Estate agents entering property without permission?

tab_rocker

My housemate and I were slightly taken back by this email...

Hello, please be aware I have a viewing booked for tomorrow at 4.45PM. I need your permission to enter your flat, if I do not hear back from you I will presume permission is given. I will use our spare key to gain access if no one is home. Many Thanks


I don’t feel overly comfortable with the estate agents presuming it’s okay to enter the property. They had a viewing booked for 11am today (at which point I was in a the bath) and I hadn’t received their email at this point. As it happens this viewing can’t have gone ahead as I wasn’t disturbed but imagine if it had!

Is it normal practice for estate agents to do this?

Thanks in advance!

pinklady21

Have you written back and said it is not convenient?

Why not simply lock them out? or change the lock?

Check your tenancy agreement and what it says about allowing viewings for new tenants / buyers. However you are entitled to peaceful enjoyment of the property, and it is poor practice to simply assume that no communications implies that permission is granted!

Hasbeen

tab_rocker wrote: »

My housemate and I were slightly taken back by this email...

Hello, please be aware I have a viewing booked for tomorrow at 4.45PM. I need your permission to enter your flat, if I do not hear back from you I will presume permission is given. I will use our spare key to gain access if no one is home. Many Thanks


I don’t feel overly comfortable with the estate agents presuming it’s okay to enter the property. They had a viewing booked for 11am today (at which point I was in a the bath) and I hadn’t received their email at this point. As it happens this viewing can’t have gone ahead as I wasn’t disturbed but imagine if it had!

Is it normal practice for estate agents to do this?

Thanks in advance!

They are asking for your permission!!!


If ok, do not get back to them.

If not, get back to them.

Seems pretty simple??

PokerPlayer111

Yeah normally the standard contract says something like they have to give 24 hours notice and then they can enter. Pretty messed up really. Think my last contract said they dont even have to ask for viewings but will try their best to give notice.



When i put my last ever notice in i made sure i had moved ASAP - got out of the place the day after it went on rightmove.

Mojisola

Hasbeen wrote: »

They are asking for your permission!!!

And are presuming that they have it if they don't get a reply.

There can be a variety of reasons why someone doesn't/can't check their emails - the EA shouldn't enter the house unless they have specific permission.

tab_rocker

Thank you for your responses

I was meant to view a property recently but didn’t because the estate agents hadn’t heard back from the tenants, therefore the estate agents postponed the viewing.

tab_rocker

Hasbeen wrote: »

They are asking for your permission!!!


If ok, do not get back to them.

If not, get back to them.

Seems pretty simple??

You have a horrible tone.

I’m quite aware what my options are in responding to the email. This wasn’t what I was asking.

Marvel1

With my door lock, if I leave the key in the lock, no-one can unlock from the outside with the other key. Can you do that?

Hasbeen

tab_rocker wrote: »

You have a horrible tone.

I’m quite aware what my options are in responding to the email. This wasn’t what I was asking.

You can hear my tone? :eek:

What does your contract say?
They have asked, so just respond appropriately.

Your question asked is it normal? Well depends on anything in your contract or your own dialogue with agents.

If you are unhappy with visits it might be better contacting them and reach an understanding?

Red-Squirrel_2

Email back and make it clear that they must get positive permission from you before each viewing, which you will allow if it is convenient, but that you do not give permission for them to ever let themselves into your home without your express agreement.

Then change the barrel in the locks. They'll only find out if they ignore your email.

Hasbeen

cjdavies wrote: »

With my door lock, if I leave the key in the lock, no-one can unlock from the outside with the other key. Can you do that?

If OP is in then probably. But not if there is nobody there.

They should just change the locks, but that is extra expense as it is assumed OP is moving out?