Landlord wants to show tenants around while I’m in the process of moving out

barneyj

I’m currently living in my notice period in a property I’m renting and the landlord has done an inspection just now. Obviously I’m in the process of packing my belongings so there are bags and boxes around, and I’m moving 50 miles away and can’t drive, so it’s difficult to move the stuff out.

She’s making me feel terrible now because she said she can’t show anyone around while the boxes are there because the house isn’t in a state to re-advertise, and she’s saying that it will cause here loss of earnings because it’s her only source of income and her husband isn’t working.

I appreciate some repairs and re-decorating are needed, I’m not saying I’m an angel, but surely she can’t make me feel this bad about my packed up belongings meaning she can’t show anyone around, and basically blame me for losing her money?

Paul_DNAP

She is entitled to show people around, but if she wants is "show-home-ready" then she'll need to wait until you're fully out and she's had a repaint.
Ignore her, she's just bitter a having to do some work for her money instead of just sitting back and lapping up the rent for her kids.
And if she's going to be that miserable, get yourself plenty of pictures of the state of the place ready for the "getting my deposit back" arguments.

Morbier

If you're still in your notice period, then then state of the house is none of her business, as long as it's OK when you finally leave. You are still paying rent up to the end of your notice period (I assume) so your LL should respect the fact that it is still your home until the very last day. Nothing wrong with letting prospective tenants having viewings (subject to sufficient notice from LL). I've looked at loads of houses where people are obviously in the middle of packing up. Doesn't take much imagination to see past the boxes.

ripplyuk

I would tell her you’re not allowing viewings anyway so the boxes aren’t an issue. And change the locks.

barneyj

She made me feel really guilty saying she was going to lose earnings and saying things like ‘I appreciate you’re moving out but I can’t show people around when it’s like this, I’m not going to be able to advertise it’. She said, in a really petulant tone, that she’s going to have to repaint my entire bedroom because of some slight discolouration on the ceiling in an area about 0.5 square metres!

The way she was talking made me feel absolutely awful, and now I’m panicking because she said she spent £4,000 decorating it and she doesn’t have that kind of money to do it again. I’m certain now she and the agency are going to withhold the entire depost.

hazyjo

She doesn't sound cut out to be a LL. £4k to decorate a rental? She's havin' a laugh!


Maybe don't speak with her. Ask for emails/texts/letters from now on. She's prob less likely to guilt trip you.

Monkeysocks42

If your landlady can't afford for the property to be empty for a few weeks then she probably shouldn't be a landlady! When we last moved out of a rental property we were moving into a much bigger house that we had purchased so not only did we have boxes piled up in front of the patio doors we also had a new double bed and associated mattress and boxed furniture piled up there. There is nothing they can do, it's still your home until the end of your notice.

barneyj

I agree, she seems to be putting it on a bit. Also she contradicted herself because when she said about the £4,000, she initially told me that this included re-tiling the hallways and dining room with porcelain tiles before I moved in, and there’s no damage whatsoever to them, so she wouldn’t need to pay anywhere near that amount again!

I told her while she was here that the walls were easy to clean as I’d already done one but she still said she has to repaint it and implied that this was going to be at her own cost so I think she’s going to deduct that from the deposit. I still have 3 weeks left of the tenancy.

She said she will have to spend at least 3 days sanding and re-oiling the wood work surfaces in the kitchen, maybe more because they’re hard wood.

hazyjo

Then make sure you do as Paul_DNAP suggests and take LOTS of photos before you leave. Take pics of meter readings too. All date-stamped if poss.

ognum

As a LL I always come to an agreement with my tenants to show new tenants around while they are still resident.

Sometimes I agree to an early release, sometimes a weeks free rent sometimes not charging for damage etc but I have rarely had a void of more than a few days. I also get agreement that workmen can start work on the property before they leave.

The arrangements are mutually attractive and I have never had a problem. Ask your LL for a weeks free rent to let her workmen in if that suits you.

barneyj

I’ve just downloaded a time stamp app for my iPhone, I have every intention of photographing everything.

3 days seems excessive to me for sanding and oiling work surfaces next to a sink that has no draining board, I’ve been here 2.5 years so I feel the surfaces would be a little worn...