To say no to any more viewings?

[toastedcat]

I live in a rented house with my partner and new baby (four months old). We've bought a house and are renovating it; will be moving into it in two weeks time.

We gave the letting agency plenty of notice and arranged with them a day for them to do viewings. We left the house tidy and clean for them to take people round, and they had about seven people booked in.

They've increased the rent by £100 which I think is worth noting -- it's a tiny two bedroom house which definitely isn't ideal for a family. It's clear to see when you come in as we've got too much stuff crammed in.

Nobody signed up after that round, so we gave them access twice more. It's a huge inconvenience each time as I'm on mat leave and my husband wfh, and also it's hard enough keeping the place clean without having the pressure of viewings.

Nobody showed up to view the last two times they were booked in, so it was a wasted effort on cleaning and tidying all my son's baby stuff away.

AIBU to tell them we've had enough and they will have to arrange viewings after we've left?

Ignore Coco, in the real world allowing 3 open days is more than reasonable. I hate the whole landlord has to pay their mortgage argument. In no other industry are you expected to be inconvenienced so the owner has a new person lined up to pay for their asset. I would say no more now, pack at my leisure over the next two weeks and then leave the house in the state you found it. If the landlord can’t cover the mortgage for void periods that is their problem. That’s part of being a landlord. They can’t always have their cake and eat it. As long as you have paid your rent and not damaged the property, kept it clean and tidy, you’ve done your bit to be a good tenant.

Landlord here. You absolutely don't have to allow viewings, and by law you can refuse - so please do so! You sound like you have your hands full, I hope that the move goes really smoothly.

@CocoFifi You seem to have missed the bit where the OP is paying the landlord a large amount of money to occupy the house. That gives her both a moral and in fact a legal right to quiet enjoyment of the property. The landlord can do what he likes after she moves out. If he wants to show people round before then, perhaps he should 'live in the real world' and offer her compensation for the disturbance in the form of a rent reduction.

Seems like you think the landlord has the right to demand favours of the OP without offering anything in return.

Viewings are all part of the inconvenience of moving.
The inconvenience should be the landlords to bear though, they’re the ones who will benefit from it, not the tenants.

As a tenant and a human being you’ve been helpful and accommodating @toastedcat But it’s reached the point where you’re bending over backwards now. They can arrange for the rest of the viewings once you’ve moved out.

Just tell them you'll be packing so it won't be tidy and from now on if they want viewings before you move out it won't be tidy. Up to them if they still want to go ahead in those circumstances

I don't understand why people are saying you are unreasonable, you've already allowed a lot of viewings? It's not like you've allowed none at all, which would be legal to do.

Nobody signed up after that round, so we gave them access twice more. It's a huge inconvenience each time as I'm on mat leave and my husband wfh, and also it's hard enough keeping the place clean without having the pressure of viewings.
Nobody showed up to view the last two times they were booked in, so it was a wasted effort on cleaning and tidying all my son's baby stuff away.

Considering you're not obliged by law to allow viewings while you're living there, you've gone to a lot of trouble for them. I think it's fair that you say enough's enough now, as you've got packing to do and the final clean as well as looking after the baby. Point out to them it's in their best interest now to show it when it's looking better, after you've vacated they can spruce it up with a lick of paint or whatever.

I'm a professional landlord and I think you've been more than reasonable. Tell them no. If the place is small it'll probably look more attractive as a rental when empty anyway.

I think you've been accommodating given the circumstances. I would allow access again but do absolutely no preparation for it.

@CocoFifi older clearly doesn't equate to wiser in your case.

@CocoFifi

she doesn't have to allow ANY viewings, nor tidy up/go out. But she had for 3x 2.5 hours. They didn't have any viewing the 2nd & 3rd times!!

how the hell
is that 'having it all her way'??

she's been more than reasonable.

I don't know why you're deliberately being so weird, but 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Absolutely not to further viewings. You've got a four month old and enough going on prepping for your house move. They can wait two weeks.

I was a landlord for many years and I wouldn't ask this in your circumstances.

I think you've been more than reasonable with what you've offered so far. I would simply say no to any more viewings. This is the landlord's problem not yours and any good landlord should factor in a short void between tenancies anyway.

The lettings market is hot right now so if they price it right it will let straightaway. No need for you to be inconvenienced so they can try to get a bit better price for it.

Am also a ll, you are perfectly within your rights to refuse. If the rent were a decent price, it would have been snapped up on the first round. You have been more than accommodating and shouldn’t be expected to inconvenience yourself again for the ll’s greed.

Not weird, just believe in being accommodating.

@CocoFifi - there is being accommodating and there is being a doormat. The actual landlords on this thread have said the OP has been more than accommodating. Not sure why landlords as a group need your advocacy.

@Alaimo there is SO little available to rent, so baby things & packing boxes aren't going to put potential renters off.

@toastedcat I'd say yes, but you'll be there with the baby & loads of packing boxes. But if you just want to say 'no', then do that!

@CocoFifi

you'd think at your age, you'd have learnt not to be a patronising twat.

we all live in 'the real world', you are probably older than the OP, but you're certainly not wiser.

viewings are part of moving IF you're selling, they don't have to be if you're renting.

The landlord might/might not have a mortgage to pay. It's the Agents failure to find people who want to view it, none of this is the OP's problem. The agents wasted two viewing slots (5 hours available & not one viewing). It's the landlord/agents issue is for asking too much rent. Not the OP's fault.

she is entitled to say no
she has a very young baby
she's moving house.

she has every right to say 'no'. She's been more than reasonable!!

@CocoFifi

That's a generation thing. Girls were brought up to be people pleasers. Always put every one else first. In real life I'm not much better (I'm 53, so probably your age), the difference is I encourage younger women not to do this.

Cocofifi definitely has problems they’re projecting onto the OP 🧐

It’s not about putting other people first. It is about not putting barriers up. Yes it may be inconvenient, but it is not the end of the World. She has given notice, so surely only right and decent to accommodate viewings.

right

SHE HAS ACCOMMODATED VIEWINGS. THRICE

the agents WASTED HER TIME by not booking anyone

she has BETTER THINGS TO DO, including LOOKING AFTER HER BABY. You know, accommodating the needs of someone else.

get it?

There may be a clause in the contract saying that you must allow viewings but this is completely unenforceable due to your legal right to quiet enjoyment. Make sure you state this if the agent starts any of their nonsense.

@toastedcat it is a pain but you could just say ‘ok for Sat 2-5 and you must let me know by Friday last thing who’s coming as we will be packing oh and btw it will be a tip’ don’t go out and don’t tidy. Nobody will turn up, job done.

Totally this. A sales clause can allow viewings but I don't see why you should tidy, etc.

I waited until my tenant left as I knew it would unhinged her MH having people in the house.

I've viewed properties for sale with people still in bed, more than once, too. Life's rich tapestry!

I bought a flat with one room unvisited, as I hate disturbing people. 😁

I'm a landlord. I think you should say no if it's inconvenient for you, which it sounds like it is. It is your home until you have left.

I have paid two of my previous tenants to do viewings for me, both in person and a video walk round. I then did second viewings myself the day after they moved out. However if they had said no I certainly wouldn't have pushed it.