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?

Every time I’ve viewed a rental it has been empty.

About half I’ve viewed up for sale were also empty.

I think it depends whether you want to be a reasonable decent person, or deliberately make life harder for your landlord by being so awkward and selfish.

I think if it's inconvenient don't do it. If it isn't and is no skin off your no nose, there's no reason not to, unless your LL is an absolute bellend or you don't trust the estate agents not to mess with your stuff.

Legally you don't have to and there is literally no moral obligation to make your landlord's life easier either, but sometimes doing someone a favour is nice.

You are over thinking this. I went to two properties yesterday with tenants in, who are moving on over the next few months. They were cooking, laundry was hanging everywhere, they were using the toilets, carrying on as normal/if we weren’t there. It wasn’t about them and it’s not about you. It is a normal part of life to help keep the wheels of change moving, as I’m sure people have done/do for you. I found a wallet last week - found out where the old boy lived and dropped it off at his care home. Did I need to do that? Sometimes OP it’s just nice to be nice.

give the LL or agent set times you will allow viewings. Eg Tue 4-6 and sat 10-12 or whatever suits you and say no viewings at other times.

You’re not an “accidental” landlord. You made a reasoned and reasonable choice to rent out your property.

i would consider an accidental landlord to be someone who inherits or in some other way becomes responsible for a rental property which was previously owned by someone else. If they decide to continue letting it out, then they become simply a landlord.

And of course you make money on it. It's just capital not cash. Which is fine and how the system works, but you are not running a charity by renting it out.

I don’t think it’s comparable to returning someone’s lost wallet tbh. And I’m not against kindness/cooperation generally. I just think there’s a difference between voluntarily helping someone out occasionally and feeling expected to repeatedly open up your living space to strangers while you’re still actively living and packing there.

But it's not like you have to have it show house ready is it . So what if you have stuff around or boxes half packed , you are not trying to sell it or relet it . And really how long does a viewing take half hour maybe . And how many viewings , not more than 3 surely. So why be difficult just for the same of it . I see no point .

It is her home and her space for as long as she is paying rent for it.

Loss of rental income during void periods is part of being a landlord. I have factored that into my decisions to put properties on the market only after the tenant has left.

People who are selling their own home accept the inconvenience of viewings because it is their interests to do so. Tenants have no such motivation and they are not required to sacrifice their privacy to benefit their landlord.

It is literally her home.

Over 80% of buy to let mortgages are interest only. So they may well only be covering the interest rather than increasing ownership. However, over the long term there will (or has been to date) the benefit of the property increasing in value.

I have never asked a tenant to accept viewings whilst they're still in the property. I always like to get in, see what needs doing and ensure that I am showing the property at its best before viewings. Yes, it means that I have a void, but to me it's important to maintain the property properly and ensure I'm offering it at the standard I'd want to living in.

As others have said, even if it is in your contract, it’s not binding. It doesn’t override your statutory right to quiet enjoyment.

It is both your home and your space, contrary to what a pp has said.

The LLs phrase it as an expectation to make you think you can’t refuse.

If you do let them come at all it’s basically a favour you are doing them.

I wouldn’t allow viewings.

i don’t want people in the property, it doesn’t benefit me, im still paying rent and my right to quiet enjoyment overrides any ideas the landlord has.

I have been a landlord, a tenant and work in property industry.

I’ve never once asked my tenants to facilitate viewings on properties.

They’re paying for the property from the day they arrive until the day they leave. It’s their home.

Plus any decent landlord should be going in once the property is empty to check condition and do basic maintenance (and any upgrades) before having new people look around.

Any landlord who threatens a bad reference over viewings should be banned from being a landlord. Too many landlords thing various pieces of law don’t apply to them.

I have always made it clear to my tenants that while it is my house it is their home. Mutual respect is invaluable at such times. If the relationship has been a good one there should be no difficulty in making arrangements for viewings to suit you both.

If this is a quote from citizens advice they’re wrong.

there is absolutely no legal obligation to allow access aside from statutory checks

All landlords should understand the nature of the business which includes void periods and include it in their financial model. If they can’t get an ROI without including regular voids it’s a bad investment that’s their problem.

its a business, if they don’t understand the nature business thats also their problem.

with reward comes risk.

Legally it is if you are paying the rent, best all round just to let the landlord show people an empty flat, of course it is much harder to get tenants now and some councils are milking landlords for double council tax on empty property so no wonder many landlords want to bend the rules bit.

Something not mentioned upthread is that not all viewers are honest. Estate agents do not typically accompany prospective tenants from room to room, If there is more than one person then they cannot reasonably keep their eye on viewers 100% of the time. As a tenant I would require an up front signed letter from the agent or LL promiising to indemnify me for any damage to or theft of my property. I would also be asking for a either a rent reduction or a fee-per-view as I am providing a business service and have no intention of doing it unpaid. I am not a charity.

As long as their was a reasonable amount of advanced warning I'd try and acccomdate the request.

Obviously you don't have to but equally the landlord doesn't have to return your deposit in a timely manner. They could get into a dispute with OP for deducations for property damage etc that would delay the deposit return.

Ulimately OP should base it on the relationship with the landlord. If the landlord has responded promptly to broken utilities etc and has been pleasant throughout the tenancy I'd try and accommodate the requests. However, if the landlord has been unreliable, quick to increase rates and you suspect they might try and unfairly withhold a portion of the deposit then I would not allow any viewings.

No one viewing a house to rent is homeless, they are not that desperate.

Tenants have legal rights, and not having to accommodate multiple strangers entering their home, which they do not own, and are not selling, is one of them. Why would you criticise them for exercising this right?

I understand OP, I hate the intrusion of having strangers in my space. With my first flat I was accommodating with viewings and the estate agents took this to mean that they could pop round with next to no notice, they even turned up unannounced once and claimed they had made an appointment, I think they hoped we weren't there! Give estate agents any leeway and they take the piss.

With my subsequent homes I let the estate agents do a block of pre booked viewings on one day and the house was neat and tidy for them. If they asked for anything outside, it was a no. I would only do this for a good landlord.

The law is on your side OP, it may be thier house, but it is your home. It's something landlords have to deal with if they want to make money from a property.