Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want to show prospective buyers around my rented home?

69 replies

SoonToBeHomeless · 07/10/2009 22:58

When the agents (they are selling it as well as renting it to me) call to arrange a viewing they keep asking if I will be able to show the buyers round .

When they rang again yesterday to arrange a viewing, I said it would be fine but that I would be out. The woman said 'oh so you won't be there to show them round' and I said it is hardly of benefit to me to show people round when the outcome will be that I will get kicked out if they decide to buy it . Why should I spend my time doing the agents job??

AIBU to be cross or is this the done thing?

I don't want to move (again!!) and am a single mother with 3 kids (recently made redundant so on benefits) and now have the headache of trying to find a new place that will take HB, not having a deposit (as it could take up to 2 weeks for them to return the one I paid on this house) and am also bankrupt so I am unlikely to pass any credit scoring!!

OP posts:
notagrannyyet · 08/10/2009 08:49

I certainly woudn't aid sale.

Landlord should do the showing round or the estate agent. They are going to benefit after all.

Tillyscoutsmum · 08/10/2009 08:51

YANBU to not want to effectively do the agent's job for them but you do have to allow access with reasonable notice (quiet enjoyment does not override that).

I suspect the reason the Landlord hasn't served you notice is because he wants to keep his options open as to whether to sell it as a potential home for someone (in which case you will probably be served your 2 month's notice once he has agreed a sale) or to sell it to another Landlord as a buy to let with a tenant in situ. Obviously any sabotage attempts would well and truly fuck up the latter plan for him.......and more importantly you.

LoveBeingAMummy · 08/10/2009 08:58

there's an attachment to download re your rights and other places to get advice

itsmeolord · 08/10/2009 09:01

Sabotage is pointless, it would achieve nothing other than a difficult relationship between you and your landlord. Not a good thing if you need your deposit back as soon as possible.

The house is going to be sold, there is nothing you can do about it, get yourself on the housing list as another poster said so that you can make the application process as painless as possible.

You don't have to show people around, you can say no to the agent but as long as they give you fair notice of viewings you can't stop them showing people round.

ChilloHippi · 08/10/2009 09:01

I thought you had to allow access in the last two months (but only if you have notice/given notice) but not to show them around yourself.

TheFoosa · 08/10/2009 09:15

yanbu, but we once did view a house that had a tenent, he pointed out every single fault in the place

it really put us off, but the place was still sold so it was all a bit pointless

kreecherlivesupstairs · 08/10/2009 10:04

YANBU to not show people round, but, if you sabotage the house YABU. I read the title with fear, we are trying to sell our house with a tenant in at the moment, she has been given notice though (four months) to enable her to find somewhere else. If I thought she was doing something like cooking nastiness and making a mess I'd be pretty bloody cross.
Estate agents are lazy tossers, I am having great problems with ours. They are taking advantage of us living abroad to twat about.

NadiaWadia · 08/10/2009 10:43

All the people saying SoontobeHomeless HAS to allow viewings because its in her contract blah blah, sorry but you seem to be wrong ...

Check out these threads www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22924

www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22887

www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22081

The replies saying you are not forced to allow viewings are from experienced landlords so they hardly have an axe to grind!

Of course if he/she is determined to sell it will happen eventually, but in the meantime the point is that by allowing viewings you are doing them a favour and should get something back for it, and all viewings should be at the tenant's convenience.

Cicatrice · 08/10/2009 10:47

In the past I rented a flat that was put up for sale - we weren't obliged to agree to viewings until the last 4 weeks till the end of the lease. We went out and the estate agent had someone come round and do the viewing. I certainly was not prepared to save the estate agent money by showing people around myself.

Did tidy up before viewings though.

PfftTheMagicDragon · 08/10/2009 10:57

Check your tenancy agreement. Ours had in it that we had to allow viewings, but only in the last 6 weeks of the tenancy, so not until notice was given. Your landlord is of course trying not to end up out of pocket but they might not be entitled to have you lettig people in if they haven't given you notice.

BobbingForPeachys · 08/10/2009 11:02

We were asked to do this as well, we had chosen to move so did help when we could but on one particualr day we couldn't and said so- reason being our DS1 was being Baptiseed that morning and I would be finishing off the buffet etc and ready to run.

They turned up anyway, as I was covered in flour and about to go clean up and make a dash.

They didn't buy LOL- they did complain we weren't overly welcoming- thanks then

OP hope yu find somewhere you will be happy soon

BobbingForPeachys · 08/10/2009 11:03

Oh and there is a difference between allowing viewing- undestandable I suppose- and doing the job yurslef; a big difference

Toffeepopple · 08/10/2009 12:58

Am pretty sure most contract clauses that say you have to allow viewings usually only kick in once notice is served? And I think the agent should be there.

When I was a student I woke up late one morning because there was an agent and two viewers coming into in my bedroom!!!! We hadn't even been told the house was on the market - turned out the landlord's brother (they owned half each) had put it on and not told him.

The landlord agreed to waive the last two months rent in exchange for us keeping the place tidy and showing people round (and not being in bed! ) Also because he was embarrassed about the bedroom thing and it being the middle of exams.

katiestar · 08/10/2009 13:13

I bet the owner wouldn't be too happy about the situationn either.

Original poster
SoonToBeHomeless · 08/10/2009 13:57

FFS just actually read the tenancy agreement and it says 'to permit the LL or his agent within the LAST 28 DAYS of the tenancy to enter and view the property with prospective tenants or purchasers'. Cheeky bastards seeing as they have not even given me notice and my tenancy is now on a rolling month to month basis.

I will allow the 3 viewings they've arranged over the weekend but after that they can feck right off until they give me notice!!

OP posts:
NadiaWadia · 08/10/2009 14:35

Goodfor you!

But you do realise that this might mean they give you notice sooner than they would have done? (Don't forget it has to be 2 months from a rent day).

But I suppose in your case when you are served notice this will mean your Council can take you seriously and sort out some alternative accommodation for you.

expatinscotland · 08/10/2009 19:46

I wouldn't allow the viewings AT ALL. Who fucking cares if they arranged them? They had a copy of your tenancy agreement.

I'd very politely ring them and remind them that, in light of my tenancy agreement and as you are in breach of it, I will not allow viewings.

Please give me my notice and then we can arrange them per the agreement.

And END OF.

Because you need that notice to get points at the council.

And I'm hear to tell you, it's not a smooth or easy process as it is, why make it harder for yourself.

Sorry, but I wouldn't really give a damn what my landlord's circumstances are and why they're selling in your shoes. Not my problem! Mine is housing myself and the kids.

ABetaDad · 08/10/2009 19:50

SoonToBeHomeless - you have right to quiet enjoyment. You do not have to let them in. They have to come when you say and at your convenience.

You do not have to put up with this at all. I have been in this postion once and agreed 24 hours notice by email and all viewing between 9 - 5. Nothing after mid day on Saturday and nothing on Sunday.

Washersaurus · 08/10/2009 20:01

Like expat says, look out for yourself and your family - don't let them in if you don't have to. You can be polite and still assert your rights.

My old landlady expected daily access for contractors to redecorate our rented house so she could sell it. I said no way as DH and I were out at work all day, and she left it but made it hell when we moved out and tried every trick to keep our deposit.

bibbitybobbityCAT · 08/10/2009 20:10

Op - sorry you are going through this.

Why are you posting under a new name? Mumsnet generally is a sympathetic place, especially to situations such as yours, I don't understand why you are in disguise?

Anyway, I have experience of the procedures in this scenario. If the sequence of events is as you describe then you have grounds for complaint against the agents. Please cat me if you'd like my opinion on this.

expatinscotland · 08/10/2009 20:13

And there's no need at all to be nasty about it, just firm and insistent.

'I felt I should remind you that the tenancy agreement states that . . .

In light of that, I'm afraid I can't allow viewings at all until notice has been served and we are in the final 28 days of the agreement period.

I'm sure you'll understand and abide by the agreement.

Well, I'll be waiting for the notice to pop through the letterslot.

Bye!'

And then call Shelter. Get an appointment. If the agent calls back, just tell them you've sought advice concerning the matter and they need to abide by the agreement. 'So I'll be looking for the notice to drop through the box. Bye.'

Over and over again.

expatinscotland · 08/10/2009 20:15

As soon as the notice is in your hands, make an appointment with the homelessness office at your local council.

But I'd cancel this weekend because, well, why the hell not?

expatinscotland · 08/10/2009 20:15

If the agent just shows up, you can ask them to leave.

ABetaDad · 08/10/2009 20:15

SoonToBeHomeless - do not sabotage or make the house messy. That is wrong.

However, until you have been given notice do not agree to any visits at all.

Also watch out for agents just giving the key to a viewer for a 'quick look round' on their own. That happened to me once as well.

Estate agents have no idea what the law is for tenants - often sales are handled by inexperienced juniors who are not being managed or trained. They only care about the sale - not the tenant and the fact it is your home.

expatinscotland · 08/10/2009 20:19

OMG, seriously, ABeta?!

What did you do when the viewer just started coming in?