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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:
KatherineJaneway · 03/06/2021 08:21

You don't need to inconvenience yourself, you're under no obligation to allow viewings at all.

This ^^

reluctantbrit · 03/06/2021 08:22

Just to add, our lovely LL had no idea about this, he actually insisted on making viewings only when one of us was there (unfortunately he didn't tell us) and kicked off a huge fuss with the Estate agent as well.

Henio · 03/06/2021 08:23

I've sold two houses and have always stayed home during viewings because one of my cats has to stay indoors. Never felt awkward, I found people wanted to ask me questions about the area/house. I've also showed people round myself when the estate agent couldn't get there etc so I don't see what the problem is with op staying home

Lalliella · 03/06/2021 08:26

If the LL is fine about it I don’t see the issue. EA is employed by LL so should fit in with what LL wants. If the EA is being a twat the LL could always use another EA!

LipstickLou · 03/06/2021 08:26

@reluctantbrit
We had this!
Free standing larder opened, TVs moved. EA brochures read and put back on the mantelpiece the wrong way (nosy sods) . I was tempted to get a Teddy cam but not legal. Sadly there will be many more tenant stories over the next few months. Just hope people are kind.

LakieLady · 03/06/2021 08:27

@agododopushpineapple

It’s really not that unusual for a tenant or owner to be in the house while viewings take place. Having a load of other buyers there is actually more awkward.
I'd have thought it was pretty commonplace atm, with so many people working from home.

Not sure that I'd want to be discussing a client's medical issues with them on the phone while some agent was showing people round though!

Lalliella · 03/06/2021 08:29

We had a vase broken in our house when EA was showing someone round and we weren’t there. Twat tried to blame our cats. Funny how they’d never broken anything before or since. Grrrrrr. 22 years ago and remembering it has made me cross again!

YANBU OP

TeachesOfPeaches · 03/06/2021 08:29

You can completely refuse viewings if you wish

RestrictedSection · 03/06/2021 08:29

When we bought our current house, all the houses we viewed that had tenants, the tenants stayed. As a buyer, it was actually helpful.

I didn’t find it awkward - the awkward thing about the home owner being there (which we also had) is that it’s their house and they obviously want you to buy it, so it’s awkward to criticise it in front of them. But as long as you’re making reasonably tactful comments about just the house itself (e.g. upstairs is single glazed, we’d probably want to replace the windows) tenants probably don’t care (and in many cases, probably agree).

It was also useful information. The couple who quietly watched TV in the living room and told is, “Just to confirm, we’ve bought a house and will be moving out in six weeks,” meant we’d have had no reservations offering on the rented house. The family that were clearly unhappy we were there and had made no effort to make the house presentable put us off though - not because of the state of the house (we still really liked it!) but because of the prospect of dealing with difficult tenants not wanting to leave. I can see why an EA wouldn’t like that though.

freeez · 03/06/2021 08:31

You're being generous to allow viewings at all, especially during a pandemic.

We rent and there's no way on earth I would be allowing people traipsing around my home touching things. It's not your house sale, it's of no benefit to you whatsoever. Forget what people say about you won't get a reference...if you've paid your rent and looked after the property you have nothing to worry about there.

I think landlords have a fucking cheek putting properties on the market that are tenanted

LakieLady · 03/06/2021 08:33

Surely it’s not that unfathomable that I might want to use normal working hours to work during half term?!

It might well to those people who think teachers knock off at home time and get 14 weeks off every year!

vera99 · 03/06/2021 08:37

I'm a homeowner but very much on the side of the tenants here. If the landlord wants something to their advantage and effectively chucking you out if the sale goes ahead then they should compensate you for the considerable hassle of accomodating their wishes. As others have said I have hated to do viewings with tenants in situ on previous purchases. It feels very wrong and a rubbing in the nose between the property-owning class and the increasing often rights less often younger generation tenants.

I would ask for the last month free and you will accommodate all viewings at will and make sure the place is tidy and presentable and without you in.

Thereareliterallynonamesleft · 03/06/2021 08:42

@Henio Same, we stayed in for every viewing when selling cos we have indoor cats, I didn’t want to put the responsibility on the EA to make sure they didn’t get out. I always sent my husband to the park with the kids though. Also, when we bought our first property and looked at various places that were currently rented, the tenants were almost always in (some didn’t bother to tidy and still had dirty knickers on the floor 🤢), it didn’t seem unusual to me, or off putting, apart from the knickers!

YellowFish12 · 03/06/2021 08:43

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

FYI you are not up for being a landlord. You can't think of it as your home. Detach.

Livelovebehappy · 03/06/2021 08:47

Op, absolutely stay home. The landlord is fine with it. You will just be sat there doing your own thing, so can’t see why it’s a problem. What if you don’t have anywhere to escape to? Are you supposed to sit on a park bench somewhere?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/06/2021 08:49

IMO LLs should wait until tenants have left before doing viewings.
As for expecting the inhabitants to make themselves scarce, IMO this is a colossal bloody cheek in the case of tenants.

If it were owners anxious to sell, that would be entirely different, and the EA should have the wit to appreciate that.

I say this as a LL myself.

muddyford · 03/06/2021 08:57

I had a house on the market but was away for a week. When I got back there was dried mud on the hall and sitting room carpet. I rang the EA and he said it had been wet that week...couldn't quite see the relevance as there was a wide drive and paved path from where they had parked, not 25 acres of ploughed field. EA appeared later with a can of Vanish carpet cleaner. We've usually left conducting viewings to the EA (paying them enough) but hung around in the garden or car.

Original poster
SachaStark · 03/06/2021 08:59

We’re not worried about a reference at all: we’ve secured another tenancy (with another friend, hoorah for knowing nice people who are also landlords!), and, like I said, LL is a good friend of ours.

DYING at the idea that I would go and work in my car for the afternoon 😂

I’m staying at home, LL is fine with it, and I can see from this thread that other tenants have done this before as well, though it’s been really interesting reading all the perspectives: I appreciate them.

OP posts:
Hockney236 · 03/06/2021 09:00

I’m never around for viewings, the estate agent doesn’t want me there and I don’t want to be there either. It’s not a good vibe to be looking around with the owner/tenant there

bewilderedhedgehog · 03/06/2021 09:03

another one who would suggest you stay in. While mostly positive experiences I also had an occasion where an agent walked straight in - no arrangement etc. I was asleep (not in bed) and thought someone was breaking in. He said well I'm sure it's not a problem - asked him to come back when an appointment had been made.

sar302 · 03/06/2021 09:09

If it's any consolation @SachaStark we were moving house (rented) when our son was 8 weeks old. We were getting ready to go for a nice walk down the river - let the letting agent do their thing - and at that moment my son filled not only his nappy, but a large portion of his baby grow.

The agent knocked and we let him in and explained the situation. So the prospective tenants wondered in to the most almighty stench. It filled the flat....

The best laid plans and all that Grin

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 03/06/2021 09:11

Perhaps place signs around stating things like;

No Stealing
Don't Touch My Stuff
Video Surveillance in Operation (a good one for the toilets and bathrooms)
Quiet Please
Please Turn Your Mobile Phone Off

Grin
Original poster
SachaStark · 03/06/2021 09:12

Oh dear, Sar, I’m sorry, but that has made me laugh!

Luckily, no 8 week olds here! I’ve changed the cat litter this morning though, and I suppose I shall try not to shit myself right before the potential buyers arrive 😁

OP posts:
Eviebeans · 03/06/2021 09:13

I'm surprised that nobody is phased by having loads of strangers going through the house as things stand wrt covid. These people are all likely to have viewed other places and inside a property its hard to socially distance.

LipstickLou · 03/06/2021 09:16

I think the op is in a good position. Ours was not. When I came home on time from walking the dog the EA asked me to sit in my car! I was undergoing treatment for a serious health problem and was vulnerable. If you are unlucky and have an aggressive LL you can doubt your rights. TBH I would have preferred to look at our new house empty as the tenant is the under bidder. That is difficult but we didn't know and they have now refused any more viewings. We have had to offer without seeing it again.