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AIBU?

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Original poster

Partner very ill, agency won't rearrange flat viewings

86 replies

Cheesestring11 · 08/02/2022 07:22

We live in a rented flat, my partner is very unwell at the moment and bedbound, awaiting PCR result.

There were supposed to be a couple of viewings on our flat this afternoon as we're moving out, but I asked him if he me to try and postpone them and he said yes.

I told the agency but they didn't really seem to understand and said that they can't rearrange the viewings as it's inconvenient.

I do understand that and don't want to mess people around, but he's got a right to rest uninterrupted in the flat if he's unwell no?

OP posts:
billy1966 · 08/02/2022 08:48

CF's.

TELL them they are not happening as he is unwell and you will get back to them when they are convenient.

Hang up and do NOT answer the phone to them again.

CF's.

Hope your husband feels better soon.

Totalwasteofpaper · 08/02/2022 08:57

EA are dicks with stuff like this.
You CAN refuse these viewings though they make out you can't. Stay in the flat. When they turn up ppen the door and say loudly to the EA
"Like I said on the phone we have covid. I really don't recommend you come in"

No sane viewer would enter.

Simplelobsterhat · 08/02/2022 09:04

If he's told them he's awaiting pcr results, I think you should be all over local social media warning potential customers that this agency will knowingly take you into a house with someone with covid symptoms, or potential other contagious illness, completely breaking government rules. Indeed also that if they rent with them they can expect people nosing around when they are ill in bed! I'd want to know if I was a prospective tenant!

Cissyandflora · 08/02/2022 09:16

Don’t ask. Tell them. You are cancelling.

I’m in a rental. The landlord will soon want to arrange viewings to sell the house. I am going to refuse if I want to. She has been awful and I have realised my rights just from this board.

Tell them you are cancelling and will not be having viewings for the next two weeks minimum.

Seema002 · 08/02/2022 09:30

Just lock the door and ignore them. They were told and have no right to barge in.

GrendelsGrandma · 08/02/2022 09:37

I agree to tell them but do it by writing, eg email, so you have evidence of it.

Along the lines of 'after our phone chat when I told you my partner was ill and isolating awaiting a covid result, you said viewings would proceed anyway as it would be inconvenient to rearrange them. Unfortunately this is unacceptable in view of the disturbance of our quiet enjoyment of the flat and the health risk to you and the potential tenants. I will let you know when my partner is well enough for viewings to be rearranged.'

That way if they try any sneaky manoeuvres to boot you out or keep back deposit etc, your version of events is in writing.

Thewindwhispers · 08/02/2022 09:42

They don’t have aright to viewings. Tell them the viewings are cancelled and that if anyone turns up they won’t be allowed in.

Also point out that anyone who comes in will probably catch whatever DH has.

MorningStarling · 08/02/2022 09:44

As others have said, don't ASK them to rearrange, TELL them they will not be allowed entry today. You're not obliged to let them in. In theory your landlord could take you to court but the judge would throw the case out because it's perfectly reasonable for someone who is ill to need to isolate.

user1471538283 · 08/02/2022 09:45

Dear god managing agents never cease to amaze me. You could both have COVID!

I would tell them that they need to cancel. No rearranging until you are better and out of isolation. As we keep having to remind people, we are still in the middle of a pandemic!

Orchid876 · 08/02/2022 09:45

They need your permission to do viewings, and you're declining permission in this instance. That's the end of it really. It's you who decides, not them.

Orchid876 · 08/02/2022 09:47

And I have been in this position, an agent turned up unannounced with a potential tenant, no appointment. Why they wasted their time I don't know, as I didn't let them in.

TheApexOfMyLife · 08/02/2022 09:52

You are waiting for a PCR result right?

So your DH should be self isolating, unwell or not and no one should come into the house.

Just tell the agency that. DH is self isolating and we can’t have visitors in. Of any type.

Malbecfan · 08/02/2022 09:54

@user094746788 is incorrect.

Only a tenant or a court can end a tenancy. Yes, the LL can issue a S21 so-called no fault eviction notice but it is simply a notice to end the tenancy. The tenant does not need to comply until ordered to by a court, however, this will incur the legal costs of the LL. If the LL has failed to comply with any part of their legal duties such as protecting the deposit, GSC, issuing the prescribed information within the correct timelines, the court will just throw it out.

MrsSkylerWhite · 08/02/2022 09:57

Tell them you’re cancelling. If they won’t accept, tell viewers on doorstep that your partner is very unwell, potentially with Covid (and let them know you informed the agent).

OnlyAFleshWound · 08/02/2022 10:22

@Totalwasteofpaper

EA are dicks with stuff like this. You CAN refuse these viewings though they make out you can't. Stay in the flat. When they turn up ppen the door and say loudly to the EA "Like I said on the phone we have covid. I really don't recommend you come in"

No sane viewer would enter.

No. You don't 'not recommend' they come in. You don't let them in. For their sake as well as yours.
Somethingsnappy · 08/02/2022 10:38

@MorningStarling

As others have said, don't ASK them to rearrange, TELL them they will not be allowed entry today. You're not obliged to let them in. In theory your landlord could take you to court but the judge would throw the case out because it's perfectly reasonable for someone who is ill to need to isolate.
Why would they take them to court, when the law says they have the right to refuse entry?
WheelieBinPrincess · 08/02/2022 10:40

Why would it go anywhere near a court Confused

EricScrantona · 08/02/2022 10:45

I think it would actually be quite funny if they did turn up with a viewer and you opened the door saying, as stated we are awaiting covid tests. If I was the viewer I would be incredibly angry that I was put at risk and it gives an insight as to what the management would be like, possibly even some bad online reviews to cement how shit they are.

Boredandsingle · 08/02/2022 10:53

Agreee with all the above- don't ask- tell them there'll be no viewings - I had a similar situation with a Letting agents who wanted to attend with 12 hours notice- they pushed back, but eventually accepted they wouldn't be getting into the property

Polyputthekettleon · 08/02/2022 11:00

Call the agent and email them. Make sure you state in your email that your dh is awaiting a pcr test and that you are cancelling viewings today. Include in your email that you will be turning away any potential viewers who knock at your door and telling them that there is a patient who could be having Covid and the Managing Agents have already been notified of this. I hope your dh gets better soon Flowers

BuanoKubiamVej · 08/02/2022 11:24

You have the right to quiet enjoyment of your property and do not have to allow viewings at all.

When someone is isolating waiting for a PCR test and ill with covid symptons then no sane potential tenant will want to come in anyway. Put a notice on your door saying "Covid Positive do not come in" in case the agents ignore this and try to turn up anyway. Do not let them in. The can only legally enter without your permission if it is an emergency (e.g. water leak causing damage to other properties). This is not an emergency.

LittleGwyneth · 08/02/2022 11:25

Put the chain on the door, don't let them in. Send an email saying that if they aren't reasonable going forward you won't be facilitating any viewings at all.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 08/02/2022 11:34

@user094746788
You are incorrect. The only people who can end a tenancy is the tenant or a court.
A section 21 is just a notice from the landlord that they want you to leave but until you decide to leave or a court issues and eviction notice it means nothing.
Perhaps you should find out what the law is before posting misinformation

Viviennemary · 08/02/2022 11:40

I agree with putting a note on the door re Covid. Tell the agency you will report them for violation of Covid rules if they don't cancel.

Woeisnot · 08/02/2022 11:42

Our estate agents started taking the piss out of us so we declined all viewings in the end. They will be pushy because that’s their job but you just have to say no end of story. No asking.

It doesn’t matter what is put in your tenancy agreement. The law trumps that and you are legally entitled to quiet enjoyment of your own home.