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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To refuse any viewings?

87 replies

CityHigh · 23/02/2022 11:47

We are due to hand in our minimum two months notice on our flat soon and we are thinking about refusing all viewings but not sure IWABU.

When we made an offer of rent on the flat we had to fill in a form asking if there was anything work we wanted doing/anything changing. We said yes and made our offer based on the blinds in the living room being fixed. It wasn’t completely broken upon viewing but the fix was clearly temporary and you have to reach right up to the top and manually handle it open and closed as opposed to just pulling a toggle like the rest of our blinds IYSWIM. We were told that this would be fixed before we moved in. We wouldn’t have accepted the offer if they couldn’t agree to this.

We moved in and blind was not fixed. This wouldn’t be a problem, only a minor inconvenience if I wasn’t disabled. This means that if I’m home I either have to sit in with it closed all day (I WFH) or DP has to open it before he goes to work which isn’t ideal either as we are ground floor and windows go across the front of our flat ground to ceiling.

I have emailed, called, chased up throughout the tenancy and have been told ‘contractors have been called’ but nothing has been done. It probably is only a minor thing, but they knew our offer was based on this being fixed and that’s what has annoyed us so much.

Secondly, our neighbours are horrific. This is the main reason we are leaving. We have lodged a council complaint and gone down that path as they are aggressive, bang on peoples doors, have parties of about 50 people and music until the next day. We have the same estate agent as them and we have tried to go through them but they have replied to one email and then ignored. We know they have the power to evict and give them warnings as it’s in the tenancy agreement but instead they have ignored it and our life has been hell since they moved in six months ago.

Our landlord sold our flat one month after we moved in. We allowed them in for valuations, to make the floor plan and other things but then they started to take the piss and try and book viewings (when we were only one month into our tenancy) so we said no and we were then hounded by the estate agent.

Our tenancy agreement says we have to allow viewings in the final two months of us living here but I know that our legal entitlement to a quiet life trumps that and we don’t have to let them in at all. So, AIBU to say no on the basis that they have been less than helpful to us so why should we help them? I would usually try to be helpful in this situation but feel like they’ve done nothing for us.

OP posts:

Fayekrista · 23/02/2022 13:02

As long as its not going to affect a new tenancy for you elsewhere (references etc) personally I'd make it as bloody stressful & difficult as I possibly could!

Original poster

CityHigh · 23/02/2022 13:11

@Tryingtokeepgoing

Well obviously you don’t have to allow viewings. But, do you expect to be able to view other flats so you can move? If you do then I do think you are being unreasonable. If you are limiting yourself to seeing vacant properties only, then that’s fine. Though there don’t tend to be many of those, and the ones that are are vacant for a reason…

We have honestly actually never viewed a property that was tenanted in all of the times we have moved. I think the only times I have viewed a tenanted property was when I was a student. The majority of them up are untenanted. Our current one was vacant for 4 months before we moved in. The one we are moving in to was also empty.

OP posts:

saleorbouy · 23/02/2022 14:02

Send some dates and times that suit you for viewings to the EA, that way you are meeting your obligations in the contract but also not being inconvenienced by numerous viewings. Explain that you WFH so other times are not suitable.
They could show prospective tenants around in small groups to get sufficient volumes in.

NumberTheory · 23/02/2022 14:25

@CityHigh

Please can you clarify this? I’m pretty sure that is illegal. What actually happened?

When our flat went up for sale they contacted us asking for access and there was a few things they needed to do over multiple different visits. I said no problem and gave them a few different times I was available over a two week period. I told them to stick to these because I WFH and deal with sensitive info and needed to make sure I wasn’t in a meeting/stuff was away.

The first couple of times they came on the given dates but one day I’d been out and when I came back there was four people in the flat, taking photos for advertising. I was mortified because it wasn’t within the times I’d given them and I hadn’t cleaned and my dirty underwear was on the floor!! When I raised this with them they said because they had my written confirmation to enter they didn’t need to give 24 hours notice and I couldn’t give set times they could just enter? They then tried to start viewings when selling so I told them under no certain terms to enter at all.

So if I said they could have viewings under a 4 hour period on a Friday could I do that or could they enter at any times? I know that I can refuse viewings but not sure about once I give them permission? I would be happy to do it at select times but if they have lied to me and gained access by lying I won’t be letting them in at all!!

I wouldn’t allow viewings regardless of anything else because of this.

They lied to you about what they are allowed to do here. It’s not the case that if you say - you can come at x time - that they are allowed to then come whenever they like. They can’t be trusted and therefore you should not trust them.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable about the other issues either, but honestly I think the above is more serious. How could you live comfortably in your home knowing they felt entitled to just turn up because you’d agreed to something totally different?

ChristmasFluff · 23/02/2022 14:33

I'd allow viewings and be sure to be there for the, to tell prospecitive tenants about the noisy neighbour problems, the lack of responsiveness of management, and the difficulties in getting things fixed.

NumberTheory · 23/02/2022 14:34

Also, I might drag things out a bit. If they email asking for viewing times, respond to the email (at least 2 days later) asking what they are doing about the noise complaint. Or whether they think they ought to sort the broken blind out first. Don’t mention the viewing times at all. Maybe say things like “It’s not a good idea to look around while their are still 6 month old maintenance issues”.

I would also consider changing the barrel on your door lock for the last 2 months as I wouldn’t trust estate agents like that not to come in anyway.
We once had an estate agent (Foxtons) show us round an apartment that turned out to have a Dr asleep (because she was on night shift). Agent mumbled a half hearted apology about having phoned and got no reply so thought they must be out! Dr was refreshingly blunt and took the key off him. We told the agent we didn’t want to rent from them if that’s the way they treated tenants. Your agents sound like these and I wouldn’t trust them at all.

Bookworm20 · 23/02/2022 14:56

When they were doing the measuring up for selling I told them a few times I was available between and I came home one day to find 4 estate agents in my flats taking photos! Outside of the times I gave them.

Based on this, I'd say to them no viewings at all unless you specifically agree to it when they have asked. If they do not get a reply from you with regards to a potential viewing, they are not to go ahead with it.

As they abused this before when you gave them a set time period, just say that. They abused it previously so you will not be doing that again. So each viewing they request they run past you first and you agree or disagree depending on whether its convenient to you.

I've had the same thing with estate agents. I was away one weekend and had bad phone signal. When I got signal again they had called and left me a message saying they had a viewing booked for saturday am and to contact them it that WAS NOT convenient. I didn't get the message. They took people round my home without me knowing. I was livid.
After that I said if I do not give express permission they are not to do a viewing.
It happened again, only this time I DID hear the message they left. same thing - if we don't hear from you we'll show them round. Except I waited in and when they came to the door I told them I had not given permission - as per our agreement so no, they could not come in.
I felt bad for the couple coming to view, but not my problem the estate agent was a lying twat.
After that I told them no viewings at all and made sure the front door was bolted from inside when I was out and used the backdoor (which the agent didn't have a key for)

Realitydawning98 · 23/02/2022 15:27

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

TheChronicalTales · 23/02/2022 15:38

OP, I know it must be upsetting having to live with horrific neighbours and having broken blinds but I think you have much bigger issues here. The estate agent lied to you. They do not have the right to access your flat because you gave them certain times. I would not let them in because they have proven themselves to be liars. I would actually also change the locks for the remaining time you’re living there.

Polly2345 · 23/02/2022 15:58

Might you need to use the same Estate Agent again in the future? That would be the only reason I might also viewings in your situation.

If you do allow viewings def don't go out of your way to tidy unless you would do anyway

Original poster

CityHigh · 23/02/2022 15:58

Thank you for all of your help. I can’t believe they lied to me! I will be refusing any viewings based on the fact they lied to me previously and I don’t trust them I wonder if getting a small camera might help? I found some pet cams for £30 on Argos. If I catch them in the flat is there anything I can do?

I didn’t even think to mention that in my OP because they genuinely convinced me that I was the one in the wrong and I had accidentally given permission for them to enter at any time they wanted. There were four men in the flat and it made me feel really uncomfortable and I didn’t even get an apology. I told them to delete any photos they had taken. I withdrew permission for them to be allowed in and as far as I know they didn’t come back but they kept harassing me with emails.

When I hand my notice in I will be telling them why I won’t be allowing viewings but will focus on that rather than the other issues. Just to reiterate again about the blinds though. I stated that if I wasn’t disabled it would be a minor inconvenience but to be reliant on someone for something as simple as opening and closing the blinds and not being able to look outside if someone doesn’t open them for me is embarrassing. As a disabled person there are many things in life that I can’t access, or have trouble accessing. Simply opening the blinds in my own home should not be one of them. It would be an easy enough fix for them to do as they have on site contractors, instead of leaving it unsafe where even my 6ft 2 DP has to stand on a chair to open them.

OP posts:

Original poster

CityHigh · 23/02/2022 16:01

@Polly2345

Might you need to use the same Estate Agent again in the future? That would be the only reason I might also viewings in your situation.

If you do allow viewings def don't go out of your way to tidy unless you would do anyway

That could be an issue as it looks like they are country wide with offices everywhere. We have moved outside of the city centre and are not with them for the new tenancy we have signed and it is looking unlikely we will live central again so if we did use them it wouldn’t be with the same office. Unless they could black mark us somehow? That would be the only concern?

Does anyone know if they can contact our new landlord and tell them we refused viewings? We have already signed and been accepted on our new tenancy/paid our deposit but we did have to pass our current estate agents details over.

OP posts:

Pandai · 23/02/2022 16:09

I'd allow viewings, not for the landlords sake but due to the state of the housing market there might be people wanting to view who have been waiting ages for something to come up- it just adds time onto the process for them waiting until you move out to view. Also bitterness and 'revenge' doesn't help anyone.

user1471538283 · 23/02/2022 16:23

Either refuse or let them have viewings whilst your neighbors are playing up!

bluebell34567 · 23/02/2022 16:23

@CityHigh

So if we were to allow viewings would we be okay with saying like between 2-6 on Mondays or Fridays? Or do we have to give them full access at all times?

They said because I said they could come in they could come in at any time, which is why we said they couldn’t come in anymore after that. Is this not correct?!

thats just horrible op.

bluebell34567 · 23/02/2022 16:28

@PuppyMonkey

Tell them you’re unable to allow viewings as there’d be no point because viewers wouldn’t be able to see anything due to your blinds being stuck.

roarfeckingroarr · 23/02/2022 16:38

She's being unreasonable because it's a shitty thing to do to the landlord

Ohwowhoho · 23/02/2022 16:43

@roarfeckingroarr

She's being unreasonable because it's a shitty thing to do to the landlord

The landlord is an investor who owns almost 500 flats. Somehow I think he’ll be fine.

bluebell34567 · 23/02/2022 16:44

i dont think they would. in case they do you can tell new landlord what they did to you regarding viewings.

Ohwowhoho · 23/02/2022 16:45

@roarfeckingroarr

She's being unreasonable because it's a shitty thing to do to the landlord

Also I think the landlord has been shitty by making a disabled persons life considerably harder. Maybe they should have thought that actions have consequences. Letting themselves in to the flat without OPs permission was also a shitty thing to do. If anyone has been shitty here it wasn’t the OP.

throughtheair · 23/02/2022 16:54

Seeings as you are already ending the tenancy and therefore have nothing to lose in terms of relationship, I would be refusing all viewings. Regardless of what it might say in your tenancy agreement, you do not have to allow access for anything other than emergencies.

I would also change the locks as they have form for turning up. Just change them back when you leave.

This is YOUR home until the tenancy ends and you do not have to accommodate the landlord here. Let them market it once it's vacant, they're just being greedy by not waiting.

OhItsSpicyy · 23/02/2022 17:02

Absolutely not after those updates. Sounds horrific.

Tabitha005 · 23/02/2022 17:25

The only reason I'd allow viewings in your situation is to let prospective tenants know about the nightmare neighbours. Clearly, the agent doesn't give a toss about you and your needs as a tenant, so screw them.

Large-scale foreign ownership of British housing stock should be fucking outlawed... but that's another rant for another time.

SuziePorterrr · 23/02/2022 17:42

Is it a council flat? That’s what you get with the council in exchange for cheap rent I’m afraid.

Original poster

CityHigh · 23/02/2022 17:53

@SuziePorterrr

Is it a council flat? That’s what you get with the council in exchange for cheap rent I’m afraid.

Not council, privately rented. Not cheap either! We pay £1500 for a two bed flat (outside of London) so for the price we expected better.

We looked around at a few different ones but decided on this one because it is fully managed by a private building management company including concierge and nighttime security guard. All rented flats are managed by the same estate agent who actually has an office on the grounds. The estate agent told us they deal with complains properly and have a full strike and complain procedure. We chose this flat as we thought it would be ideal after having troublesome neighbours in the past but we haven’t even been given the opportunity to try and raise a complaint as they won’t reply to any correspondence.

We’ve now gone for a house that’s almost half the price. Not that price matters anyway because everyone should be able use their home without troublesome neighbours or coming home to four random men in your living room!

OP posts:

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