To refuse ongoing access to my property for viewings?

[Lizzie523]

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.

They have no rights as per the contract. Just say no. They can wait two weeks until you move out or they can market it with virtual viewing only

@HOkieCOkie

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

Nope While she has a tenancy agreement it's her property

@Lizzie523

I dont need a reference fyi. I am leaving because I have bought a property.

And did you view that property?

Say you have symptoms.

Their contract doesn't supersede the law!

If you can def move in in 2 weeks and won’t need to rely on his good will to stay longer then refuse. But if anything at all is delayed in terms of your purchase and you need to stay longer at your rental then he may choose not to help you.

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

An end of tenancy professional clean is often specified in the contract. Presumably OP wants her deposit back.

@GrumpyHoonMain

If you can def move in in 2 weeks and won’t need to rely on his good will to stay longer then refuse. But if anything at all is delayed in terms of your purchase and you need to stay longer at your rental then he may choose not to help you.

He won't have much of a choice tbh

Just say no. It doesn’t work for you and you are unable to vacate the property or undertake extra cleaning.

Secondly it’s not selfish- the landlord should have a contingency plan in place for the period between tenants. I understand the landlord doesn’t wish to lose money especially in the current climate but they are also no prepared to clean in between viewing and therefore putting your health at risk.

I also hear the endometriosis- I suffer too and there’s days when physically with the pain it is a struggle to get out of bed let alone go for a walk in the cold.

The law states you are entitled to quiet enjoyment and regardless of what your contract says they cannot override that.

Yes that's it @VinylDetective. I need to do the clean to get my deposit back.

So people think I should refuse completely then? I am leaving in 12 days. I do think they are being selfish. I think they will try to push back against me if I refuse which is a stressful thought.

Just say no. Completely.

If they try and push back, tell them that you will contact the police as they are in effect asking someone other than your household and without a Covid 19 test to be in your property at the same time as you.

Normally I say allow viewings within reason. But under the circumstances I would say you are sorry but you can't leave the flat. Can't you tell them all to wear masks and you stay in a different room and keep two metres distance. Video is a good idea.

Tell them you've got Covid symptoms and are having to self-isolate.

You are within your rights to refuse access. The landlord has the option of taking you to court for breaching the terms and conditions, but the most a judge would do is terminate the agreement and require you to leave - which won't reach court until long after you've already left. Plus, if you tell them you are self-isolating, any court in the land would laugh the landlord out.

Think how awkward it would be for your move if you did catch covid from one of the viewers and then couldn't move. I would offer to make a video but no live viewings and tell them you have boxes everywhere due to packing.

An end of tenancy professional clean is often specified in the contract. Presumably OP wants her deposit bac Being pedantic, they cannot specify a professional clean. Only that the property is given back clean, very clean, as clean as at the beginning of the tenancy.

The benefit to rhe tenant of a professional end of tenancy clean is that the cleaner (if they know what they are doing) will know that a much deeper clean is requireed and that they can be recalled by the agent/landlord to remedy any omissions.

@Lizzie523

Yes that's it *@VinylDetective*. I need to do the clean to get my deposit back.

So people think I should refuse completely then? I am leaving in 12 days. I do think they are being selfish. I think they will try to push back against me if I refuse which is a stressful thought.

Yes. Say no. Use the word covid a few times. It is NOT industry standard to do a lot of viewings at this time, really, it isn't!

And you have no legal obligation.

So say no and then ignore them!

Normally I would say you were being ridiculous but in your situation I’d just say no. You don’t even need to have a discussion with him about it. One sentence. I’m very sorry but I won’t be facilitating viewing prior to my departure due to the fact that we are only meant to leave our homes for essential journeys. The flat will be left super clean and ready for viewings. I hope you understand. Lizzie

So cheeky. I bet he’s the sort who couldn’t be bothered with you when you lived there but now he needs you for a favour you have to do whatever he wants. Just tell him to jog on.

Attached is a link (with a link to the Tenant Fees Act 2019) that states as from June 2020 LL’s can no longer specify a professional clean.

homelet.co.uk/tenants/tips-for-tenants/end-of-tenancy-how-clean-is-clean

Your LL sounds like an absolute knob OP. In the midst of a highly contagious pandemic, with less than two weeks until you move out and he expects you to allow people in and out of your home.

I’d cancel any professional clean you’ve arranged. Save your money and just make sure the property is of a similar cleanliness as to what you found it and tell them to sod off with the viewings.

That link states that even if the tenancy agreement was signed before June 2020, tenants cannot be made to get a professional clean BTW so you don’t need one to get your deposit back.

Tell them to sod off. No way would I do this as a ll. I’d wait till tenants had gone and have a void in rent, that’s the way the cookie crumbles when you’re a ll. Particularly with covid, I would refuse to put my tenants at risk.

Ok everyone. I think I will just say no outright.

I dont feel at all safe at the idea of people coming in and out. I have asthma as well so have been taking even more precautions. The person in my extended household is a carer too.

Good luck with it. If the LL tries to turn up or sends anyone round, just cough when you open the door, tell them you've got symptoms and they can't come in.

This is an area of law that some landlords and letting agents consistently ignore as they don't want any gaps between their lets - but as many have pointed out, their wishes do not supersede the law. In non-covid times it is easier to find a middle ground but at the moment its not reasonable for the LL to expect you to do this.

You're moving in 11 days @Lizzie523 - isolation period is 10 days is it not? Say you've got symptoms, are arranging a test. Oh dear, these tests are notoriously unreliable aren't they? It could take a couple of days to get the results... oh dear, my results are lost?! I'll have to get another test but can't get one for a day or two. Hey presto, 11 days over!

In all seriousness though - you're paying for a deep clean to comply with the terms of your lease. As long as your deposit is held in a protected scheme they're very unlikely to be able to withhold any of your deposit, let alone all of it. I'd just tell them no.

It's only 11 days after all. I know they want to find a new tenant ASAP but it's a bloody pandemic for god's sake!

(Re Covid in the air - we have this at home to spray anything we feel needs spraying Dettol spray - it's for surfaces and upholstery predominantly but as aerosol based it might do some other good. Otherwise if you do have to have anyone in make sure you keep windows open at least to the ventilation position to keep air flowing)

if England, as I said, you have every right to refuse access. Lot of horseshit gets talked on MN about tenant rights. How to rent makes it clear.

I'm a landlord. The only way to enforce access if a tenant refuses and it is not an emergency is to go to court. Not happening.