Landlord wants to show around new tenants.

Phil_rich

Afternoon all,

I just phoned my landlord to check they had recieved my written notice to leave, I had previously phoned to tell them but for my own piece of mind put it in writing aswell. They said yes we have, they then said oh, we will be bringing someone around to view the house on saturday. I asked what time as I would like to be there and they said they didnt know, just sometime after noon. Can they do this? They then said if I wasn't about they would let themselves in as they have given me warning.

Is this right?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

Phil

skanger

This sort of thing is usually agreed in your tenancy agreement. I don't think they can just let themselves in, you would need to be there, unless the place was on fire, or flooding or something.

ButI bet there is something in your agreement about them being able to show new tenants around, and you being resonable about it.

angeluk69_2

There has been something like ' in the last month of the tenancy the tenant must allow viewings to take place on the property' and 'with adequate notice the tenant must allow access for the LandLord and/or Agent' in all of our tenancy agreements that we have had.

In our last one, we only let people in if they were with an agent.
But the one before we actually said we didn't want people viewing as it was already a pokey flat and it wouldn't do any good to be showing people our boxes and asked if viewings could be done once we had left to benefit everyone.

As far as I am aware (pls correct me if I am wrong) the LandLord is not allowed to just let themselves in, and you are allowed to express this. IMHO this is just like leaving the front door wide open when you go out. An invitation for accidents and mishaps, what if something goes missing.

( I am not saying anything would happen, but would you want to think that someone is in your home snooping)

barnaby-bear

Phil_rich wrote:

Afternoon all,

I just phoned my landlord to check they had recieved my written notice to leave, I had previously phoned to tell them but for my own piece of mind put it in writing aswell. They said yes we have, they then said oh, we will be bringing someone around to view the house on saturday. I asked what time as I would like to be there and they said they didnt know, just sometime after noon. Can they do this? They then said if I wasn't about they would let themselves in as they have given me warning.

Is this right?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

Phil

No they can't -
unfair clause
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=270560
HTH

noyk

It could be classed as harassment and disturbing the "quiet enjoyment of your home". So no they are not allowed to let themselves in without your explicit consent - they are also taking liberties expecting you too. Remember your paying the rent, it may be their house but it is your home.

Do a search on this forum, there are plenty more posts about this common problem.

black-saturn

I've just replied to a similar thread to this here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=3025881#post3025881.

Here's what I said but I'll edit it to say tenant instead of buyer:

It states in every tenancy that the tenant is entitled to quiet and private enjoyment of the property and this includes the times that the landlord wants to show prospective tenants round. If it's not convenient say so and they don't have to be let in. Also say you would like advance warning so that you don't have people knocking on your door unexpectedly.

I presume you are looking for somewhere else? If you havn't already done so take the letter to the council to get the ball rolling.

If you want more time there are a few things you can do to stall a prospective tenant like point out every damp patch, crack in the plaster etc etc. If your friendly with the neighbours ask them to have rap music blaring out and place the odd mouse trap down where they can see it. But you didn't hear me say that :A :eek:

nej

We let out a few places on behalf of my brother-in-law and we put a clause in sayint something like "you will let us show people around at a mutually convenient time".

Nobody has ever had a problem with it and most have been happy for us to do it when they weren't there. Obviously we ask their permission first.

RHemmings

black-saturn wrote:

If you want more time there are a few things you can do to stall a prospective tenant like point out every damp patch, crack in the plaster etc etc. If your friendly with the neighbours ask them to have rap music blaring out and place the odd mouse trap down where they can see it. But you didn't hear me say that :A :eek:

Is the OP a nudist?

black-saturn

nej wrote:

We let out a few places on behalf of my brother-in-law and we put a clause in sayint something like "you will let us show people around at a mutually convenient time".

Thats against the law I think. The tenant still has the right to say no so it makes no difference anyway.

black-saturn

RHemmings wrote:

Is the OP a nudist?

Why did you say that?

Debt_Free_Chick

I have to say that we seem to be taking a very hard line on these issues, when posted by tenants. I wonder what our advice would be if the question were posted by a LL?

If a tenant has enjoyed a good relationship with the LL then I can't see what there is to be gained by refusing entry to show prospective tenants/buyers around. Whilst this is the present tenant's home, it's worth bearing in mind that the LL has a significant amount of money tied up in the property and he needs tenants to pay the rent. So, if you have given notice to quit, why not let the LL show prospective tenants around? It can't hurt, can it? And if it were your house, which you were selling, you would presumably allow an EA to show prospective purchasers around - wouldn't you?

It just seems unreasonable and a trifle petty to simply deny the LL the opportunity to let the property again, as soon as possible after you move out. Moving out hasn't done the LL any favours, so increasing the likelihood of a void just seems to be digging the knife in!

The point about harrassment and quiet enjoyment is a moot one. A single request to show around prospective tenants hardly amounts to harrassment. Continued requests following a blanket refusal may well do - but I would not be confident in bringing a claim for a nuisance/harrassment on the basis of a single, isolated incident!

Given that most leases allow the LL to gain entry, with notice and at a reasonable time, what's the difference if the LL is accompanied by prospective tenants?

Lighten up peeps and try to see this from the LL's point of view. Just "be reasonable" and maybe life will be less stressful. Also, you never know when you might come across this LL again - perhaps when you need him to do you favour?