Not sure where to post, landlady is sending agent over to photo the house...

[Marne]

Whilst we are starting to move. The agent phoned today to say they would be comming on monday to photo the house so it can be advetised. We have lived here for 5 years and a few things will need doing before its ready to let to someone else, we explained this to the land lady (kitchen needs some work as it still has the original units which are around 15 years old, floor need new lino down ect..), we have just started packing so the house is full of boxes and the contents of the loft is filling up our bedroom, dd2 is sleeping in the sitting room (bed in the sitting room).

How the hell are they going to take photo's and why are they taking photo's before the land lady has checked the house? I'm so anoyed because i now have to try and make the rooms tidy so they can take photo's. I explained the situation to the agent and she seems to think the land lady is mad trying to rent it straight out after it has been lived in for 5 years as work will need doing.

Sorry for the rant, i'm just angry that they cant wait a few more days so we can move some boxes to the new house, we have payed rent until the 3rd of october. Can i refuse to let them in to do photo's?

Whatever you do, don't knock yourself out trying to get it tidy - just let them in to take the photos and if they don't show the property as the landlady would like it, that's just her tough luck - she can't dictate where you have all your stuff.

They've given you notice so I assume you have to let them come. Have they expressly said you need to tidy? If not I'd just leave it as it is, it's their problem if they're trying to market it while it's looking lived-in and not at it's best. You don't need to particularly concern yourself with whether or not the photos are going to be flattering, that's the job of the landlord/agent, and if they're happy to take the photos while it's messy (as you've advised) then leave them to it.

Hang on, you are just the tenant?

If the landlady wants to photograph the house with all your boxes etc in it, surely that's her lookout?

Personally, I wouldn't bother tidying. For a let, they only usually show the outside and maybe the living room anyway.

True, i'm just woried that we will loose our deposit if its not spotless, we were planning on moving most of our things to the new house next week and then tidy up this house before they started taking photo's and showing people around. We are stressed out enough with the move and we are having to pay rent on both house so can't afford to loose our deposit from here . The land lady is a nut case, we have not called her out to do any work in 5 years so there are bound to be things that need doing before its let.

Is your deposit in the protection scheme, do you know?

you do not have to allow them in at all, THOS!

tenants are entitled to whats known as 'quiet enjoyment' - whilst they are paying rent it is their home, even if they have under notice.

marne you can say sorry but its not convenient and they can't come.

Agent said she wants photo's of inside and out, all room are in good condition (we have painted them and put new flooring down) apart from the kitchen which is just old and past it (which is her place to sort out), it was in poor condition when we moved.

I think i'm panicking because i know dh will panick when i tell him .

I'm not sure TheHeathen, we payed through the agancy so i hope so .

The agent was really nice and said she will come and look around and if she feels work needs doing she will tell the land lady but she we still like photo's of the front of the house and at least 1 or 2 rooms.

No, you do not have to let them in. Remind the agents that you have paid rent until the 3rd of October and you will be in the middle of packing and moving on Monday and you will not be stopping in the middle of all that to tidy up so they can get good shots. Be firm but polite.

I'm not an expert, and it's 3 years since I last rented, but...

If you've paid rent till the 3/10, then the house needs to be clean and tidy on the 3/10 surely, not as per your landlady's whim before that?
Oh, yeah, and as QOFE says, you don't have to let them in at all (though there was maybe something in my last contract allowing for viewings towards the end of the tenancy?)

Might be worth having a look through this thread (or starting your own!), lots of advice on your rights etc about getting your deposit back.

doesn't matter what the contact says, the right to quiet enjoyment overrides anything contractual about viewings and so on.

really, tell them its not convenient. they can wait until its empty.

oh and are you claiming housing benefit at all? i ask because under some circs you can claim for 2 houses whilst you move.

Most tenancies will have a clause in allowing viewings in the final weeks or months of the lease. This will over-ride the quiet enjoyment covenant.

I think you do have to let them in, but you do not have to tidy.

fridayschild it DOES NOT override the right to quiet enjoyment.

a tenancy agreement cannot take away a right given by statute. it can grant additional rights, but not undermine those enshined in law.

sorry no caps, am bf and typing left handed.

enshRined

here

Having been a tenant and a landlord, my advice would be to call back the agent and politely but firmly say that this week is not convenient as you are packaging up belongings, she wouldn't be able to see the rooms properly and (why not) you are both a bit unwell. Next week would be fine, but this week you need the house to yourself.
That is both plausible and reasonable, and that's all any landlord or agent could ask.

QOFE- we are not claiming HB at the moment, we are moving from private rented to a council house, the council would not wait a few weeks for us to start paying rent on the new house so we have no choice but to pay both.

Dh is not too stressed about it, he said 'just leave things where they are'(if they want to take pictures of our boxes then thats up to them).

Do not spend time tidying up, it's not your problem. Your deposit can't be refused for the place not being tidy before you move out.

QOFE - how the devil are you?

hope you are well, last post of yours i read yo were booked in for induction - what happened?

total hijack, sorry

One thing I found really helpful was taking photos of your place before you move in, when it's all empty and shiney. I have just been through the same situation as you, and freaked out about the photographer coming while there were boxes everywhere until I remembered I had photos of the place empty. I emailed them to the agent and she has used those to advertise the property.
I realise this won't help you now, but would recommend photographing your new place before you have stuff in place.
Good luck with the move :)

Edgar - I was induced, was grim experience (hospital met all my expectations and not in a good way either) and v painful but mercifully short labour. DS was 9lb 15oz(!)and had shoulder dystocia, luckily resolved without major trauma to either of us. Anyway he is wonderful, thanks for asking after us

Take it you had a girl?! Congratulations!

thanks for updating me - what a whopper!

congrats to you :)

glad to hear you are well even if it wasn't what you wanted.