Estate agent keeps leaving lights on

Wassa123

We're coming to the end of our tenancy and naturally the estate agents want to do viewings for the landlord.

They've done at least 10 with our permission but recently they have been leaving the lights on and they've been on all day and we have to foot the bill for the electricity.

I ignored it on the first occasion. They did it again and then we mentioned this when they phoned up asking for permission for other viewings. They had some more viewings this morning and once again, the lights were left on! Can we refuse further viewings even though it says we have to allow it within the contract? or is that too far?

robotrobo

Wassa123 wrote: »

We're coming to the end of our tenancy and naturally the estate agents want to do viewings for the landlord.

They've done at least 10 with our permission but recently they have been leaving the lights on and they've been on all day and we have to foot the bill for the electricity.

I ignored it on the first occasion. They did it again and then we mentioned this when they phoned up asking for permission for other viewings. They had some more viewings this morning and once again, the lights were left on! Can we refuse further viewings even though it says we have to allow it within the contract? or is that too

far?

Leave a polite message to switch the lights off on exit, job done a simple reminder.

pumen

They only care about money and the landlord.

McKneff

it would proably all add up to a £1.....

mynameisclare

They might get the hint if you take all the lightbulbs out before you go out

Rosetinted

Wassa123 wrote: »

Can we refuse further viewings even though it says we have to allow it within the contract?

You're contractually obliged to allow them to do viewings, but usually only during the last month of the tenancy (this depends on the exact wording of your contract). That doesn't mean you have to say yes every time they phone up, but you should allow them to do their job and show people round.

Realistically, though, there's nothing they can do to enforce it if you do refuse. They can't legally come into the property without your permission, unless there's an extreme emergency. The agent and landlord won't like it and may be a pain about it, but by the time they could do anything about it through the courts, you'd be long gone.

I'd personally phone the estate agency, ask to speak to the manager and tell them that you'll only grant access again if they switch the all lights off and that if they fail to do so, no more viewings will be happening. That way, if it happens again, you can phone and say 'I said no more viewings if the lights were left on; you left them on, so you're not getting back in.'

marleyboy

Take the fuse out of the fusebox for the lights when you go out.

TBeckett100

You'll probably spend three times as much money phoning around moaning about it. It's a few lights left on. I leave most things on, I like the rooms in my house to be welcoming for my arrival into them.

marksoton

Rosetinted wrote: »

Realistically, though, there's nothing they can do to enforce it if you do refuse. They can't legally come into the property without your permission, unless there's an extreme emergency. The agent and landlord won't like it and may be a pain about it, but by the time they could do anything about it through the courts, you'd be long gone.

They may just become very pedantic / awkward when it comes to the check out inventory and return of deposit though...

TBeckett100

A 60w bulb costs 0.007 per hour. It costs about 30-50p to call the agent and moan about it.

Get over it.

G_M

Write a letter (hand deliver to save postage) saying if the lights are left on in future you will be billing them for the electricity, plus your administration costs in preparing the bill.