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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be there for the viewings?

177 replies

SachaStark · 02/06/2021 23:53

My landlord is selling the house we live in, and the estate agent is doing about 10 viewings tomorrow afternoon.

AIBU to be present for the viewings? The LL is totally fine with it, but the estate agent seems quite put out.

My reasonings are that, whilst it might be a property to sell to the estate agent, it’s also our home, and filled with our possessions, and I’d rather be in the house to keep an eye on things. Also, why should I inconvenience myself by making myself scarce for several hours? I’ve got a stack of exercise books to mark as it’s half term week (secondary teacher), and I don’t much relish the thought of dragging all those books out and about with me whilst I try to find an appropriate place to work.

If it were an ordinary day without these viewings, that’s what I would be doing, so should I just be able to carry on as normal?

OP posts:
GeorgiaGirl52 · 03/06/2021 07:52

I owned several homes at one time and rented them out. (Not rich, just regular house that I inherited at a time when nobody was buying.) I never expected my tenants to put up with viewers. I waited until they moved out, then had the cleaners scheduled to go in the next day. Viewings scheduled immediately for those families that could pass the credit and background checks only. Usually let the house again within two weeks and new tenants could move in immediately. no inconvenience to anyone and I "lost" maybe two weeks rental income but got good tenants who stayed for years. When I finally sold the properties, the existing tenants all bought them.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 03/06/2021 07:54

[quote DelilahTheParrot]@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken and no one is saying they’ll “punish” the next tenant.

The point is that there is a significant financial cost to the LL of a tenant not allowing viewings, which is not built in to tenancy agreements. If it’s something that people come to expect as standard, then the prices will have to reflect that.[/quote]
By doing this, you’re including costs that would make the property be over it’s actual rental value.
When you buy a house, would you expect the purchase price to increase if it had been left vacant because it’s cost the owner more?

ittakes2 · 03/06/2021 07:54

I would stay. It would be a bit awkward to follow them around but no reason why you can't stay at the kitchen table and mark.

DelilahTheParrot · 03/06/2021 07:54

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken OFFS, where do I say that anywhere? Stop making things up.

LakieLady · 03/06/2021 07:55

@eatsleepread

So it's half-term and you're choosing this particular day to do your marking. Of course.
Most of the teachers I've known have spent half-term holidays marking and doing other school-related work. My ex SIL used to call half-term "catch-up week".

YANBU, OP. It's your home until the day you move out, crack on with whatever you need to do.

Coffeemakesmehappy · 03/06/2021 07:55

I don’t think YABU at all to be there if that’s what you really want/need. However, having 10 viewings (probably back to back) will most likely make it very difficult to concentrate. If you’re going to stay in, I would try to place yourself in a ‘less interesting’ room eg spare bedroom (if you have one) which is least likely to be loitered in for long.

Liverbird77 · 03/06/2021 07:56

I never, ever, conducted viewings on my flat whilst my tenants were still there. It is so unfair. They have paid to have quiet enjoyment of that property and, in my view, it's theirs to enjoy until the tenancy is over.

DelilahTheParrot · 03/06/2021 07:56

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken no, “if it’s something people come to expect as standard” it would become the new market value. That’s how markets work.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 03/06/2021 07:56

[quote DelilahTheParrot]@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken OFFS, where do I say that anywhere? Stop making things up.[/quote]
*DelilahTheParrot

@Londonnight all correct but a dick move really. If I was given a reference whereby the prospective tenant had refused access to viewings in their former home I’d refuse them the tenancy,*

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 03/06/2021 07:57

[quote DelilahTheParrot]@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken no, “if it’s something people come to expect as standard” it would become the new market value. That’s how markets work.[/quote]
And would that market value be reflected in house prices being bought and sold?

Whatshouldicallme · 03/06/2021 08:01

Given your update that LL is a friend and you expect it will sell quickly I'd probably just inconvenience myself for the day and leave.

As a buyer, it is much more comfortable to look around when no one is in and I do think it is more likely to get offers when people feel comfortable to have a good look around.

If it doesn't sell on the day you'll be back to even more viewings that you won't want to turn down on behalf of your friend which will be more inconvenience.

YANBU not to leave if you don't want to, but I think it's in your interest to do everything you can to have it sold on the day.

LipstickLou · 03/06/2021 08:03

Stay in op. I posted a thread re a landlord sending me over 300 emails, waltzing 24 couples round at the hight of covid and got completely abused! We moved and I hired a shit hot property solicitor. After our tenancy ended the man harassed us. Threatening bankruptcy, ccj, and defamation proceedings. I called the police. I went out for every viewing bar one when my daughter had suspected covid. The viewer who came? Pregnant. The landlord threatened to withold our reference if I didn't allow her in. This 'gentleman' is a solicitor and should never be allowed to rent a property to anyone. Stay in if it suits, we have offered on a house where the tenants stayed in. They have valuable furnishings. I expect you do too.

SarahAndQuack · 03/06/2021 08:05

My landlord recently put the house we rent on the market and of course I stayed for viewings. A few people just walked straight in through the door without knocking - there is definitely potential for people to nick things. You've got a big 'for sale' sign up and people going in and out, it's pretty obvious for burglars.

Original poster
SachaStark · 03/06/2021 08:07

We call half term “the pit stop”, @LakieLady! I am the pit crew, the KS3 books are the tyres I’ve got to change over as quickly as possible. Especially right after we’ve just finished examining and moderating Year 11 stuff endlessly, so everything else has fallen by the wayside.

I’m so shocked at the story of the tenant who woke up to find the estate agent showing people into her bedroom, that’s awful!

OP posts:
LakieLady · 03/06/2021 08:10

@DDiva

Well unless your hoong to.be following them.around the house ( very awkward) then I dont think there's much point in being there. It wont be a great environment to.concentrate on marking either.

As for a quiet place to.go, how about the local library........

Good luck with that!

Our library is only open a few hours most days, and closed completely one day pw. Even the main libraries in the 2 biggest towns in the county are closed one afternoon a week and only open 10-5.

Original poster
SachaStark · 03/06/2021 08:11

Going to continue to agree with Lakie Lady: I’m sure going to work in the public library would be lovely, but it only opens on Saturday mornings here.

OP posts:
TableFlowerss · 03/06/2021 08:13

I know it’s not your house, but even when someone owns the their house, they aren’t always home when the estate agent shows people round. The could be at work etc and they’re probably not going to take the day off for viewings.

The estate agents do this for a living, so know what to say to sell a property, more so than an owner, so some owners will just let them get on with it as they want their house sold so will do what it takes.

It’s different for you as you won’t benefit Ron the sale at all and so you see it as they’re putting you out, but most people have to go through this at some point in their lives, whether they rent or own.

Regarding your personal belongings, I understand it’s not ideal but its no different to having work done in your house with work an in etc….

Would I leave small valuable items about in view? No I wouldn’t, but they’re not going to rifling through your things. It’s a bit of an extreme way to take someone’s stuff. Bearing in mind the agent will be there.

You could request the agent not leave them at all? But owners often say, ‘go and have a look around yourself’ as people being there all the time in every room can be off putting.

sydenhamhiller · 03/06/2021 08:13

This is such an interesting thread. OH and I moved house in 2001 and 2006, and we were always in the house when potential buyers came round, as were owners of the properties we viewed.

The comments about feeling uncomfortable and not being able to say anything: never felt uncomfortable, and you’d just wait ‘til you
got in the car to make comments.

I have a very poor view of estate agents (no offence to any lovely estate agents on here, it may be a London thing) and wouldn’t trust them to do a great job/ answer any questions about schools/ stations/ council tax etc, that we used to get asked.

Hallyup6 · 03/06/2021 08:15

When we moved out of rented, when we sold our house and when we've viewed houses we were never offered the option of the estate agent showing round unless the house was empty. I thought it was entirely normal for the owner/tenants to be there. After all, surely they're the ones who know about the house much more than the estate agent?! I think it's entirely practical.

HaveringWavering · 03/06/2021 08:16

Why didn’t they arrange the viewings for term time when you’d be out at work?

lboogy · 03/06/2021 08:16

What do you have that is so valuable someone would take op?

For viewings I put our laptops under the mattress. My only jewellery I wear.

You don't have to leave but personally I would. Who wants to see a bunch of strangers and have to fake smilie or answer potential questions?

Why don't you go the library or work from your car? Or even visit family?

AbsolutelyPatsy · 03/06/2021 08:17

cant you go into school?
or a library?
is the weather ok for the garden?

AbsolutelyPatsy · 03/06/2021 08:18

it seems unnecessarily obstructive

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 03/06/2021 08:19

@lboogy

What do you have that is so valuable someone would take op?

For viewings I put our laptops under the mattress. My only jewellery I wear.

You don't have to leave but personally I would. Who wants to see a bunch of strangers and have to fake smilie or answer potential questions?

Why don't you go the library or work from your car? Or even visit family?

Work from her car? Are you for real?
reluctantbrit · 03/06/2021 08:19

We were in that position and had a row with the estate agent when he scheduled viewings and let the people just wander around the house.

The house was rented unfurnished and was sold, not rented out again. But people would open cupboards (not built in), drawers and moved things around. We agreed to be out but this viewing (like open house viewing) overrun and we met them hence knowing what they did.

Then there was the day when I. came home early from work and run into them just leaving from a viewing we weren't told about. One person actually lingered stil upstairs.

We then insisted. on being on side, I personally felt really odd having people in the house without me and not knowing what they were up to.