Estate agents in the wrong? Evicted tenants organising surveyor?!

[Movingmumof3]

Hi everyone - looking for some advice from the perspective of a family being evicted from their rented home.

Long post, sorry in advance!

Bit of background, family of 5 moved into rented home 2 years ago now via letting agents. 18 month tenancy which moved into rolling in March 2023. Initially when we met the landlord, he told us he was hoping we would be in here long term which was perfect. 17 months into tenancy we were advised that landlord decided to put house market as he wanted to build an extension on his house in Australia - this came as a complete blow after hoping we’d be here for longer than this.

Various sporadic viewings which we always accommodated apart from twice when we were actually on holiday but estate agents hounded us on both holidays to try and schedule the viewings whilst we were not there which we did not allow. One of the agents in particular has been exceptionally rude on many occasions and physically brought me to tears multiple times and genuinely ruined my holidays if I’m being honest.

An offer was finally accepted in August and we were served notice which gave us until 4th November, we’ve found alternate accommodation and pick up keys next week so we are in the process of trying to pack up ready for the move.

Now this is where I reach the AIBU part, after everything we feel we’ve already dealt with, not heard anything from the Estate Agents since being served notice. Now the rude agent is again hounding us advising that we ourselves need to contact and arrange the surveyor appointment for the sale, now I know that our availability needs to be taken into account BUT to physically have to arrange the whole thing as the tenants being evicted feels very unreasonable and I’m not sure how to respond - would my deposit be at risk if I don’t give into their demands on us?

I’m not saying I wouldn’t allow the surveyor in just that I don’t feel I should be the one to organise it when DH and I both work full time, 3 kids and trying to pack/organise a move.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I have been in this situation but preferred things like that to be done while I wasn’t there. You have made it difficult for them to accommodate viewings so they don’t want to risk the same thing happening with the surveyor. Why not just let them arrange it for when you’re not home. A surveyor isn’t going to be interested in your furniture or tidiness.

Just go back and say the surveyor can come anytime after 4th November and as you won’t be there they will have to arrange

Any if the EA kicks of just do a formal complaint on them to the agency

They can wait until the family that are being evicted has moved out. It's their home.

They have no obligation at all to allow viewings or surveys. It's their home

Diddums.

@BlurredEdges of course they can. The op says she doesn't have a problem with it though. If that's the case just fucking do it. If she doesn't want to, fine 🤷‍♀️

It just sounds like she hates the estate agent and is digging her heels in to be awkward. I mean she can do what she wants. But let's not pretend sending an email to the surveyors is any more hassle than sending an email to the estate agent.

It seems to me that you have been more than accommodating. And no, they cannot deduct anything from your deposit for whatever it is they are alleging.

To put your mind at rest, and to put your concerns on record, call your deposit scheme and seek their advice on how to handle the situation.

And then put it out of your mind and focus on getting packed up.

not allowing viewings while on holiday does not equate to being difficult.

op wasn’t even obligated to let them show the house until the tenancy ended.

given their attitude, I’d be inclined to just stop cooperating at this point and tell them to schedule the survey for after you move out. If you don’t want to take that approach, I would give them at most 3 dates that are acceptable and tell them to schedule it. However, when you give them the dates, be clear you are only keeping them open for a set amount of time, perhaps 5 business days, and after that if nothing is set they are revoked. Otherwise they may just leave you unconfirmed until the last minute.

I got a bit stuck at the bit when you said that an agent calling you to arrange a visit had you in tears and ruined your holiday. And I can absolutely see why he is telling you to arrange it with the surveyor yourself - what is the point of him asking you, then asking the surveyor, then back to you etc. I cannot see your problem. You seem incredibly difficult to deal with! Of course you don't have to allow anyone in, but if this is the case, then tell them, and there is no confusion.

I appreciate all of the responses, even the ones that are clearly painting me out to be awkward for the sake of it, which I’m not and I haven’t been.

Being on holiday is the only time we have not accommodated them, even allowing same day viewings in some cases.

If you’re saying that me telling them they cannot carry out viewings while I am physically in a different country is me being difficult then I would love to see how many of you would enjoy people having free reign in your home whilst you’re not there, then to tell them you’re not okay with that, you’ll schedule when you get home and could they please not contact you whilst away…to then still be constantly contacted via email and phone calls to arrange more viewings on dates you’ve already told them you’re away.

Yes, I cried multiple times and yes the harassment and reality of eviction being shoved down my throat every day of my holiday ruined it - But not once was I rude or stroppy with them. I would love to see how all of those of you making me out to be awkward would feel given all of this.

Ugh. The EA is being lazy and really annoying. I think I'd drop them an email, copying in the LL if you have contact details for them, saying something along the lines of:

I understand you would like to arrange a survey of the property we are currently renting. l will be available to accommodate this survey on DATES, alternatively, please feel free to pass on my contact details to the Surveyor and they can confirm a time and date with me directly. Please do not contact me again regarding this matter, I will not be getting in touch with the Surveyor on behalf of the person buying my current rental, as it is not my job.

I'm really sorry they intruded on your holiday, I'd have hated that too.

@sodthesodoff wow you sound delightful. I didn’t come here for your respect thankfully just some opinions which you have given and I’ve said I’m grateful for even though you have no idea of who I am as a person but seem to think you do. You fail to see that actually it’s the EA who has been nothing but awkward, I’ve been accommodating as much as reasonable possible until this point and wondering how much more of the EA’s job I need to do for them.

Who wouldn’t be concerned about potentially losing a £2000+ deposit given the current times, anyone who didn’t have this as a valid concern clearly has less issues than most normal families at the moment. And I did say I was worried about the deposit, when did I not say that?

I am aware that some people come on here just for an argument as you obviously have but please don’t feel that you attempting to judge me personally when all you had to do was give your initial opinion on a situation rather than me as a person affects me in any way.

Have a lovely weekend.

@Movingmumof3 haha. Case proved.

Never thought I'd feel sorry for an estate agent but there's a first time for everything

Enjoy!

Oh and here's the bit where you're asking about the deposit

HTH

@sodthesodoff thats literally what I said, that I am concerned about the deposit because who wouldn’t be? Yet you said ‘if I’d just said that you’d have more respect for me’…but I did say that.

Are you ok?

@FuckingHellAdele perfectly fine thanks

Just the op says she's fine to allow access but won't do anything about it

She should just be honest. Say she hates them. Doesn't want to help them. But will this affect her deposit

That's the question she should have asked.

Not the pity party crying on holiday.

Yanbu

I'm a landlord and I think they're being CFs expecting you to do this. When we eventually sell up we'll only start the process once the property is empty.

You're not being unreasonable and it's not a reason to keep your deposit. Sorry they're treating you so badly.

Ignore the twatty poster OP. They’re just attention seeking as per my deleted post.

Fact is you won’t lose your deposit by refusing access to your HOME. Your deposit is legally protected and the EA can’t refuse to repay it.

I’d also email the EA and tell them that they can book a survey after you have legally vacated the property and to stop harassing you otherwise you will take them to court.

You should go back and read the OP, sod, that is literally what the OP asked:

would my deposit be at risk if I don’t give into their demands on us?

Thanks @justasoul and by giving into their demands I mean organising the survey, not physically letting them in.

I have since given the EA a selection of dates they can attend yet they’re still insisting I do the leg work and organise directly with the surveyors?!