LL keeps arranging viewings without notice

sartois

Pixie5740 wrote: »

To the OP, write to the LA asking for the details of where your deposit is being protected. If they haven't protected it then it might be a bit of a squeaky bum moment for them and make them back off.

I don't think they will be backing off anytime soon...from the notice of breach of tenancy they have just sent me it looks as though they are pursuing the route that if they don't have a tenant lined up to move in the day after I move out, then they will be charging me the 're-letting' costs. They have cited nonsense about body language and making thumbs down gestures when they were showing applicants around in the breach of tenancy notice - of which I did no such thing.

They also tell me they will be getting a locksmith to change the locks if I don't give them the code within 7 days.

Shelter (awesome people that they are) have a arranged a legal case worker to call me back on Thursday to help mediate...hopefully that will get them to back off... Shelter tell me (just as others have) that I do not have to let them in at all (whether I am present or not) as one of the foundations of a Tenancy (written or not) is that I have exclusive possession of the property and do not have to let strangers or LL in if I don't want to. Since letting them in to do viewings opens me up to false accusations of negative body language I don't think I want to let them in again!

Annie1960

I'm really glad Shelter is helping you with this. You are trying to deal with a very alarming situation caused by very strange and threatening behaviour from LL/LA, so having another party who understands what they are doing can only help.

Hopefully, your LL/LA will learn from this and treat other tenants better in the future.

Annie1960

I'm confused by their threat to charge you because they can't get another tenant. They have shown a number of tenants around, haven't they? They have even entered your home without your consent to do this?

If they are having trouble finding another tenant, then perhaps it is their fault, not yours. I think it laughable that they are taking you to court for your body language!!! I bet they won't follow this through, it sounds like an idle threat from a bully.

jjlandlord

Quite obviously when one is on a campaign to make things worse instead of trying to defuse a situation things get worse.

sartois

Annie1960 wrote: »

I'm confused by their threat to charge you because they can't get another tenant. They have shown a number of tenants around, haven't they? They have even entered your home without your consent to do this?

If they are having trouble finding another tenant, then perhaps it is their fault, not yours. I think it laughable that they are taking you to court for your body language!!! I bet they won't follow this through, it sounds like an idle threat from a bully.

Yes I think they have shown about 15-20 (that I know of) people round so far. The main reason they are having problems renting the place is due to the fact they are trying to get more than market value in rent. Obviously this makes it a bit harder for them. She is not a particularly great EA either, as when she was bringing people round it the viewings were pretty much conducted in silence... absolutely no effort was made to 'sell' the place.

Maybe she realises that every time her lips move a lie comes out. So perhaps silence was the safer route just in case I corrected her on one of her lies in front of prospective tenants.

sartois

jjlandlord wrote: »

Quite obviously when one is on a campaign to make things worse instead of trying to defuse a situation things get worse.

Yes, I imagine that most dodgy/cowboy LLs would share your sentiments. Much better for the LLs if the tenants don't worry about little nuisances like the law etc and let them get on with their scams in peace

thesaint

sartois wrote: »

Shelter tell me (just as others have) that I do not have to let them in at all (whether I am present or not) as one of the foundations of a Tenancy (written or not) is that I have exclusive possession of the property and do not have to let strangers or LL in if I don't want to.

Shelter are 100% incorrect.

19lottie82

thesaint wrote: »

Shelter are 100% incorrect.

No, they're not.

thesaint

19lottie82 wrote: »

No, they're not.

Oh yes they are.

Pixie5740

sartois wrote: »

I don't think they will be backing off anytime soon...from the notice of breach of tenancy they have just sent me it looks as though they are pursuing the route that if they don't have a tenant lined up to move in the day after I move out, then they will be charging me the 're-letting' costs. They have cited nonsense about body language and making thumbs down gestures when they were showing applicants around in the breach of tenancy notice - of which I did no such thing.

They also tell me they will be getting a locksmith to change the locks if I don't give them the code within 7 days.

Shelter (awesome people that they are) have a arranged a legal case worker to call me back on Thursday to help mediate...hopefully that will get them to back off... Shelter tell me (just as others have) that I do not have to let them in at all (whether I am present or not) as one of the foundations of a Tenancy (written or not) is that I have exclusive possession of the property and do not have to let strangers or LL in if I don't want to. Since letting them in to do viewings opens me up to false accusations of negative body language I don't think I want to let them in again!

I'm glad that you're getting help from Shleter. The LA's behaviour sounds bizarre...I wonder if she has stopped taking her meds.

Rental voids are a part of letting out property she will just need to suck it up not try and hit you with a bill you are not liable for.

If your deposit has not been protected then you can sue for compensation which can range from 1 to 3 times the amount of the deposit. You don't have to wait until you've moved out to do this although you probably want to get all the other nonsense sorted out first and you have up to 6 years until after you move out anyway.

The debate about whether a tenant has to allow the LL in for viewings rages on in every thread like this. I'm not sure what the law actually says regarding this so I'll be interested to find out how you get on with Shelter.