit of an issue where there needn’t be one- just say no. End of.

@Summersun2020 I saw a handful of properties before I chose the current one so it certainly is allowed. I even went to one with more than one person viewing which I thought was pretty shocking.

There seems to be quite a few loopholes.

I really can't be bothered

Your two threads belie this sentiment.

There’s no reason why you will have to fight the landlord.

If they want to come round or whatever reason, jus say you do t feel happy during Covid and that you will soon be gone so would like them to wait. In all likelihood that will be the end of it.

There is very unlikely to be anything like a fight. At most the LL might ask a couple of times or suggest ways for it to happen that you feel more comfortable with. If you want, you can say you will consider a particular option, wait a few days to get back to them and then just keep saying you don’t feel co for table with it. Pretty quickly, you’ll be able to point out you’ll be gone in 2 weeks and then 10 days and then 1 week...as your notice is only 28 days.

It’s not a fight. It’s literally a conversation. And in life you do have to have conversations and engage with other people.

The sooner you give notice, the sooner you will be gone and not have to engage. The longer you delay giving notice, the more time there is for the LL to look to fulfill their legal obligations. Things like gas safety checks etc make properties safer for tenants...they cost the LL money and aren’t there just to inconvenience you but to make it better.

@UKsounding

"Long story short - I've bought my first home and can move in whenever."

So, why don't you just move in now? Why do you need to stay in rented accommodation when you can move into the home you own today?

^this

Just saw your updates. You seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill though. Give your notice, only allow essential appointments and move as soon as you can. If you're that concerned you'll have to move without furniture. The restrictions aren't going away any time soon.

Hand your notice in and then say you are isolating for 14 days and can’t have visitors. Move your stuff out and leave vacant for 2 weeks .