Am Livid with Estate Agents !!!!!!

[Carmenere]

We live in a rented flat which unbeknownst to us our landlord has put on the market. We only found out when the estate agents (Townends) rang and said they were bringing people around to view . Ok so we got legal advice and we have to allow viewings within reason. Our tenancy is up in April and we had planned to move so we decided just to put up with it, landlord is obviously a rude w*nker for not contacting us regarding his plans.

So today there was a viewing booked for 3.30 and we have spent the day tidying up as for my own self respect I can't have strangers walking around our messy house. I hate house work and resent having to do it for the benefit of our rude landlord. I really resent the intrusion of our privacy particularly as we find it hard to get the exorbatant rent together.

Anyway today the phone rings and it was a different agent from Townends (her name is Ashley) asking to bring someone around on Saturday. Dp tells her no as we are going away for the weekend, he tells her to ring back on Monday to make another appointment, he tells her that we only want people to view once a week. She proceeds to be really aggressive and offensive saying things like 'well you don't own the place and unless you are going to buy it you have to let us around' Dp actually hung up on her. He is a very even tempered person but found her to be obnoxious.
So she phoned back and I answered and again she was really, really, agressive, insensitve and offensive. I agreed that she could bring people this day next week and I actually cried after I got off the phone with her.

The phone rang again and it was Natalie who was supposed to bring todays viewing, he never showed up . Dp told Natalie that we would under no circumstances allow Ashley into our home after the way she spoke to us. We are now going to find out who to complain to.

Can you not check the wording of your tenancy agreement to see if it provides you with any protection. This happened to me years ago now when the landlord was trying to sell. Our tenancy agreement had a clause in it for Landlord responsilibities which was worded something like....'can have pre-agreed access but must allow tenants quiet enjoyment of the property. This I interpreted for my benefit as not being disturbed by 'viewings' on weekends whcih essentially I described as my time to 'quietly enjoy' the property. As a result, we insisted that viewings were performed weekdays and during daytime hours only, i.e. no evenings, so that we personally wouldn't be disturbed whilst we were in the house.

Seem to work for us no matter how annoying the agents found it!

aargh ! on yoru behalf. Suspect that legally there isn't much you can do to limit viewings provided they give 24hours notice and are accompanied. Quite understand your frustration though as ours is on the market atm and keep having to tidy up, clean and get the kids sorted out in time (Saturday's is at 9.30am) but at least we have a vested interest in doing so. In your shoes I'd only do a very superficial tidy up job.

I already hate one girl at our estate agents who has given us very perfunctory feedback from viewers as "needing too much work for the money" and told us we should consider reducing the price as a result - she hasn't even met us or seen the place to know whether their comments are valid and the asking price was in the middle of the range suggested by 2 of their staff !

Personally, I think I'd be inclined to change the lock so that they cannot gain access when you are not there ... if questioned say that you lost your keys and had to have the locks changed.

I don't know whether you are allowed to do that or not.

I would put complaint in writing stressing what access you will allow and how much notice. Put it in legal terms. Send it to managing director of company and copy in Landlord.

It just seems so unfair that we have to pay £700 per month and have to allow them access with just 24hrs notice. I'm a sahm so no time is really convenient also dp wouldn't allow anyone to come in if we weren't there. I have said that I don't mind them having viewings for a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon. I think that is reasonable considering that there are no benefits for us. Dp says that if we get anymore attitude from Townends we will just refuse all viewings and they can serve us with a notice to quit which would take 2 months.
The whole subject just makes me really upset because I know it is just rented but it is still our home.

That's the other thing Twiglet, the landlord gave them keys to our home I'm really not comfortable with that.

change your locks and profess innocence if they turn up when you're not in

insist they come when there's someone in

don't get round to giving them a copy

What does your tenancy agreement have to say about it? If nothing, then, as far as I am aware, your landlord has a right to access to carry out repairs or to empty fuel slot machines. A landlord can also enter to inspect for any necessary repairs, but should always ask for your permission and give at least 24 hours notice.

I think you are perfectly within your rights to stipulate set times for viewings.

Carmanere, I understand that Landlord's have to serve tenants with two months' notice that they intend on putting the property on the market. It is then normal practice to give tenants at least 24 hours notice (ideally in writing) that they (the estate agent and potential purchaser) intend to view the property, however, YOU CAN most certainly stipulate that you will want to be in the property whilst viewings take place. Inform the agents AND landlord of this, in writing and keep copies. Remind them that although you do not own the property it is still your home. I wouldn't change the locks if I were you, well not unless you intend to vacate quickly as they may serve you notice to quit. HTH