To be fed up with estate agent viewings

[OneAmberHedgehog]

I handed in my two months notice on my private rent and my landlord asked I I would be happy for her to go ahead with viewings whilst im still at the property as she wants to re let the day after I leave. I said ok providing I know in advance as to not make plans for that day and tidy up ect as the place is a mess due to packing. I agree to a Saturday two weeks prior and waited in the whole day and for only 1 person to show up. They wasn't interested in the property so the estate agents are trying to arrange more viewings and called me at 3pm asking if someone could view at 5pm that same day but I was out so wasn't possible and so I said I could do another day which the person couldn't make. The estate agent then asked me if I could do the Saturday and im going on holiday on Sunday so politely said no sorry it's not convenient. He didn't seem to happy and asked if I would be ok with them doing viewings in my absence and I said no I wouldn't feel comfortable as all my belongings there. He then replied well that doesn't give us long then really does it if you're away for two weeks. I agreed that I would agree to viewings once im back, 3 weeks before I move out. Im trying to pack and re decorate my new property and im finding it all a bit stressful. Am I being unreasonable in thinking its stressful and ive tried to accommodate them and its a bit of a piss take and they don't seem to appreciate my time and privacy.

Then just say no. You aren't obliged to facilitate any viewings at all

It’s not work, so say no. You’ve already got a new place so it’s not like she can try and ruin you with terrible revenge references or anything like that. Tell them no more viewings.

Looks like your LL is not intending to allow time for a clean up and refurbishment between tenancies which is pretty penny pinching and shady. However that's not your business to worry about. You need to look after your own interests.

As other PP have stated you are not obliged to facilitate viewings. You are trying to pack and having to tidy up for random viewers and show people round is an extra service you did not sign up for. Regardless of what it says in your lease your lease does not trump common law and the principle of "quiet enjoyment" to which you are entitled. No lease ever says anything about financial compensation for these extra services. If you do decide on further viewings make sure you get something back as compensation. Either a rent reduction or an agreed admin charge per visit for your time.

Have your landlords been good to you? If so, I'd allow viewings when you're away but to make sure they know you won't be tidying for them.

No don't allow viewings when your away. What if any of your possessions gets lost stolen or broken. Will the agent provide full recompense? Regardless of how "good" your LL has been its a business contract. You paid the LL for her services and now the contract has come to en end. For extras there has to be something in it tor both parties. If you are going to do the estate agents work then you make a charge for your time. Simples.

The landlord didn’t do the OP any favours. She rented out a flat and the OP paid for it. Stop acting like tenants owe their landlord something. They’ve paid their rent and taken care of the property. They owe nothing more.

You do not allow strangers to wander through your home when you’re on holiday just because a landlord rented out a flat to you. The estate agents are working for the landlord, not OP and will not care about ensuring OP’s belongings aren’t stolen.

I would just tell them if they keep having a attitude they can wait till you move out. You owe them nothing.

The landlord didn’t do the OP any favours. She rented out a flat and the OP paid for it. Stop acting like tenants owe their landlord something. They’ve paid their rent and taken care of the property. They owe nothing more.

Renters act like its a hierarchical social arrangement. FFS its a business contract, not the bloody feudal system. As for the agent, these slimy gits act for the LL. They are employees. They are not your parents or your manager and have no authority over you. Block their number until the day you hand in your keys.

I had an estate agent leave my property unlocked more than once (I was the landlord - but I only looked for new tenants once existing ones were out and I'd done any pending maintenance/redecorating)

I really wouldn't let them view while you're away (and I'd leave an internet camera on so you can see if they sneak in)

Just refuse further viewings. We recently moved out of a rental and said no to all viewings. The agent was a little annoyed but the right to refuse is there for a good reason.

The agent can be as annoyed as they like. Remind them of their place as an employee of the person with whom you are in business.

Say no , the phrase you need is “ quiet enjoyment” which is what tenants are entitled to.

And do remember to take lots of photos of the flat before you finally hand back the keys because if your landlord is planning on letting out again immediately they aren’t planning on paying out for a deep clean or any re decorating and you don’t want them claiming they had to lose rental income because the flat was “not ready” to relet.

And of course take meter readings.

I’d say no more til I’m back just block the guys number tbh

I was being hassled post c section for them to do viewings in our rental (we were moving when my new baby was 4 weeks old to our new flat)

I gave them 2 time slots to do the viewings - one when I was out at the midwife a few days after the birth and one when we went to register the birth - the. Guy kept calling me and texting with other times - I just wanted to be in my bed - I was in pain/had my new baby, was trying to establish breast feeding was sitting around topless half the time - no way were viewings happening while I was there

I just blocked him and said leave me alone on my last contact

I can never understand people who behave as though they were in some formal hierarchical relationship with the party who rents them a property. Its a business relationship. One provides a service and the other receives it. Sometimes the housing provider employs a middle man to manage the property because they can't be bothered themselves. To manage the property - not the tenants.

There is one set of people - the old landed aristocracy - who were the original "landed lords" under the feudal system, Then there is another set who own no land but still have the effrontery to call themselves ";landlords" (rather than property owner or housing provider) in the 21st century. This latter bunch of wankers wonder why they are hated when they behave as though they were some kind of Lord and people continue to accord them that status.

Your LL should wait until you’re finally gone to do viewings. I say this as a LL hmyself.
While still there you are legally entitled to ‘quiet enjoyment’ of the property, which does not include random people traipsing around it, or being harassed and pestered by estate agents.

Just be careful, because you might have problems with your deposit over the tiniest things. We were renting a property and, when we gave notice to move out after buying a place, we allowed viewings but limited them because it was during Covid and we had a newborn.
Long story short, the landlord got so pissed off that he tried to keep part of our deposit even though we hadn’t damaged a thing. We challenged it through the deposit scheme, but I honestly felt like they barely read the case and just went 50/50. So we ended up having to pay 50% of what he was asking for.
It was only £150, so not a huge amount, but still annoying as hell!!!

You're not really obliged to allow viewings whilst still living in the property. A private rental I lived in years ago the new landlord decided to sell whilst I still lived in the house, my previous landlord gave his ex wife the house in their divorce. She listed it for sale and I had her estate agent arranging viewings and sending potential buyers by themselves expecting me to do the viewings for them!!! I ended up refusing any more unless the agent was accompanying the viewers as I didn't feel comfortable having strangers coming into my home where I lived with my kids I was a single parent to 3 kids the youngest being under a year old. Landlord kicked off saying I was purposely sabotaging her sales

Why do you have to be there? Just let the agent show it. You also don’t have to have it super tidy. Or, if you are fed up, just say no more viewings til you leave. You don’t have to allow them, even if your lease says you do - it’s the law.

No you're not being unreasonable but I would say you are being abit awkward depending on the context. If your landlord has been a good landlord and is someone who relies on the rent to pay a mortgage then try and help them out abit to get it sorted. Despite what most people seem to think most private landlords are not millionaires with huge portfolios but just normal people trying to make ends meet. Generally what goes around comes around and one day you might need the assistance of someone else to get something you need.