Is my landlord being unreasonable?

Horace

I have lived in my flat for 5 years now and plan to move at the end of the month into a property where I can live rent free thanks to the bank of mum & dad. I gave notice in writing to my landlord this on Monday stating that I will be moving out on 30 June - I didnt receive any acknowledgement from him.

Yesterday afternoon I returned home after having my car serviced to find 3 lads standing on the doorstep so I asked if I could help and was told that they were waiting for the letting agent to let them into Flat 5 which is my flat! I had no notice at all that letting agents would be showing people around so soon and what has annoyed me the most is that letting agents are being allowed by the landlord to let themselves into my flat as and when they please e.g. evenings, weekends etc without giving me any notice. Thankfully, my flat was quite untidy as I had planned to start packing this weekend - the lads are now viewing at the end of next week. They were distressed to learn that I hadn't been given any notice of their viewing by the landlord nor his agent.

I am concerned as the the majority of the furniture in the flat belongs to me as I rented unfurnished and I don't particularly like the idea of complete strangers wandering through it when I am not there.

Is it reasonable to expect to be given some notice of viewings - should agents just be given a key to let themselves in as they see fit?

DannyboyMidlands

Your task for this weekend is to change the barrels of the locks. Put the old ones back in when you move out.

Youtube will show you how.

duchy

Short answer is No. As in No they can't do it .

You are well within your rights to contact the letting agent and tell them they need to give you reasonable notice of viewings and certainly can't just let themselves in . For example you could tell them you need 24 hours notice and viewing can only be say between 6pm and 8pm. If they argue by all means change the lock barrels but you will need to put them back at the end of the month before you move out.

Horace

Not so easy to change the lock barrels as we have silly keys not yale ones so the whole door handle and lock has to be replaced. Despite having a male username on here I am actually a single girl who has no real expertise when it comes to changing locks - I might be able to change the piston rings on a Triumph Bonneville but changing a door lock is beyond me

I shall contact the agents and let them know to make appointments with me re viewings. I will contact the agents next week and let them know what is expected of them.

What a cheek of the landlord though just allowing letting agents to come and go as they please without any consideration for the tenant:mad: I notice he is quick to grant them access but when it comes to replacing the cooker then I could go and whistle so I have been left without a functioning cooker since August last year (thank goodness I have a remoska and slow cooker to use instead).

My task this weekend is to tidy things up and start packing - the front bedroom is already full of crates so if they want to look inside that room they will have to stand in the doorway.

RAS

You are not required to allow them any access at all before you leave. You are entitled to quiet enjoyment.

I suggest you consider getting a backpacking door alarm and installing that?

And if you see any prospective tenant tell them about the problems with the cooker.

Leave a note on the cooker - Dear LA - this cooker remains broken, as first advised to your goodselves last August.

Oliver14

Remember though if you make it too difficult for them to show someone around they could be very slow giving you your deposit back or get very picky over the wear and tear.

Horace

@Oliver - I don't intend to be too picky, I would like some prior notice. I only gave notice earlier this week and I have not yet had time to pack or get my flat into some semblence of order (admittedly I have been a tad untidy due to having depression but I am getting over that).

I have already included details of the failings in the flat in my notice to my landlord - he can fix these after I have gone as there is no point in replacing the oven now as it will no doubt be done when the flat has been redecorated. (It is the landlord's policy to completely redecorate before a new tenant moves in - my flat is the only one not have to have had several coats of paint because I have been here the longest).

tbs624

Tell the LL and the LA ( in writing/copy kept) that for personal security purposes viewings by potential Ts will only be acceptable to you at x times/dates, with prior written agreement about who/how many will be turning up.

Make it clear to them (politely) that any further attempts at "free access" in your absence will be met by a refusal by you for all future viewings until the end of your tenancy. You can tell them that you have an alarm plus computer webcam surveillance.

Edit: if property is Eng/Wales has the LL scheme registered your tenancy deposit and given you the scheme's prescribed information?

tbs624

Oliver14 wrote: »

Remember though if you make it too difficult for them to show someone around they could be very slow giving you your deposit back or get very picky over the wear and tear.

LLs/LAs need to work with Ts on viewings by potential new Ts/buyers.

T could say "yep, come any time you want" - viewers are then greeted with the odour of kipper and cabbages, washing up piling up, a sordid bathroom, a few leaflets about neighbour disputes, rat/mice eradication and so on.

Naf

Horace wrote: »

I might be able to change the piston rings on a Triumph Bonneville

:lovethoug
Lol

Oliver14 wrote: »

Remember though if you make it too difficult for them to show someone around they could be very slow giving you your deposit back

No they can't: they have 14 days.

Oliver14 wrote: »

or get very picky over the wear and tear.

Granted, but hopefully a good inventory was taken at the start, including plenty of pictures.

BitterAndTwisted

The landlord could be totally unaware that the agents are acting in this way. If he doesn't know you should copy him into your correspondence with the agent when you tell them that you do not agree to any viewings whatsoever taking place without your express agreement. And that you expect them to give you at least 24 hours notice of their REQUEST to conduct same.