Landlord selling the flat - Viewings

kiss_me_now9

Hi, some advice please.

We were told two weeks ago yesterday that our landlord would be selling the flat we took on in October. Our contract runs out at the start of May. The agents have been round to take photos (two weeks ago) and since it's been listed on Wednesday afternoon last week, have contacted us to arrange viewings as they have had 'considerable interest'.

Since then we have had two viewings, both yesterday, both late afternoon (after 4pm).

I had a phone call at 2pm yesterday from the estate agents to complain about the tidiness of the flat. The flat is not messy, but it's not a show home either - I got back from business on Saturday and honestly the idea of spending all of my Sunday getting the place sparkling wasn't high on my list. The floors/surfaces were mainly clear and cleaned bar a small amount of washing up, which was stacked neatly on the side. As it's a small flat with no garden some washing was out on an airer. The woman at the agency said that if it had been an inspection they would've failed us and that we need to make sure the place is in a better condition in the future for viewings. She made it out like there was dirty clothes on the floor, or washing up miles high, stacked in the sink. She also kept going on about cleaning our taps...?

What bothers me most about this - which I only realised when I got off the phone - is that she phoned me at 2pm, and said that estate agent had been in that morning and had reported this at the office. I was NOT aware of any viewings being scheduled for the morning. As I said earlier the only ones I was aware of was the ones at 4pm. No-one has mentioned 'needing to inspect the flat first' either.

Secondly, we have asked that viewings are only done during office hours - 9am to 5pm. I understand that we need to be flexible but by the time I get home I don't want to be going back out again because we have a viewing arranged. Apparently this is unacceptable. She would not let up about doing evening viewings and made me agree to two evenings a week and Saturday all day as possible times. I am not happy with this. I don't mind the odd one at 5:30pm but every single one they have asked to do now has been in the evenings.

Finally, can anyone tell me if it's standard to have a 'token' amount taken off your rent whilst your flat is being sold? We have been told that they'll take the generous amount of £20 off a month for us.

jjlandlord

You are only bound by the terms of your tenancy. Anything else you are free to negotiate or plainly refuse.

Guest101

kiss_me_now9 wrote: »

Hi, some advice please.

We were told two weeks ago yesterday that our landlord would be selling the flat we took on in October. Our contract runs out at the start of May. The agents have been round to take photos (two weeks ago) and since it's been listed on Wednesday afternoon last week, have contacted us to arrange viewings as they have had 'considerable interest'.

Since then we have had two viewings, both yesterday, both late afternoon (after 4pm).

I had a phone call at 2pm yesterday from the estate agents to complain about the tidiness of the flat. The flat is not messy, but it's not a show home either - I got back from business on Saturday and honestly the idea of spending all of my Sunday getting the place sparkling wasn't high on my list. The floors/surfaces were mainly clear and cleaned bar a small amount of washing up, which was stacked neatly on the side. As it's a small flat with no garden some washing was out on an airer. The woman at the agency said that if it had been an inspection they would've failed us and that we need to make sure the place is in a better condition in the future for viewings. She made it out like there was dirty clothes on the floor, or washing up miles high, stacked in the sink. She also kept going on about cleaning our taps...?

What bothers me most about this - which I only realised when I got off the phone - is that she phoned me at 2pm, and said that estate agent had been in that morning and had reported this at the office. I was NOT aware of any viewings being scheduled for the morning. As I said earlier the only ones I was aware of was the ones at 4pm. No-one has mentioned 'needing to inspect the flat first' either.

Secondly, we have asked that viewings are only done during office hours - 9am to 5pm. I understand that we need to be flexible but by the time I get home I don't want to be going back out again because we have a viewing arranged. Apparently this is unacceptable. She would not let up about doing evening viewings and made me agree to two evenings a week and Saturday all day as possible times. I am not happy with this. I don't mind the odd one at 5:30pm but every single one they have asked to do now has been in the evenings.

Finally, can anyone tell me if it's standard to have a 'token' amount taken off your rent whilst your flat is being sold? We have been told that they'll take the generous amount of £20 off a month for us.

1: England / Wales?
2: if so, u cannot 'fail' an inspection, lol.
3: does your agreement say anything about viewings?
4: you can live how you like, it's your home. If you want to have zero viewings. Change the locks. ( if you want to be reasonable give them 1 or 2 days a week ). - 4 is subject to 3 to some degree.

pyueck

Guest101 wrote: »

1: England / Wales?
2: if so, u cannot 'fail' an inspection, lol.
3: does your agreement say anything about viewings?
4: you can live how you like, it's your home. If you want to have zero viewings. Change the locks. ( if you want to be reasonable give them 1 or 2 days a week ). - 4 is subject to 3 to some degree.

Good advice. Read your contract. You are under no obligation to let anybody in your house and any viewings must be with notice and at reasonable times. You can say no to every viewing.

The state of your flat is of no interest to the landlord until you return the property to them.

Sounds like another landlord who wants the rent off you while expecting you to make the place his showroom. I suggest you tell the landlord what is/isn't acceptable to you. I would always say try and keep the landlord relationship good but this should never be at the expense of being bullied into letting people you don't want in your home. If this doesn't work come back.

In return for allowing visits you can ask for a rent reduction, negotiate, sure you are paying a lot to rent so no reason why the viewings should be cheap!

P.s. Speak to the landlord, not agent whose only interest is selling your home.

franklee

Read the link below to see what your rights are and then write to the selling agent copied to the landlord complaining about their viewing without notice and their other behaviour. Set out what viewings if any you will agree to. If they step out of line again I'd change the lock barrels. You really need a written complaint so you have evidence you've been behaving reasonably and they haven't. Bear in mind also that you do not have to leave when the fixed term ends, the landlord needs to have served you notice etc.

http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2014/09/09/all-about-landlords-rights-to-go-into-their-tenants-property/

jjlandlord

pyueck wrote: »

You are under no obligation to let anybody in your house ... . You can say no to every viewing.

You don't know that because you haven't read the tenancy agreement.
I won't bore you with the legal details, as you would say.

RAS

Assuming England and Wales:

Write to them, pen paper stuff not e-mail.

Tell them that you are paying rent to live in a home.

If they want to do viewing you will agree to them at times to suit you (not them). And at no other time.

You are not responsible for their decision to market prior to obtaining vacant possession and you will live in your home as you wish.

NOTE: you are responsible for returning it at the end of the tenancy in the same condition as you took it on less wear and tear.

Guest101

jjlandlord wrote: »

You don't know that because you haven't read the tenancy agreement.
I won't bore you with the legal details, as you would say.

Granted. But it still has to be reasonable clauses. Under OFT ( or whichever deals with it now ), contracts must be 'fair'.

So turning up with no notice would be not fair. As I suspect telling the tenant how to live.

jjlandlord

Guest101 wrote: »

So turning up with no notice would be not fair. As I suspect telling the tenant how to live.

I was commenting on not having to let anyone in... Quite obviously.
No trolling, please.

pyueck

jjlandlord wrote: »

You don't know that because you haven't read the tenancy agreement.
I won't bore you with the legal details, as you would say.

Yes as if the agreement doesn't say say at reasonable times as the OFT has says the term is unfair. Even with those terms a tenant can say no to every viewing.

Guest101

jjlandlord wrote: »

I was commenting on not having to let anyone in... Quite obviously.
No trolling, please.

U know I'm not trolling. It's good to be clear to the OP who clearly doesn't know their rights; contractual or statute