Access for viewings

dazWb

Hi guys

Never really looked at House buying renting and selling section before, but hoping there's some kind knowledgeable person here who can help me!

I'm currently moving out of my rented home. I have sent the notice to the landlord, discussed this with him, so far so good.

He has put the property back on the rental market with a lettings agency. They have called me to inform me there will be a viewing tomorrow. Told them that is fine, and would they please give me 24 hrs notice of future viewings and only schedule them for when I'm in the flat.

I'm told:

• 24hr notice is not possible, only overnight notice. The lady said that they can text me at 4pm one day for a viewing at 9am the next day
• That I do not have the right to request to be in the flat at the time of the viewing, it is in my contract that I must allow viewings

Now I don't think this is right. I have already told LL that I want to only allow viewings when I am in. He informs me this is fine, just let the lettings agency know when they call me.

I have made it clear that I will make every effort to attend viewings. I will work from home where necessary and if possible. But if I can't be around I'd rather they scheduled the viewing for when I can be around.

Trouble is, I have valuable things in eyesight within the property. I'm not sure how contents insurance would see things if I made a claim based on something stolen when I allowed strangers in the property when I'm not there. And besides, I'd like the opportunity to "big up" the LL to the prospective tenants, he really is great.

So, what can I do about this agency, who have already told me that I should just "lock things away" I don't want to be stolen, and that I HAVE to allow them access with overnight notice??


Cheers all!

G_M

Write to the landlord at the address "for the serving of notices" which should be on your tenancy agreement, and send a copy to the agent.

Inform them that you are happy to cooperate with viewings in the final weeks of your tenancy, but that you wish to be present for all viewings, which must firstly be advised at least 24 hours in advance and secondly must be at an agreed, mutually acceptable time.

Advise them that since the agent has indicated they do not intend to abide by your right to 'quiet enjoyment', you will be changing the lock to ensure your security and privacy is not put at risk.

Make clear that you will, of course, replace the original lock when you leave.

Then change the lock. A yale barrel takes 5 minutes and costs £5 to replace - see here.

AMG762

I have just been through a simular situation, i told the letting agency the house would only be available on a Saturday morning for viewings.

This worked well for all parties, i was not getting telephone calls asking for additional days. And if anyone was interested in the property the letting agency could agree a time without having to contact me first.

Just though this may be useful

G_M

AMG762 wrote: »

I have just been through a simular situation, i told the letting agency the house would only be available on a Saturday morning for viewings.

This worked well for all parties, i was not getting telephone calls asking for additional days. And if anyone was interested in the property the letting agency could agree a time without having to contact me first.

Just though this may be useful

Absolutly. You can make whatever arrangements / limitations you want, and so long as the LL/agent shows willing, then that's fine.

The trouble here is that the agent appears not to wish to 'work with' the tenant to find a mutally acceptable arrangement, hence the importance of putting your conditions in writing.

Agents like this actually do themeselves, and the LLs they work for, no favours. By trying to impose unfair conditions on a tenant they risk the tenant becoming less cooperative, making access harder, not easier.

dazWb

Thank you both. These are the same agents who moved us in and they were very rude to us then because we were late to our appointment due to extreme traffic.

I would suggest that to them, us tenants are mere commodities, no respect shown for the fact that this is our home until the check-out date.

Thanks again for the useful responses given.