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?

Hey Op, could you negotiate an ‘open half day’ instead for viewings at the weekend and go out/to a bubbles home for 1/2 a day then deep clean the place, wear a mask and open all the windows for an hour?

It feels like a fairer thing to do than allow zero viewings but doesn’t put you out too much and shows willing.

On the other hand, I would do this for a landlord with a couple of properties but not for a massive developer with 30+ houses

Wait till your furniture is in and then give notice, you say its expensive but since you seem to be wanting to hang around, then just do it, take the stress off and enjoy having two homes

Nothing has changed due to the lockdown. Even before now you didn't have to agree to viewings.

It's a common myth that tenants have to accommodate viewings during the notice period if their contract says it does. In fact, the law says the tenant had the right of quiet enjoyment, which means they don't have to accommodate any viewings, regardless of what their contract says. Where there's a conflict between what the law says and what the contract says, the law wins. So any term in your contract about viewings isn't enforceable.

Just say no. NO. And move out FFS.

It’s not complicated, I think you have had all these answers on the first thread?

Do you have a lot of stuff, OP? If you live alone, the palaver of moving can be very daunting.

Have you decided what you will do? Will you refuse viewings? Is your deposit in a protected scheme /escrow?

How long is your furniture going to be?

I have to agree it seems ridiculous to me when you have a property you could be in ASAP just because it'll be less than fully furnished, but if the furniture is going to be ages can you not just - as PP have said - move your desk and chair there and work there in the daytimes and go home to the flat at night?

I'd get some camping chairs and a mattress ordered ASAP from a local business than can deliver quickly and just get in straight away, personally.

My LL asked for viewings in the first lockdown. I declined. Estate agents were so mad and phoned me incessantly telling me that I should be allowing the viewings. Then we got handed our notice and got told it was in our contract that we just allow viewings.
I still said no because at the time covid was a scary threat and we were both wfh ft as well as having dc at home in a flat so we just kept saying no.
Nothing really happened that wouldn't have because LL was desperate to sell by this point so we served the notice and moved. Nothing was remarkable about our move, we managed to get. Removal truck as you will now.
Just say no?

Give notice. Wait for him to arrange 1st viewing. Announce you are isolating. ‘Develop corona’. Recover. Gives you 3 weeks. Job done.

@Rae34

Thank you *@Otocinclus* ! That is exactly what I was looking for, very helpful.

I'm a bit concerned about the bit that says I am contractually obliged to give them access. I actually think it does say that in my contract- but are they really likely to push it?

Contracts don’t supersede your rights

If you don’t want a soul setting foot in your home you don’t have to allow it and no contract can overrule this.

Honestly.

Change the locks and don't let them in!

Your landlord can only lawfully enter your home in three cases. One, with your consent and at least 24 hours notice - and the consent has to be to that specific visit, not some generic thing signed prior. Two, in a genuine emergency. Three, with a court order.

Yes, your contract can say you need to allow viewings. But if your refuse, your landlord can't just come in anyway! They're breaking the law if they do.

Same for any of their agents, tradespeople, and so on.

If you refuse viewings your LL can start eviction proceedings or apply for an access order, but you're a homeowner now and are moving out anyway so so fucking what, you'll be gone before that gets going. The LL can give a bad/no reference but again, you're not renting another property so so fucking what. And they have fuck all chance of them getting anywhere trying to sue you for not allowing viewings for one month, during national lockdown.

I think, IIRC, the landlord is OP's partners boss. Making it a bit awkward dodgy

Something like that anyway, I don't care enough to check back. Let's face it, there has to be some reason why the op is acting like a scared rabbit in the headlights in the face of doing something anybody else does any day of the week.

What a fuss over normal things that everyone has to deal with (re the PAT tests and repairs). There has to be something complicating this.

If it was that bad, you would think you would just move into your new home now.

If you've bought your own home - first congratulations - but you're presumably paying for your new home and the rental, so just move give notice?

You can move out slowly and use the notice period to get new house clean and straight while some of your stuff is in the rental - but the longer your don't give notice, the longer you're having to pay for both residences, or at best rent on a place you don't need.