EA's showed a viewing without our permission

Donk_2

This sunday me and OH came back to our rented property after being away for the weekend. We had left it in a bit of a mess, with the mind set that no one will see it and we will tidy when we get back.

Now our landlord has the property up for sale, we have had viewings and have always got the place upto scratch for them with advanced notice.

When we arrived we found fridays mail placed infront of the fire, and on ringing our landlord today found out that they have had a viewing without our permission. Apparently the OH said they were apologetic as far as the landlord said but this is really not good enough for me.


We had private and personal things around the house that would normally be stored away.

And frankly this isn't the first time they have done something like this. When they arranged to do the photo shots they told my OH that it would just be downstairs, on this knowledge we moved all our clutter up to the bedroom out of the way so the pictures would show the houses potential. I had therefore pulled something up against the door to make sure it didnt swing open for people to see. Well, on return it had been pushed open and we were told that they had tried to get in to take pictures.'


I am very annoyed with them and wonder where i stand.

For all the knew we could have been a right kinky couple!!! Think of the things they might have seen :eek:

princeofpounds

Unless they caused you loss or damage, or this was a repeated course of action, you have no retrospective remedy (even though they were breaking civil law - that's just the way the law is).

Write to complain and remind them of their obligation to give 24hrs notice and seek permission - if you have given implied default permission in your tenancy agreement you need to withdraw it (which you can do so, as it is your statutory i.e. legal right and you can't contract that right away).

If you need to ensure it doesn't happen again without relying on trust, change the lock barrels (retaining the old ones to put back in again at the end of the tenancy).

DVardysShadow

Change the locks and inform LL and EA that there will be no more viewings.

Donk_2

Thanks

I dont want to be unreasonable as to not allow viewings, as we get on OK with the LL. Its just the EAs that have caused us problems.

princeofpounds

Prob best course of action then is to complain and state that one more breach will lead to restricted access.

Jon_Tiffany

I think agents get so used to just going into peoples houses that they dont give it a second thought. One option is to do the viewings yourself, or once your contract has expired change to another agent.

I would make it clear to the agent that you want to informed in advance of any viewings, its in the agents interest as well as it means you get to tidy up first.

It does seem a bit poor, I've sold a few houses inrecent years and every agent I've used always called to let me know when they were doing a viewing.

ILW

Donk wrote: »

We had private and personal things around the house that would normally be stored away.


:eek:

Go on, tell us more.

clutton_2

why is it that certain posters leap onto the "change the locks NOW" bandwagon whenever anyone complains about something

surely we can suggest that OP at least TALKS to the agent and LL first before embarking on very inflammatory behaviour......

adg1

clutton wrote: »

why is it that certain posters leap onto the "change the locks NOW" bandwagon whenever anyone complains about something

I totally agree. There are far more amicable courses of action available so keep the trump card for if your ll keeps invading privacy or turns up willy-nilly.

Talk to the agent involved, explain you were unhappy with the viewing going though without you there. Make sure the landlord knows you are upset.

Talk to the agent and be nice about viewings and amenable to them as it seems you are but that when you aren't there or you say no that it means no. If you're nice to them and they usually have no issues with viewing the property they should be understanding as you are not constantly blocking access.

BitterAndTwisted

In your position I'd phone the Agents and let them know how unhappy you are then follow it up with a letter, copying in the landlord, and confirm that you are prepared to be flexible about viewings considering the circumstances but you are NOT agreeing to any viewings when you are not or cannot be present.

If they do it again you change the locks and I believe your landlord would understand why but quite how you'd find out when you're not there is unclear. Quite frankly, I'd probably consider changing the barrels on the locks after you've written your letter as you will have warned them: no tenants in attendance equals no ruddy access.

G_M

clutton wrote: »

why is it that certain posters leap onto the "change the locks NOW" bandwagon whenever anyone complains about something

surely we can suggest that OP at least TALKS to the agent and LL first before embarking on very inflammatory behaviour......

I think very inflammatory behaviour has already been embarked on....by the agent!

Entering without permission is a gross invasion of privacy - as a LL I would never do this or sanction it by my agent.

If you feel an apology and undertaking not to do it again is sufficient/believable, then yes, don't agravate the situation by changing locks. If you have any doubts, change the locks.