To not allow estate agent access

[LoverNotAFighter]

Hello, I posted yesterday for advice following an eviction and court summons.
I cant afford the rent of £950 anymore I'm a single parent on UC, I've built up rent arrears over 4 months because the amount ive been paying is the UC housing element which is £510, I tried to speak with the landlord that my children's dad doesnt contribute financially anymore and I couldn't afford the amount, anyway I've got to attend court 21st September.

This afternoon I've received an email from your move saying my landlord has asked them to come over to the house and value it for sales and rental values. What date and time is convenient for him to come over.

I dont feel comfortable with this as I'm a single parent and dont want my landlord turning up aswell.
Would I be unreasonable to say I dont feel comfortable with this and ask them to wait until I've vacated the property?
I'm trying my best to find alternative living arrangements but it's really not that easy.

Is there? Would you care to explain?

Perhaps you don’t notice it.
But what is wrong with a family member (rather than a ‘random’, which is a fairly derogatory way to refer to a person) collecting the rent?

Shelter, quick sharp! He can’t evict you if he hasn’t done a gas safety certificate, I believe or you can sue him for 3 times the deposit. You need to tell Shelter all the issues with the electrics/boiler. Unbelievably shit landlord.

Haven’t RTFT, just the first pages. I’d go out and let the estate agent visit then. Re. The eviction. It’s horrible, but the house is unaffordable for you and causing huge stress. Let him evict you and so the council can help you.

@Cherrysoup Yes, he’s a shit landlord, but the OP simply can’t afford to rent the property. How will that change if she stays?

Just to clarify as I don't think all posters are aware of the rules and I hope OP checks all the issues out with proper advice.

The LL can;t evict or issue section 21 without a valid gas certificate, a copy of which MUST be given to the tenant. He can also be prosecuted for renting a property without one.

I don't think the landlord can afford to maintain it either, clearly, as he is breaking the law all over the place.

Yes, it’s a bad situation, @Iwantcakeeveryday . But how will it change if the OP stays there?

Perhaps the LL will reduce the rent if she threatens to take him to court, but they won’t help with the maintenance issues.

*that

Racial where has that come from. As far as I know no one knows the race of the op or the landlord.

Environmental health and small claims will help with the maintenance issues. Staying there will help because every day is a day she isn't in temporary housing or some other worse situation. The state its in it sounds well overpriced.

There is now a law against revenge evictions so as the current section 21 looks to be invalid, she can then insist on repairs and he won't be able then to evict because revenge evictions following repair requests are also invalid.

Whatever happens, I hope it works out for her, @Iwantcakeeveryday . 🤞

Me too.

They’re not family members to the tenant. She doesn’t know them from Adam. Anyone you don’t know is a random, surely?

They are family members to the landlord, so no, I would neither class or refer to them as ‘randoms’.

the OP is clearly justifying why she isn’t paying rent.

if she genuinely can’t afford it, then that is one thing…. But then drip feeding that there’s no epc (there is), that she doesn’t ‘think’ there is a gas cert, she wasn’t given receipts etc is low in my opinion…. And at the same time, moaning that her landlord isn’t carrying out upgrades (ie the paving). Why should he?

repairs he should be doing, regardless of arrears. Not upgrades.

They are family members to the landlord, so no, I would neither class or refer to them as ‘randoms’.

I don’t know your family members so they’re all randoms to me. I know you’re beating the landlord’s drum as hard as you can but it’s not convincing.

This. He's not acting illegally asking a relative to collect the rent but I note a lot of LL hate on this thread.

RTFT. This LL has protected deposit in legal scheme and does have a ECP too. He has a gas safety certificate too. OP just couldn't find them in the beginning. She had them all the time just not to hand.

So what you are basically asking is can you refuse access to the person who actually owns the house, so they can get it valued, whilst expecting them to fund your lifestyle choice and pick up the shortfall in your rent.

You are be unreasonable, very much so.

Where does she say there’s a gas safety certificate?

How is she asking him to 'fund her lifestyle choice', please?

It's been let down though an agent. They won't let a property out without one.

The op isn't living their for free she is paying the UC housing allowance. The government needs to raise these amounts to a realistic amount.

By not paying the full amount of rent due and leaving him out of pocket.

The system sucks and you are doing everything you can. The government should be able to provide housing for people in need without forcing you to go through the stress of an eviction first.