To not allow viewings during our tenancy?

[endcityspawner]

First off I’m gonna say I’ve ready previous threads, the housing act 1988 and done extensive research which says that they cannot go against common law. We’ve rang the estate agents and opposed to viewings this weekend mainly because it’s such a faff. We move out in less than a month, stuff is everywhere as you can imagine. We have an 18 month old toddler, dog, my partner works full time and I’m disabled. They have told us that they will be entering on the weekend because it’s in our contract we must permit viewings. Everything I’ve read says that’s absolute bollocks, yes the landlord can enter with 24hrs notice but that doesn’t extend to strangers coming into our home. It may be their house but it is still our home. They won’t budge on even when they’ll hold the viewings. Been told that because we’ve asked to either cancel this weekend our landlord is “really really not happy” and to expect a call. As far as I’m aware what they’re doing is illegal but what do I even do when they say they’re entering for viewings whether we like it or not?

People who have no understanding of Landord and Tenant law, and no respect for Tenant’s rights have no business being in the rental market. And are complete arseholes when they are.

Did you view where you were moving to?

If tenants don’t allow viewings, the landlord will have a void, I.e. loss of rent.

Which they will have to recoup somehow.…. So they will put up the rent.

The reasonable thing to do would be to agree a mutually convenient 2-3 hours one day for open house (rather than individual viewings).

Yes, it’s a reno. It was bought and has been completely stripped, no previous tenants.

LOL

If they insist on coming to view after you've declined, I'd politely and calmly tell them that the place will be a mess, they wont be allowed in certain rooms, and if youre asked any questions you'll let viewers know about the dodgy boiler etc. Or, they can come visit at such and such a time when the whole family will be out. Up to them.

They should build that into their business model. And decent landlords do.

Just don’t let them in. Simple

@endcityspawner You are correct even if the contract had a viewings clause.

They cannot force an entry unless there is a real danger to life and limb.

I would inform them that you will call the police if they attempt to enter.

Lock doors and windows keeping keys in door will prevent entry.

TBH i doubt they would see this through since that would be embarrassing to a potential buyer.

ignore posters talking nonsense.

You don’t have to allow viewings. The first house we
bought was tenanted and the tenant refused to allow the bank’s surveyor in. There was nothing us, the owner or the estate agent could do about it. Annoying, but it was her right, so we had to wait until she vacated the property.

As a tenant, my preference was to make the property look great and sing its praises if I was in. It was usually snapped up on the first or second viewing, so I didn’t have to be inconvenienced again.

It's up to you what works best, but you don’t have to allow viewings.

Most decent landlords understand they may have a void period - it's part and parcel of renting. I think you need a formal letter. 'Dear agent, We received your notification that you would like to arrange viewings of the property. Unfortunately, we're not in a position to accommodate this.' Then you cite your right to quiet enjoyment. I wouldn't give details of your disability etc., although I totally see why those things mean you wouldn't feel up to viewings. I'd keep it really polite and act as if they just asked for something, and you are just saying a polite no.

That said, they may turn out to be arseholes, and that's your risk to take. IME, actually, most landlords or agents who try it on know they're trying it on, and do back down if you are polite and calm about saying no.

You probably do also want to make sure you are in the house (and maybe leave the key in the lock from the inside, so they can't just wander in - a thing I hate about renting is when agents just let themselves in!).

They can give 24hrs notice but you can counter with a more suitable time - just do that - say this weekend not suitable but you can do next weekend at X.

tell them if they enter without your permission it’s trespassing and a criminal matter and you will be logging such an act with local police.

Lock the front door and put the chain across as they are obviously just going to try and let themselves in. Shut the curtains and ignore them at the door

What’s the point in doing all that when you won’t let people in to view it?

You want your deposit back when you move out, but sod the poor landlord trying to sell it.

We were trying to sell a rental property when we were buying a bigger family home. Our tenants were being awkward and refusing viewings and we lost out on our dream home.

We weren’t loaded landlords with a property portfolio, I had kept my first flat as it wouldn’t sell during the 2008 credit crunch. Then decided to finally sell it in order to buy a bigger family home. We needed to sell the flat in order to buy the house.

Can you not have one weekend of disruption and leave the house for a 20 minute viewing? Go for a walk with your dog and child? Tell your husband ‘I know you do shift work and you’re tired but I’m keen to get the deposit back, so let’s try and be helpful, reasonable people and let the landlord do viewings this weekend?’

Hi all, OP’s partner here.

I’ve spoken to 3 different estate agents from this company and have got no further than where I was when leaving for work at 6am this morning 😂

Ive told them we have a rescue dog that is fearful of new people, we have been instructed to put him in the garden. When I explained he would panic more being locked outside (as he never is usually) while strangers wander around inside his house, I was told to take him on a walk. Unsure how I will manage waking from a night shift to then take a 25kg dog and 18 month toddler for a walk.. for 1 and a half hours 😂😂

much like my partner has said I am not opposed to viewing a whilst we live there, just not this weekend. They have an answer for everything I say and I’m at a complete loss.

I’d be inclined to just leave it not looking very desirable. Messy, half packed boxes etc. I did this (not deliberately) - the estate agent turned up twice with viewers with no warning so I hadn’t cleaned up, plus it was a tiny flat and we had a lot of stuff so it wasn’t particularly neat. Plus there was mould on the walls which I’d raised with them and they’d done nothing about. After a few viewings the estate agent said they’d had feedback from viewers that the place wasn’t tidy and it was hard to see the space cos of all our stuff. I said we still lived there and wouldn’t be moving anything out. They stopped the viewings!

I fear you haven’t read, lmfao.

we are doing deep cleaning for when we move out so we get our deposit back. We are not against viewings, just not 3 weeks prior to moving out.

to add, I mean this with the most sincere respect, the landlords financial situation or whatever else it may be (ref. your dream home comment) is none of our business. Sure it is nice to be nice to anyone yet as OP explained they’ve done just shy of nothing for us. We complained about the boiler many times, after being told by said landlord when moving in it would be replaced, nothing. I don’t see why we should go that extra mile for their benefit when we have received zero benefit to date in return.

Why be so bloody awkward?? What’s the big deal? Just have half hour of disruption and let them do viewings so you can move on to another property and the LL can sell theirs.

Moving is stressful, why make it so awkward for people? I hate this assumption that every LL is a money grabbing bastard.

The OP wants to move out, get their deposit back and THEN allow the LL to do viewings. But they will then be paying a mortgage (likely) on an empty property. So they’re out of pocket and having stress but OP has moved on without any disruption. Why be so bloody difficult?

@MoveoverdarlinAllowing viewings has nothing to do with the deposit. That will be assessed once the OP has left and can’t be used as punishment for not allowing viewings

20 minutes is very different to the couple of hours we’ve been told to be out 🥲 We don’t move until September so the point of doing all that is so that we secure our deposit and the house is returned to how we found it.

It’s not half an hour, it’s a couple of hours. Unfortunately it’s not up to me to accommodate for the landlords loss of earnings!

You are being quite awkward IMHO. I think you should allow some viewings at a mutually convenient time.

Landlords do not get to financially penalise people that are paying for use of their properties by withholding deposits if their tenants refuse to do them a favour!!

Despite the fact that their landlord is asking them for a favour (inconveniencing the OP for the landlord's sole benefit), they are not being 'helpful and reasonable' by insisting that they will break into the OP's home against their express permission, so why on earth should the OP put themselves out because they are being threatened in their own home?!

It’s an hour and a half, that may to some only be a short time but for us that most days is all we have to pack our things. We have an incredibly long list of things to do before we move out and trust me every minute counts. We are relying on our deposit back and want to utilise the time we have until we leave, is that too much to wish for? Especially when we’re under zero obligation to let the viewings go ahead other than it being the ‘kind’ thing to do.