Is my landlord being unreasonable?

lzcook

In answer to whether your landlord is being unreasonable, your first port of call should always be the terms of the lease. Check to see if it says anything about viewings, especially at the end of the term.

marliepanda

lzcook wrote: »

In answer to whether your landlord is being unreasonable, your first port of call should always be the terms of the lease. Check to see if it says anything about viewings, especially at the end of the term.

It is unreasonable regardless.

It would be unreasonable (and unenforceable) to insert a 'I can come into your flat anytime to show around prospective new tenants in the last month without any prior notice' into a lease.

girl_withno_name

lzcook wrote: »

In answer to whether your landlord is being unreasonable, your first port of call should always be the terms of the lease. Check to see if it says anything about viewings, especially at the end of the term.

As far as I understand from this post by G_M, the wording of the tenancy agreement may not be particularly (if at all) relevant

Horace

The landlord knows alright - it is he who tells the agents that they can do as they please with regards to viewings and even puts keys in a secure box for them in the porch. My landlord is slightly dodgy I feel - I have been a tenant for quite a few years' now and do not recollect being given anything other than a copy of the lease and the keys when I paid the deposit so I do not know if the deposit is secured or not.

The lease doesnt say anything about viewings at the end of the tenancy and giving access. His handymen don't even come into my flat without my permission and certainly don't come in when I am out - this is included in the lease agreement that I signed.

Anyway, now that I am boxing and bagging - my flat is even more untidy than before. Stuff 'em because as soon as I get keys to my new home then stuff will start to be shifted across.

I have just checked my agreement: it states "permit the landlord or anyone authorised by the landlord at reasonable hours in the daytime and upon reasonable prior notice (except in emergency) to enter and view the property and the items on the inventory for any proper purpose including the checking of compliance with the Tenant's obligations under this Agreement and during the last month of term the showing of the property to prospective new tenants"

There won't be an inventory as I rented the flat unfurnished - although the landlord keeps insisting despite my telling him in writing each year that the flat was rented furnished - I was the only tenant in this block to do that. I am now wishing that I never rented from him and in fact found somewhere else to live. The tenancy agreement is a much photocopied affair that looks like it has come from a law pack - it refers to a furnished flat at the top despite my renting the flat unfurnished. My landlord is an idiot.

tbs624

Horace wrote: »

My landlord is slightly dodgy I feel - I have been a tenant for quite a few years' now and do not recollect being given anything other than a copy of the lease and the keys when I paid the deposit so I do not know if the deposit is secured or not.

You can check online at each of the three tenancy deposit schemes - TDS, mydeposits, and DPS

Horace

Oh deary me...my flat is in even more of a mess now with countless boxes, bags and stacks of books everywhere. I am taking some stuff to my parents because I can see things disappearing e.g. some antique chairs, cameras, jewellery, pictures. Some stuff has gone to my parents' today:D

BitterAndTwisted

Have you WRITTEN to the agent yet setting out your conditions for them carrying out viewings? In my view, this is rather more important than shipping stuff to your parents' place.

Have you ever raised that the tenancy agreement mentions the place being furnished, and if so what in particular are these furnishings? You DO NOT want to be held to ransom for furniture which your landlord never supplied. Was there an inventory?

Have you checked with the tenancy-deposit schemes yet? If they decide to withhold your deposit, your only recourse to secure it will be via the courts. Precisely what date did your tenancy start? If it was on or after April 2007 then by law it should have been registered with one of the three schemes already mentioned.

G_M

tbs624 wrote: »

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.

Most replies to your query have rightly advised you the agent is being unreasonable and you can deny access, or limit access to times/days convenient to you, and to viewings that have been pre-agreed with you.

But only tbs has mentioned putting this in writing.

This is important. You MUST put your objections/conditions IN WRITING ( a letter, not text or email) to the landlord at the address on your tenancy agreement "for the serving of notices".

Send a copy to the agent.

It can (should) be a very polite letter, and ideally offer to assist by suggesting dates/times that you are prepared to allow viewings.

But it must also be clear about your conditions.

As for the lock, if you have any doubts/suspicions that the LL/agent may ignore your letter, then change it.

Since you are a girly, maybe you know bloke who can help with this? Or a tomboy? Any lock can be changed without too much difficulty though the cost will depend on the type of lock.

Keep and replace the old lock when you leave.