Landlord's agent is stressing me out re: viewings

jennie3377

Hi everyone.


My landlord is selling the flat I am renting.


I have a 12-month fixed-term AST at monthly rent of £1100 and have only lived here for 6-weeks.


The AST says I have to give "reasonable access" to the landlord on "reasonable notice" if he wants to sell the place.


I am so stressed because his estate agents pester me for access requests multiple times a day and I just can't cope with it anymore. They keep calling and bugging me. I said can we try to have all viewings on Friday afternoons because I am at home at that time and want to be there when strangers are in my home. They said no this is not acceptable because the landlord has appointed multiple agents and needs a quick sale so I need to be more flexible and landlord will take me to court if I do not co-operate.


I'm so stressed about all this. Can anyone help me? I wish I never signed this AST

hazyjo

Why do you keep answering if they keep calling? Just tell them (don't request) that you will only allow Friday afternoons (although that's really not that reasonable I don't think. Can't you offer any time at the weekend too?).


How can he take you to court? You are being co-operative.


You need to be more assertive.


Change the barrel in the lock if you have to.


End of.


Is he selling it with you as a tenant? I presume so.


(Is this the same OP as a similar thread? If not, you should read advice on that one (if someone has time to find it or you can search for it).)


Jx

Guest101

Well in this case - change the locks and tell your LL he can either arrange viewings around you or take you to court.


Cheeky agents!

saajan_12

There needs to be some flexibility on both sides. It is not however reasonable for them to pester you or visit frequently – you have a right to quiet enjoyment too, so dealing with a couple of fixed slots is ok, but your life shouldn’t revolve around their visits / requests for visits. They have a right to reasonable access – not multiple times a day to suit their multiple agents though.


Reasonable access: I think 2 afternoons / evenings a week for viewings would be reasonable. Friday afternoons means working hours for the EAs but easy for viewers to take time off so I think that’s perfectly reasonable. Would you be able to suggest another 1-2 hour slot another evening / over the weekend?

Reasonable notice: 24 hours written notice is the norm with many forms of notice. You could suggest emails if that’s convenient for you, but less intrusive than calls / texts which you may feel the need to respond to immediately.

As for what to practically do at this point, I would write a letter to the LL at the “address for serving notices” (copy in agent) stating you are happy to provide reasonable access at certain generous time slots, given reasonable written notice. Ask them politely to ensure they or their agents do not contact you via phone as this is significantly disrupting your day and you will respectfully only respond to written notices.

theartfullodger

Tell Landlord (yes, Landlord), in writing, copy agent, keep copy only between (say..). 10:23 & 10:47 every 3rd Friday of each month.

Any Landlord/agent promising a property to any prospective tenants before current occupants have left & and damage/repairs sorted needs his head examined anyway.

Cheers! Artful (Landlord btw...)

Reue

jennie3377 wrote: »

landlord will take me to court if I do not co-operate.

That will do little to aid the "quick sale" he wants. Plus whoever buys the place will have you as a tenant.. does the landlord really want to annoy you when you could disrupt his sale so easily?

As others have suggested, stop replying to the agent's requests each time. Instead tell them when you believe a reasonable time will be (1 afternoon a week if you wish) and that you required 24 hours written notice.

change the locks.

steampowered

The appropriate response to the threat of court action is that you will be suing the landlord for breach of your covenant of quiet enjoyment if the agents keep pestering to you.

I would allow them access at the nominated times (i.e. the Friday afternoon; possibly another time in the week when you know you are at home), and make it clear that no access will be provided outside of those times, and ignore other contact from the agent.

m0bov

Suggest one Sat morning 10-13 hrs. Send this in writing, remind them they need to give you 24hrs notice, in writing. Tell them you will only communicate in writing, any further phone calls will be in breach of "quite enjoyment". Remind them you have exclusive use of the property in the form of an AST. Change the locks, block their number. If they turn up, or threaten to turn up anyway, have a pre printed note handy to put out of the letter box telling them to go away.

Let us know how you get on.

elverson

Can you give them a whole Saturday (and just go out for a few hours)? This is when most buyers would want to do viewings and then you can reasonably refuse any further viewings in the week.

jennie3377

thank you everybody!! really appreciate all the advice. can i change locks even if my AST says i am not allowed??

Pixie5740

How would anyone know you've changed the locks?