To refuse viewings once I’ve given notice

[WryJadeWren]

Once I’ve given notice, I’ve always felt that my time and space should be mine.

In the final weeks I’m usually packing, organising a move, working and trying to keep life ticking over. Having people come in and out for viewings feels disruptive and stressful, especially when it’s framed as an expectation rather than a request.

My view has always been that landlords or agents are free to show the property once it’s empty, on their own time but that I’m not obliged to facilitate viewings while I’m still living there.

AIBU?

Is there anything in your rental agreement that states you should allow reasonable requests for viewing? If not, then you have every right to refuse viewings

YANBU but sometimes allowing early viewings can be a lever you can use re your actual move out date etc. Have you already got a definite date for your new place? It also depends on whether your landlord has treated you fairly. Why be awkward just for the sake of it?

That’s pretty much my view too tbh. If there’s a contractual clause about reasonable access then obviously that changes the practical position somewhat, but even then I still think there’s a balance between “reasonable” and effectively expecting tenants to live around constant disruption while packing up their lives.

Even if there is a contractual clause it doesn't override your statutory rights.

YANBU

Have they been a good LL?

That’s fair tbh and I do think context matters.
If a landlord has been reasonable and there’s mutual flexibility/consideration then obviously people are often more willing to cooperate. My issue is more when it’s treated as an automatic entitlement rather than a discussion with someone who is still actively living there.

I think YABU.

It is inherently not your home or your space.

I think if it’s good LL offering a couple of half day viewings to suit you is a kind gesture. It also depends if you’ve agreed to a video tour.

Most LL should need to clean and decorate in between anyway.

If you're saying no just for the sake of it it seems like you're being difficult out of spite to be honest.

If they have been an awful landlord then fair enough but if they've always been pleasant to you then it's not exactly a hardship.

Mixed tbh. But even aside from whether a landlord is “good” or “bad,” I still think it’s understandable that some tenants don’t want repeated viewings while they’re still actively living/packing/working there.

Doesn’t matter if the contract has such a provision - the contract doesn’t trump law.

So OP is well within her rights to refuse viewings.

The legal position depends entirely on what the terms of the rental agreement say. Having said that it isn't clear what penalty they could impose as you are leaving anyway.

Legally you have no obligation for allowing viewings, even if it’s in your contract.

You know the legal position and your position as regards deposit and any other outstanding things to resolve with your landlord, so taking that into account YANBU to do what you think best.

You don’t have to but I always have.

The law says that you don't have to.

But do you need a good reference from your current landlord?

If so you might want to be a bit flexible and maybe allow viewings once a week because your current landlord might be petty and give any further landlord a reference including the fact that you refused to allow viewings which might put them off.

It doe not.

The rental contract cannot override the law.

The tenant has the right to quiet enjoyment of the property she is paying for until the last day or her tenancy and does not have to allow viewings.

I do understand the practical side of that tbh.
At the same time, I also think it’s a bit uncomfortable if tenants feel pressured into sacrificing privacy/boundaries out of fear of retaliatory references rather than genuine mutual agreement.

I do think it's worth taking into account what kind of landlord you have. I'm an accidental landlord with only one flat. We've kept it only to have a chance of affording if our children want to study in London or take poorly paid starter positions/internships. We try to treat our tenants impeccably because when they leave, we have to cover the bills and mortgage until new tenants move in. Having someone stay for years is so valuable to us. Yes, we are enormously fortunate to be in a position to even contemplate keeping our old flat when we left London, but we make absolutely nothing on it. The rent just covers the mortgage and tax. That is increasingly the position good small time landlords are in. We would never want to make the last weeks in the flat hellish for our tenants, but having as small a gap as possible before the new tenants move in is the difference between having to put the rent up and not. As a system, both landlords and tenants will benefit from treating one another with thought and respect.

Is it in your contract? Usually a contract will state that a tenant must allow viewings. As you would if you were selling your own house. It's just the way the world works. If you were trying to sell your house, would you refuse viewings until you'd moved out? I doubt it. Sorry YABU!

The rent is paying the mortgage which is increasing your ownership of a London property. How can you say you are making nothing on it.

I actually think there’s a meaningful difference between an owner choosing to market/sell their own property for their own benefit
and a tenant being expected to repeatedly accommodate viewings in a home they’re still actively living in. And even where contracts mention reasonable access, I still think “reasonable” should include consideration for the fact someone is packing, working, stressed, moving etc rather than assuming unlimited availability.

There is no such thing as an accidental landlord. You don’t have to keep the flat, you have chosen to.

And I say that as an “accidental” landlord myself.

This is wrong, her contract doesn't override the law, and the law says she doesn't have to allow viewings.

This is exactly why we sold a property we were letting out. Absolute minefield being a landlord now. We had good tenants and very bad ones (30,000 worth of damage bad). I wouldn't do it again that's for sure, and we were good landlords treating the house as if we lived in it.