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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse ongoing access to my property for viewings?

93 replies

Lizzie523 · 25/01/2021 17:32

I'm moving out of my current property in 2 weeks. The landlord has told me they now require access to carry out viewings from this week and they will carry these out until they find a person. They are saying they will give me 24 hours notice. The gov advice clearly says you should clean after every viewing and not be present during them. There is no way this is possible.

I'm working late from home most nights and frankly I'm not going to able to keep the entire property squeaky clean all day every day (I'm getting a professional clean next week ). There are boxes everywhere too because it is a small flat.

It is dark and freezing here from 5 o'clock, there is nowhere to go and I dont currently have a car.

I also just feel like extra emotional because I have endometriosis and my period started today. The thought of having to be out in the freezing cold following a day of working and wanting to curl up on the couch isnt something I feel I can do.

OP posts:
Londonmummy66 · 25/01/2021 18:30

doesn't pay a blind bit of notice...........

NaturalStudy · 25/01/2021 18:31

To make everyone's life easier, why don't you offer a one hour slot on Saturdays in which they can do as many viewings as they like? Seems like a reasonable compromise for everyone.

Sweettea1 · 25/01/2021 18:34

Tell him you isolating so no one can come in.

pinkpinecone · 25/01/2021 18:47

Just say no they can't force it on you. Or as the post above suggests saying you're isolating is a good idea!

ThereWillBeSun · 25/01/2021 18:50

@Londonmummy66

Say no and then if they do tun up point out to the viewer that you had said to the landlord that he couldn't do the viewing, don't want people traipsing around the flat disrupting your right of quiet enjoyment and that it is a real shame that the landlord does pay a blind bit of notice to anything you say to him.....

I can guarantee that he won't want to show anyone else around until you've moved out.

That's what I'd do!
mumwon · 25/01/2021 18:53

As LL - I wouldn't expect you to do this at the moment
IF you want to - I think the video & on-line viewing is the possible solution as per pp comment - a lot of that is happening with house sales
I suppose you could offer to do a live zoom viewing (if you feel like it)?
Actually I don't think my agent ever did any viewing until tenants left - until we had re-done decorating ect

SnackSizeRaisin · 25/01/2021 19:14

I wouldn't want this due to covid. If you have a load of people traipsing round it's going to hugely increase your risk. It's only 2 weeks anyway - it won't make much difference to them.
If you weren't worried about covid I would offer to vacate for an hour once a week and they can do a few viewings then. No need to have them coming separately every single day.

Bakeachocolatecake2day · 25/01/2021 19:24

"I'm sorry I have to self Isolate as I have been in contact with someone with Covid"

ToffeeAppleCaramel · 25/01/2021 19:41

Yes agree just say no.

If you want to be nice, offer one slot where they can take a video for online viewings. That’s as much as they can expect at the moment.

Ijustlikedthename · 25/01/2021 20:08

@Bakeachocolatecake2day great idea! Saves extra stress and persuasion!

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 25/01/2021 20:11

Thanks everyone. I think I'll offer one day next week when I'm on annual leave and can stay with my extended household.

If they push for more I'll refuse. I am really hoping they wont make this into a big deal 1 week before I leave. It's.a.pandemic.

They havent even acknowledged anything about the pandemic or the extra cleaning involved for this. It was just like any other email you would get at any other time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lizzie523 · 26/01/2021 09:44

How long does covid linger in the air, or do we not really know yet? I'm a bit worried about that.

I read the gvt advice and it clearly says in person viewings should happen when in person isnt possible. Obviously the LL just cares about themselves and getting money asap however.

OP posts:
HOkieCOkie · 26/01/2021 09:46

It’s not your property it’s your landlords property.

HOkieCOkie · 26/01/2021 09:47

Your moving out and he needs that income from a new tenant. So selfish honestly.

VintageStitchers · 26/01/2021 09:52

@HOkieCOkie

Don’t be a dick. The Landlord is the selfish one, not caring if he brings Covid tenants into the house whilst the OP is still living there.

Landlord can wait until he has vacant possession and stick within the law.

SuperbGorgonzola · 26/01/2021 09:52

I think I would also be unhappy about this. There should have been a video tour taken really as that would help to screen a proportion of viewers who could decide on that basis that it isnt suitable. If it was one or two serious candidates then I probably would be a bit more obliging as long as the time suited me.

WhereamI88 · 26/01/2021 09:52

You're moving out in 2 weeks. Tell them you have Covid. There is no way I'd risk getting Covid from a stranger viewing my flat after all the sacrifices made this year already. You'd honestly have to be mad to agree to this.

SuperbGorgonzola · 26/01/2021 09:55

I should add that I find rental listings much less informative than sales listings. I viewed a lot more properties when i was renting simply because there was hardly ever a floorplan, and sometimes there might only be 2-3 photographs.

I don't know if things are different now, but back then (7/8 years ago) you really couldnt rule a property out until you'd seen it, which will have been disruptive for tenants.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 26/01/2021 10:19

If i refuse all viewings I have a feeling they will come back saying their own rights as per the contract.

But I feel very stressed about it. I move out in 11 days. I've arranged a deep clean before I go.

OP posts:
SmellyPooHead · 26/01/2021 10:30

This is about your health, you don't know anything about the people coming through the door
You are paying to stay there and you have done your utmost to keep yourself safe
Just say no, you won't see your LL ever again, so don't worry about them. They have ignored you, so they don't give a damn about you

readingismycardio · 26/01/2021 10:32

I'd pull the covid card, too, but since you don't need a reference you might as well tell him to piss off Grin

CuriousaboutSamphire · 26/01/2021 10:38

@Lizzie523

If i refuse all viewings I have a feeling they will come back saying their own rights as per the contract.

But I feel very stressed about it. I move out in 11 days. I've arranged a deep clean before I go.

It doesn't matter. They can hold to the contract and you can hold to the law.

Tell them no. With covid and the need for additional cleaning before and after each visit you are taking government and industry standard advice and saying no to physical visits.

I work for letting agents, they are doing video viewings and are not pushing anything at all!

TerribleCustomerCervix · 26/01/2021 10:41

Honestly, you’re being a bit of a mug to shell out £££ for a professional clean, during a pandemic, in order to help shift someone else’s property.

I’d just send an email with the pertinent information about your right to quiet enjoyment from the govt website and state that given the current situation I’m sure they understand that you’re declining viewings for the rest of your tenancy.

It’s two weeks, not two months. Not worth the hassle.

CatalinaCasesolver · 26/01/2021 10:45

No way would i agree to viewings! You have no idea if those people viewing have covid or not. I can't believe they even asked you!

shitinmyhandsandclap · 26/01/2021 10:49

@HOkieCOkie

Your moving out and he needs that income from a new tenant. So selfish honestly.
It's not selfish, landlords do not have the right to have viewings without the permission of the tenant. I've lived in a lot of rentals and I've never allowed viewings whilst I've still been in residence, the agents are fine with this.

It baffles me how they expect to bring randoms into your home and you're expected to vacate to allow it - especially during a pandemic.

Madness