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.

Not sure why people are upset about the OP claiming she only gets around £800 a month UC.

The single person element for an under 25 is £292.11.
Each child born after April 2017 is £269.58.
There's a cap if 2 children after April 2017 so MAX anyone can get as a child element is £539.16.

OP doesn't state her age or the children's age, but that would come to £831.27.

She has a rent element which she gives to the landlord.

It's not impossible that a young single Mother on benefits would only get around £800.
If she had one child it would be £562 plus rent element.

Not helpful to the OP but still was worth mentioning to the other posters.

@Iwishicouldflyhigh just to clarify I didnt suddenly find the epc in the kitchen drawer, somebody commented stating I could find this information out myself online which I did.
The landlord hasnt given me a copy of this, nor the gas safety certificate.
I have emailed him 3 times and he has ignored each email requesting copies

@BookishBabe thank you, that breakdown is spot on

By continuing to live in a property she can’t afford and isn’t paying for, at his expense. It’s not that difficult.

I feel very sorry for you. I am now going to go through a few practical points:

• You have accepted that you are being evicted. Does allowing the estate agent access to the property (a) speed up that process or to (b) create tensions that may cause you problems? If the latter then let them in.
• Presumably the council are aware that you are about to be homeless and you are in the system for social housing if you can’t afford commercial rent rates.
• Who is on the tenancy agreement? Even if not paying, if your ex is named then he has liability too. Can you provide an address for them to claim from him?

Not true, I have had a property let through an agent without one, and without proper heating and hot water, all legal requirements.

the landlord is legally obliged to give you the deposit cert within a timeframe, and the accompanying leaflets. Then you sign and return it. If that has not happened, he hasn't;t complied with the law.

If you haven't been given a gas safety cert, the current eviction notice is invalid.

If you have asked for repairs that have not been completed, there may also be an invalidation issue there too. Please look at the Shelter link and call citizens advice.

The same applies to the LL. he can;t afford to be a landlord as he hasn't;t maintained the property to a standard expected and required by law. He is then asking his tenants to fund his lifestyle.

@caringcarer its not been let through an agency, I rented it direct from the landlord. He has instructed an estate agent to come and get current market values for the property

You really don't get it. She's paying what she can via UC. She can't just move out as she's not in the position to secure another rental. Its near impossible to get private rental on UC that's accepted from a landlord . And that's not over the LHA. If she leaves she will have made herself homless then she won't get any help via the council.

@Genevieva I wasnt being malicious when I said should I refuse entry, it was more so I was concerned about being here when they came because of my mental health. Only I am on the tenancy as the children's father has never lived at the property with me. We had a private arrangement which worked well, hes got his arse up about something so just using the maintenance as a form of punishment, I cant contact him about it because hes blocked me and just acts like a child.
I have been trying to get through to shelter this afternoon but not had any luck yet.

@Nomoremoves thank you for trying to explain it but I honestly wouldn't waste your breath.

I'm not deliberately not paying my rent! If I was I would be pocketing the housing element of my UC which I am NOT! I just cannot afford the £440 shortfall, it's not that hard to understand is it.

@LoverNotAFighter I know you weren’t being malicious. It must be a very stressful time for you.

I am sorry OP.
This is a horrible situation which the goverment just don't care about. I was in rented houses for over a decade. We had two good landlords out of 9. One even stalked us and we called the police. One LL had a criminal record for GBH. Another changed the alarm code so he could come in whilst we were out.
I actually think your home is illegal in terms of services and dangerous.
Try to contact the Richmond fellowship. They help people with mh issues and property distress.

@LoverNotAFighter Shelter have good online resources, but they don't offer the same oohone helpline they sued to and often its impossible to get through. I would read their site. Go to citizens advice if you want to speak with someone directly. The law is set out well on the Shelter site I linked to.

Nope it's not . If you was gonna take it may as well take the lot. There are some people who will never ever have to go through what you and others in a similar situation will have to. There are many people who will never ever understand or get it. Or understand the system

Jeez, Those electrics are a fucking disgrace!

Your landlord needs reporting to the council for failing to keep the property in a safe and habitable state.

Do not agree to their visit and do not let him or the agent come into your home. Let him take you to Court and take photos of the state of the place with you.

All the agents I deal with won't let house without all paperwork in order. Which dodgy agents do you deal with?

Very well known London agents I'm talking about. They're not dodgy and I am not in charge of selecting agents for landlords, I was the tenant. Agents will tell you all sorts you know. It isn't actually their responsibility to pass on paperwork or even protect the deposit unless thats what the landlord has asked them to do, to manage for them. It's not their responsibility to do gas certificates either, unless they're managing the property on behalf of the landlord.

I hope you're ok @LoverNotAFighter. I hope the posters foaming at mouth to have a go at you haven't upset you too much and you're able to get sorted and into new, safe accommodation with your children soon.

Me too.

YABU. Ever considered that the landlord may be having his own financial problems due to your failure to pay him rent he is fairly owed?

Should have taken out landlord insurance then. No sympathy.

I know nothing about LL insurance @Blossomtoes. Does it compensate a landlord if the tenant is partially paying the rent?
Genuine question.

What I mean is that I’m not being goady, I don’t know how it would function in this situation, iyswim.