Can I ask LA to only have a viewing at a certain time?

missewan

By this I mean I am currently in my notice period for my house. The letting agent keeps booking viewings for first thing in the morning 9am or 9:15.

Can I ask that they only conduct viewings say after 12?

I only ask as I have two young toddlers and getting everything ready and presentable at that time in the morning when I am trying to get them sorted for nursery etc is a real strain.

Do I have any rights or is it just up to them to come and go when they like?

hamster2013

1. you have rights - you can definately request the EA to do viewings after 12
2. you dont have to ensure everything is 'presentable' - as long as you are keeping the property clean and not causing any damage, you dont have to make your bed every morning, thats your right too

bebewoo

Yes you can.

terra_ferma

Just wanted to add, whatever they agree don't expect them to stick by it. If they have someone who can only do 9am, they'll just turn up and try their luck.
At least that's my experience when in a similar situation, they'd rather pixx you off than lose potential commission. They are sales people, and sometimes paying their bills/keeping their job could depend on that commission.

What I would do is to tell them after 12, and then not open the door if they turn up at 9am, if that's feasible and I really don't want them in, or alternatively letting them in even if the flat is still disorganised.

Reue

You can certainly ask and they will more then likely attempt to ignore your request.

We tried to add conditions to our permission for viewings on my own rental. the letting agent ignored these and so we refused all future viewings. They kept calling to inform us they had booked a viewing for the next day and we kept reminding them that we would not be allowing access and would almost certainly be putting off any potential new tenants

terra_ferma

Reue wrote: »

would almost certainly be putting off any potential new tenants

I'd be careful with that if you need your landord references, or in case of a dispute about the deposit, no need to antagonise them for the sake of it. There could be a clause in the contract as well.

Reue

terra_ferma wrote: »

I'd be careful with that if you need your landord references, or in case of a dispute about the deposit, no need to antagonise them for the sake of it. There could be a clause in the contract as well.

One of the disagreements with the LA was that they wouldnt give any references unless we paid a fee (which we refused to do).. and there was a dispute with the deposit (which we challenged and won through the deposit scheme).

There was a clause in the contract, we said it was unenforceable and as we had already given our notice it would have taken the LA too long to gain access by challenging through the courts.


Moral of the story: Dont just roll over for these money grabbing gits.

Better_Days

My LA was reasonable about viewing times (I specified after 2.30 pm) but I did have to be firm

If the LA is being awkward you could write to them and copy in the LL specifying when you will be able to permit viewings. You don't have to let them in if they just turn up.

theartfullodger

You can TELL agent and/or landlord if there will be ANY viewings at all at ANY time.

It is your home, your property, not landlord's - even if you ain't paying rent.

You might not get good references though......

Cheers!

missewan

Thankyou for all the replies.

I live in Scotland and it's a short assured tenancy with the part about allowing viewings of the house during notice in the lease.

I called the EA today and she was very snotty, I said that she had to give me written notice and it was supposed to be at a time that is convenient for me. But she said as long as she gives me notice I don't have a leg to stand on.

Really annoyed about the whole thing as we are moving two weeks before the lease is up anyway so they could have conducted viewings then.

I also asked for a copy of the document showing that I have signed to say viewings can occur and they said they are under no obligation to do that.

Annisele

Last time this happened to me, the LA was completely unreasonable - but the landlord himself was fine. I had a word with my landlord, he had a word with the LA (apparently implying that he wouldn't use them in future if they annoyed his tenants) and all was well.

That might not work for you, but plenty of LLs are perfectly reasonable people with no desire to annoy past, present or future Ts.