Nice house just on the market but can't get to see it due to tenants ....

[myfaceisatomato]

... very odd situation don't you think? House has just come on for sale. Have asked agents a couple of times and suggested viewing times, to be told that none of the times we've suggested are convenient to the tenants, and that weekends "will never be convenient." So we asked a week ago for them to suggest a convenient time .... no response.

If I was the owner I'd be fuming about this. Clearly the tenants aren't happy about the house being sold, but the agents don't seem to give a toss either. So what's going on?

The owners will be annoyed, but tenants regularly do this. There really isn't much the estate agents can do, apart from repeatedly ask the tenant, and repeatedly be told "no".

Ask the agent what day the the tenants are moving out, and make an apt as soon as possible after that.

Do they really? I had no idea. Will ask about them moving out when I can get the agent to return a phone call .....

myface - can I ask whereabouts you are looking?

It is the tenant's home. They have a right to quiet enjoyment and unlike a homeowner who is living in the house they get no benefit whatsoever from you looking around. They are under no obligation to let you in unless there is a clause in their tenancy agreement.

Find out when they are leaving and arrange a viewing for then.

It might also be worth knowing that solicitors are wary of tenanted properties - not to put you off but they would want firm details of when they are moving out.

When we thought our rental house was going to be sold from under us from landlord I must admit my first thought was to be arsey about viewings - especially when there are children in the house!!

The clause I signed as a tenant made it clear that I should co-operate if an agent needed to show people round, either as new renters or as buyers. It didn't occur to me that this would, or should be otherwise, tbh.

Put your request in writing (old fashioned hand-written letter that can go in a file, rather than an email). Its harder for the EAs to ignore than a phone call.

If the tenants work then there must be a time when it is convenient for the EA to show you the property (ie. when they are not there). You will need to be very flexible as to when you are prepared to view.

Tbh, I feel for tenants in this situation.

We bought a house previously in multiple occupancy last year. Tenants were indeed arsey about viewings - we really couldn't blame them & were hugely apologetic every time we ran into any of them.

Our vendor insisted on us exchanging before she'd give her tenants notice (Do NOT Do This! We were mugs. Although ultimately we got a mega bargain), so viewing after they'd left wasn't an option...

Have these tenants actually been given notice yet? Could be they're long term residents on rolling contracts, & the vendor (like ours) is reluctant to risk emptying the house.

Tenants do not have to provide any access to the landlord (or anyone representing him) nor his agents/workmen, at any time, for any purpose.
The landlord may enter without permission in the event of a genuine emergency. Its probably not so much that the agents don't give a toss, rather they know they can't do anything until the house is empty.

I have had problems accessing properties to carry out gas safety checks to ensure that the tenants aren't killed by carbon monoxide so I would imagine its fairly common to refuse viewings.