Viewings with tenants

[fairyoriginallemon]

What's the rules around viewings with tenants? I had our landlord phone up and say that he wants to sell. A couple of months ago he told us we could stay until Christmas but now he's saying it's either three months notice or we allow viewings while he sells it.

I don't want people viewing while we live here so will have to accept that he will inevitably hand notice to leave to us but thought I'd check if it's ok to allow viewings while we live here anyway.

Thanks @Shuttup I didn't know if the rules had changed during corona or not. In normal circumstances I would allow viewings but due to us homeschooling and wfh for the foreseeable future I can't see it working for us now.

Thanks.
Yes we are either get eviction notice from Monday or viewings from Monday and live here until a sale. We don't feel we have a choice due to our circumstances but to accept the eviction notice.
Dh has a job that he effectively is on the phone all day requiring several screens and 'silence' in the background. It's fun enough for me and young dc to skirt around his calls let alone allow viewings on top. Not to mention I just don't want to be cleaning constantly for viewings and I don't think I'll cope with various people coming through the property right now plus extra cost of cleaning etc (I know that might sound pathetic but oh well)

I was going to say if they want us to arrange FaceTime viewings would be possible but I understand it's not the same.

Glad you have decided that.
It’s rather cake and eat it when a Landlord expects a tenant to live through showing a house to potential purchasers.rather goes against the quiet enjoyment of being there

Yes understandable in normal times tbh and with us both working and with school on wouldn't have been a problem. Alas!

English landlord here. Evil money grabbing rich bastard that I am, to save the kneejerkers some typing.

England - landlord cannot exchange contracts with you there unless to another landlord. That's because what you will get is not an eviction notice, it is a notice that if you don't leave by the end of the three months, proceedings will be started. You don't have to leave until the bailiff arrives, although if you wait that long you'll be liable for the costs (usually around £600) and of course it is lots of stress. BUT there is no guarantee to the landlord that you will be gone at the end of the notice, so it is the same for the purchaser.

all court actions are now on hold until the end of August and the backlog will be massive. Not because landlords evict tenants on a whim as the propaganda has it, but because the non-payers/drug dealers/wreckers are still there and many cases have been on hold through the summer. Councils also encourage tenants to wait to the bailiff.

access is always a thorny one - at least 24 hours notice but to be honest you can say 'no' even if it is in the tenancy. unless it is an emergency situation, landlords can get in a lot of trouble for accessing a property when the tenant refuses. The only way to enforce access is via the court. See above.
So if you like you can tell the landlord that. Nothing to stop you changing the locks as long as you put them back before you leave and make good any damage.

you don't have to clean or make preparations for viewings. it is of no benefit to you. You certainly don't have to pay for cleaning!

so you hold most of the cards. Obviously if the landlord is selling you will have to move eventually.

Would your landlord agree to an online video being made (virtual viewing) rather than actual people traipsing round your home?

TBH, I would not agree to viewers at the moment either.

@mencken thanks so much for your post, great to hear from such an evil LL .

Yes it's more the access bit during this corona situation. I'm really uncomfortable with having viewings right now.
Thanks for explaining and we'll be gone by the eviction date as cba with the bother of not leaving but since asking estate agents for viewings re a new rental we've only been sent videos so we wondered if anything had changed. I'll have to offer to do online viewings or something.

I'm too proud to not clean prior a viewing and too paranoid to not clean afterwards. My fault I know.