Letting agent let themselves into my house without permission

[banana87]

I am seething. We have had just one thing after another with this company we are renting a property through, I just do not know what to do now.

Breakdown of events:

1. After 6 months of being in this property we received 2 month notice to leave.

1. Called LA (they said there was a letter attached giving reasons from LL and it wasn't) who said they were not going to tell us why we were being asked to leave.

1. Property was re-listed all over the web and no one notified us that they were planning on doing viewings. They knew we were planning on being here for a long time and that we have a LO.

1. We asked to vacate 2 weeks early. No response. For three weeks, after calls and calls, no response. We therefore decided to stay until they date they specified.

1. Three weeks and 1 day later LA head office called and said we could vacate early. We told them no way, note this was 4 days before the date we had asked to move.

1. Tuesday morning I hear someone open our door and saying 'hello' at the bottom of my stairs. No knock. No ring. It was the LA, with people to view the property. LA asked me to come down and speak to her. She then said she thought we had moved out. When I told her that I had notified head office that indeed they got back to us too late, we were staying. She had the audacity to ask if she could show the house. You can only guess what my response was.

I have had no phone call, no apology, nothing. What do I do? I think there is some external organization I can report them to, ARLA? What would they do?

I think they are behaving pretty poorly but, if the agent thought you had left the house, you can't blame her for not knocking or ringing or giving notice. We were in rented for a few months earlier this year and for several weeks had continual viewings (the flat was so horrible, no one wanted to take it) so it is normal to show a property while tenants are still living there too - it's very annoying but I'm not sure that any line has been crossed.

I hope you find somewhere better next time.

I no longer feel I should give them the benefit of the doubt. They were told we were not leaving, so I am assuming they knew, and entered anyway. There is no excuse for not knowing. Too much other stuff has happened now for me to let them get away with it.

Not acceptable for them to do viewings with no notice in my view and in the eyes of the law, I would thing! The agents sound utterly incompetent. I am completely with you OP, don't let them get away with it!

I would think, I meant.

You should have had a call or a letter giving you 24 hours notice.

I'd put everything in writing that has happened to date and ask them for their response. Send it recorded delivery and see what response you get. Make sure you keep the registered receipt attached to the letter shoudl you need it if there are issues on you moving out.

Yes, I will do that. Copying in the local branch and the manager at head office.