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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New Tenants Coming Around

160 replies

Belladonna90 · 21/09/2023 15:26

Not sure if it’s the stress of moving that has made me feel extra sensitive and unreasonable… so please give me a steer!
DP and I are moving into our first home together in two weeks. I’ve given notice on my rental and estate agency did a day of viewings and new tenants have been found. Estate Agent got in touch to see whether new tenants can come around on Saturday to take measurements for their furniture. Feel slightly annoyed by this as I’m in the midst of packing and there are random piles/ boxes everywhere and last thing I want is strangers manouvering around my stuff. The new tenants also know that I’m still living in the property and it’s not empty. Am I being AIBU if I refuse? Thanks all 💕

OP posts:
Womencanlift · 22/09/2023 13:06

For the renters who are firm in not working with the landlord/EA, I wonder how many deposit deductions are made on things that may have just been overlooked in situations like this

Being petty and also goodwill works both ways

The time where I want to stay on the landlords good side is the time when I am just about to get my deposit back

SomeCatFromJapan · 22/09/2023 13:07

For the renters who are firm in not working with the landlord/EA, I wonder how many deposit deductions are made on things that may have just been overlooked in situations like this

Not many since the introduction of the deposit protection scheme, I wouldn't have thought. We did need to keep our tenants' deposit but we had to provide very thorough evidence justifying it.

NoSquirrels · 22/09/2023 13:12

Womencanlift · 22/09/2023 13:06

For the renters who are firm in not working with the landlord/EA, I wonder how many deposit deductions are made on things that may have just been overlooked in situations like this

Being petty and also goodwill works both ways

The time where I want to stay on the landlords good side is the time when I am just about to get my deposit back

Pretty hard for landlords to keep a deposit nowadays. If any LL tried to deduct for things that could be overlooked, they’d likely be challenged/dispute it and the deposit schemes err on the side of the tenant.

I do think goodwill goes both ways (having been both a tenant and a landlord) but in this instance the outgoing tenant really doesn’t need to accept any viewings at all but allowed a day to show tenants round so the LL doesn’t have a void period. They’ve done their goodwill bit already. The letting agent should leave them alone now.

SomeCatFromJapan · 22/09/2023 13:15

I do think goodwill goes both ways (having been both a tenant and a landlord) but in this instance the outgoing tenant really doesn’t need to accept any viewings at all but allowed a day to show tenants round so the LL doesn’t have a void period. They’ve done their goodwill bit already. The letting agent should leave them alone now.

Having also been both tenant and landlord I agree with you. The tenant doesn't have to allow viewings but the OP has done so. She's been generous enough with her time and home already.

GigiGrey · 22/09/2023 13:18

I've been in this position and honestly didn't mind. If this is their first property they might need to buy furniture etc. and knowing whether it's going to fit before you actually move in is helpful. They won't care about your mess/boxes. This is the last time you'll have to put up with anyone reminding you that your home doesn't actually belong to you.

Original poster
Belladonna90 · 22/09/2023 13:26

Again thanks everyone so much on how you would approach this. The biggest inconvenience for me is the fact that the estate agency don’t have a key so I have to be at there to let them in which is hard to arrange during working hours. I allowed them two days to conduct viewings even ensuring I had fresh flowers in vases so it looked as presentable as possible! When I got home after the second day of viewing I noticed kitchen cabinet doors were opened and my fridge was not fully closed which means prospective tenants had opened these. I don’t know maybe it’s just me but I would never of dreamed of opening cabinets if tenants were living in situ especially a fridge! My annoyance is that when I explicitly said no that she came back again.

OP posts:
Legale · 22/09/2023 13:30

@Womencanlift DP and I rented a property before buying. We eventually refused viewings altogether after the estate agent trying to force them at short notice and being rude if we said no (but gave plenty alternative times), and one instance of an agent and a couple walking in for an unexpected viewing while I was watching TV on my day off. Resulted in some extremely choice words to the estate agent office and a serious complaint, still received 100% of our deposit back with no issues.

Greenshake · 22/09/2023 13:35

SirCharlesRainier · 22/09/2023 10:07

No it's not part and parcel at all. The law is the law, and OP is entitled to refuse entry to whoever she likes until the tenancy ends. The new tenants ANBU to ask, and some might argue that it would be nice of OP to say yes, but she's decided not to and that's that.

Edited
Show quote history

Is this the way you speak to people in ‘real’ life? I hope not. Nobody is disputing the law. The question posed was not a legal one. Honestly, no need for the tone.

MNetcurtains · 22/09/2023 13:44

OlizraWiteomQua · 22/09/2023 09:31

Absolutely say no. You have every right to quiet enjoyment of your home right up to the day you move out. You are stressed enough and have been kind enough already to facilitate viewings so that your landlord has no large gap between tenants (you didn't have to do that).

If the landlord was any good at all they would have scheduled a couple of weeks gap between you moving out and the new tenants moving in, in order to assess any wear-and-tear issues that need replacing/repairing/refurbishment (nb wear and tear is not something that comes out of your deposit) which would mean the new tenants had plenty of time for measurements then. The fact that this isn't happening should be ringing a large alarm bell - this landlord will be of the type that does everything they can think of to retain your deposit. Make sure you allow time for cleaning in your plan for move-out day and take lots of photos of the state you leave the place in.

If I was a landlord, I wouldn't particularly want to lose a couple of weeks rent between tenants.

FrippEnos · 22/09/2023 14:07

MNetcurtains · 22/09/2023 13:44

If I was a landlord, I wouldn't particularly want to lose a couple of weeks rent between tenants.

Show quote history

And that is why I have taken pictures of the state of the some of the properties that I have rented.
The Landlord may have deducted money as the place has been left in a disgusting state but then they don't spend any money sending in a cleaning company.

Wouldyouguess · 22/09/2023 14:10

I would be annoyed if I was not let in, if their moving in date is straight after when you leave then they do want to sort out the furniture before.
Ofc you can refuse, but imagine if it was you unable to access a place where you will be moving in shortly.

SomeCatFromJapan · 22/09/2023 14:15

Ofc you can refuse, but imagine if it was you unable to access a place where you will be moving in shortly.

That's pretty normal when you're renting. It's also normal to have vacant periods between tenants, the landlord has been lucky that OP has been so accommodating.

DoubleTequilaSunrise · 22/09/2023 14:23

They are not BU or out of order, it's a normal request. It makes sense to measure to order items to be delivered on moving day, especially if they have booked time off from work anyway. Nothing wrong with making your life as easy as possible.

You are not BU to refuse if it's not convenient, you have the right to quiet enjoyment.

The EA is just being pushy, they often are, but it's better when you don't give them a spare set of keys!

Teentrauma · 22/09/2023 14:33

LoudAndSqueaky · 22/09/2023 01:04

I'd happily let them in. It's nice to be friendly and helpful to people.

They won't care if it's messy.

There are so many mean spirited people on Mumsnet.

I would too. There's a lot of mean spirited people around generally these days sadly. Just suggest a few times that work for you, I'm sure they won't be there long.

WallaceinAnderland · 22/09/2023 14:36

It's so rude to ask again if a person has said no. I think I would just reply 'I've said no. Please respect my boundaries' and leave it at that.

NoSquirrels · 22/09/2023 14:38

I feel like half the replies on this thread are from people who’ve never rented.

tootyflooty · 22/09/2023 14:40

They definetly won't be only 10 minutes, ( I used to work in an estate agents), as a compromise if you feel you want to accomodate them then suggest a time and day that is convienient for you. Failing that surely there will be some grace period after you move out before the new tenant move in that they will have the opportunity to look round again.

Original poster
Belladonna90 · 22/09/2023 14:48

Thanks again everyone for your opinions on this! I haven’t replied to the EA. I see she ‘CC her manger in the email earlier where I said no and she came back saying it would only take 10minutes.

OP posts:
SomeCatFromJapan · 22/09/2023 14:53

I feel like half the replies on this thread are from people who’ve never rented.

I think there's also an element of looking down on renters, so for them to have any boundaries or expect to enjoy their rights as tenants as enshrined in law is considered as them getting dreadfully big for their boots.

It's actually often landlords pointing out that the tenants are being reasonable.

WallaceinAnderland · 22/09/2023 14:54

I've rented 3 properties and bought 4. I have never asked to have to access prior to vacant possession. It's really not necessary.

DoubleTequilaSunrise · 22/09/2023 15:02

NoSquirrels · 22/09/2023 14:38

I feel like half the replies on this thread are from people who’ve never rented.

especially in the UK, there can't be that many people who could afford to buy their first home straight from Uni or the day they left their parents house!

Wouldyouguess · 22/09/2023 15:04

WallaceinAnderland · 22/09/2023 14:54

I've rented 3 properties and bought 4. I have never asked to have to access prior to vacant possession. It's really not necessary.

For some it is. My moving in date to my house (bought, empty) was also the last day of my tenancy (rented, and it was fornished so I was only leaving with my stuff)). I had to buy the furniture before moving in and if I was unable to buy them efore, I would have nothing for a few weeks (sofa took 3 weeks from being ordered, so was the bed). I could not afford paying both the mortgage and the rent. If you personally were either wealthy enough to be able to both or moved with your own furniture and didnt care of they fot or not, than good for you.

SomeCatFromJapan · 22/09/2023 15:08

@Wouldyouguess you'd expect vendors to be a bit more accommodating though as they want the sale to go through. Expecting a tenant who is still occupying the premises to bend over backwards is a lot cheekier.

Anyway it's not the end of the world having a delay in furnishing. When we returned to the UK from working abroad we were a couple of weeks ahead of our stuff. We lived out of suitcases and slept on an airbed for a bit, it wasn't a biggie.

NoSquirrels · 22/09/2023 15:09

DoubleTequilaSunrise · 22/09/2023 15:02

especially in the UK, there can't be that many people who could afford to buy their first home straight from Uni or the day they left their parents house!

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Pretty sure there’s a lot of people who haven’t rented in years and years then, and have no idea of the law and tenancy agreement terms. Everyone here saying ‘be nice’ etc or ‘imagine if it was you’ - most renters just don’t get to go back for ‘measuring up’, it’s not a thing. What’s more usual is that a property is shown to tenants when it’s already vacant. The LL sucks up the inconvenience (and cost) of the void period - not expects the outgoing tenant to do them a favour.

The OP really owes nobody anything and it’s not about whether they’re ‘nice’ or not.

NoSquirrels · 22/09/2023 15:11

What happens when you’re buying a property is very very different to what happens when you’re renting a property.

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