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.

In fact, I’d tell them - if they dare cause a fuss - that it’s much more sensible to put off viewings until after you’ve left as if you caught COVID-19 from an unnecessary viewing with strangers in your home you’d be unable to move out in 11 days as you’d be required to isolate...

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

Bollocks. It's a business and the LL should account for some downtime between tenants to do repairs etc. The law is on the tenant's side here especially now.

OP if you want to be especially kind you could let them have a day as you suggested, but in your place I'd also tell them they have to cover the proper cleaning costs (and arrange it).

@murbblurb I'm in Scotland if that makes a difference?

I hadnt thought that they might withhold the deposit. Our deposits are fairly secure here, generally the only risk is if anything is left broken etc. I would hope it wont be put at risk from refusing to vacate for viewings...

We stayed sitting on the sofa when our landlord did viewings, deliberately all one evening so as not to disturb us too much. Place was covered in boxes!

@HazelWong

We tried to get our landlord to give 24 hrs notice and pointed out the law etc, they just ignored it and turned up anyway. It's basically unenforceable

You don't have to let them in, though.

He can't withhold any deposit for you saying no. That isn't what a deposit is for and none of the deposit schemes would allow it. In any part of the UK

I would feel mean saying no and would personally try and meet the LL halfway. Offer set blocks of time when it will be easiest for you to vacate the property. When I did viewings for my house I waited in the garden while people looked round the house. You can obviously ask them to wear a mask and gloves. I wouldn't worry about going mad with the cleaning afterwards either, just take an antibacterial wipe to your door handles and light switches. It's not the the LL or viewers will be going round touching everything anyway. Good luck with whatever you decide to do,

@movingonup20 exactly. In the email he said please ensure the place is clean and tidy.

I am moving so it is also full of boxes.

Normally im very helpful and jzve allowed viewings in last few days of tenancy. Especially when landlord has been decent.

Like hell I'd allow viewings in the middle of a pandemic...

I'd be saying... Sorry I can't comply with your request. As per the law and guidelines I shan't be allowing viewings of my home mid pandemic. This is not an emergency landlord visit as per the law.

essentially he's saying.. I don't care if you catch covid from viewings as long as I don't lose a few days rent. Fuck 'em!

Say no. Afaik all rental viewings are through zoom I'd pre record a viewing or not but definitely don't allow strangers in your home to view with restrictions on place.

That’s a nasty cough you have OP! Have you been tested?

I think it's unreasonable for your landlord to hold viewings whilst you're still there. In normal times. You'd have agreed because you'd want to be helpful but right now that's not feasible

Is your purchase going through smoothly? If there are any hiccups With purchase, you may need to stay on longer so keep LL on your side

@peanutbuthead the purchase is complete and the new property is mine. My extended household is helping me move this weekend and next.

Don't give it a second thought OP. Just say no. Or, as a few others have already said, just say you're self isolating.

I work at a surveyors and we have an awful lot of people refusing access for valuations and surveys at the moment, both tenants and homeowners. It's just the way it is.

And ignore that plonker upthread who called you selfish. Just goady fuckery.

The organisation I work for rent lots of properties out, we've several empty at the moment and on the market. The EA are doing virtual viewings to start off with, and only once people have actually applied and been credit checked are they doing physical viewings, and these are empty properties! It's admittedly a bit extreme, but having multiple households traipsing through one after the other has been assessed as too risky for both the viewers and the EA. We've also got tenants refusing access for boiler services and electrical testing. Completely understandably.
Tell the EA you aren't allowing viewings because of covid, and if they turn up anyway you'll not let them in and you'll tell prospective tenants what an arse the landlord is. I doubt very much they'll risk you putting them off.

Victory!

I said no and they accepted my reason. They also accepted my offer to do a short video. Imagine - I actually considered inconveniencing myself!

Super news

Yes thanks all