Lettings agent harassment

Steveal

We are almost in the last 2 weeks of a 2 month notice period on our rented house in London. It seems the landlord/agents have just woken up to a possible void a few days ago and are now harassing us with non stop demands to allow viewings at all times of the day and late evenings.

We have family with children (including infants) visiting on holiday from overseas for the summer and can't entertain their constant requests. We cannot practically guarantee access to all rooms for most of the day (and certainly not after 7) as there is always a baby taking a nap, someone using the one bathroom, cooking in the kitchen, etc. And the general mess associated with a lot of people.

They say they can't conduct a viewing without our email/text confirmation and have been badgering me on the phone to agree to these viewings.

They have conducted 2 viewings until now but I am fed up and told them that we will not permit any more viewings due to the reasons highlighted above.

I am confident they won't break in but is there any legal action they can take?

We have completed on a property up north and will move in there straight from this house so don't care about landlord references.

Lokolo

Why not compromise and say viewings can be done between X and Y time on Tuesdays and Thursday or something. A time you know when you won't be bothered if viewings are taking place.

Or you could just ignore them.

sal_III

No they can't legally enter the property without your permission (unless an emergency) definitely not for a viewing.

That being said you are being slightly unreasonable, a viewing usually takes like 5min I doubt the bathroom is occupied or cooking is going on 24/7. The general mess isn't your problem, you are not required to tidy up for viewings.

Steveal

I have been as patient as I can. Unfortunately, with family visiting on holiday, its very hard for me to predict availability or to guarantee access to every room.

I have stopped taking their calls. Next step I disable my voicemail!

The way I see it, they should have started way earlier and not left it to the last 2-3 weeks.

Lokolo wrote: »

Why not compromise and say viewings can be done between X and Y time on Tuesdays and Thursday or something. A time you know when you won't be bothered if viewings are taking place.

Or you could just ignore them.

muhandis

Irrespective of what the tenancy agreement says, they can't enter the property without your permission. I suspect the LA knows that hence the insistence on written confirmation.

Unless you have some axe to grind with the landlord and just want to make their life difficult, you could consider giving access when you're all not there for instance when everyone's out visiting Madame Tussauds?

As for legal action that the landlord can take, given that you will be out of the property in two weeks (?), there isn't anything practical he can do.

Lokolo

Steveal wrote: »

I have been as patient as I can. Unfortunately, with family visiting on holiday, its very hard for me to predict availability or to guarantee access to every room.

I have stopped taking their calls. Next step I disable my voicemail

From your post it doesn't sound like you've been patient at all. Two viewings. 15 minutes each. So 30 minutes out of your way and you are fed up. House ownership will be a new experience for you.

Like I said, you can compromise and be reasonable and give them a couple of hour slots a week - which yes, yes you can predict availability, there's no way a person doesn't know a single hour where you could make the house available. Or you can just ignore them.

G_M

Steveal wrote: »

I am confident they won't break in but is there any legal action they can take?

.

Yes. They can apply to court and ask a judge to make an access order. If you ignored that, you could be sent to prison for Contempt of Court.

That assumes you agreed (vie the the Tenancy Agreement you signed) to allow them access for viewings.

However it would take more than 2 weeks........

See also my post 47 here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6022895/we-want-to-be-present-for-viewings-when-we-move-out

Steveal

If a judge ordered access for viewing, I would of course comply.

SpiderLegs

Conduct the next viewing naked.

Further requests for viewing will cease.

onwards&upwards

It’s only 2 weeks, just tell them no more viewings will be allowed to take place as your family circumstances mean it isn’t currently appropriate.

jump_to_it

I am a landlord and my tenants have exchanged on a property that they are purchasing and looking to complete on the 24th July.

They are in a fixed term which is due to expire on the 31st August 2019. However now that they have exchanged I have placed the property on the market for sale.
In order to facilitate viewings by prospective buyers I have negotiated with tenants they will receive a significant disruption allowance for allowing viewings within reasonable hours etc. They are happy with this and have been co operative.
This maybe something that you wish to discuss with your landlord but I do feel that you are being slightly unreasonable and appear to relish the fact that the landlord may have a void period. How about giving someone else the benefit of somewhere to live! Just a thought.