Property viewings while living in the property as a tenant

Hannimal

I am aware I can say no to all viewings, I am just asking for peoples' opinions as I don't know what the right thing to do is.


I have given notice at the flat I am living in and I will be moving out soon. The LL wants to have some block viewings for prospective tenants. I very much want to stay on their good side and I've had a good time living here. The LL has been fair and nice. Until now. I am not sure it is fair to arrange viewings in my home during a pandemic, but am I being unreasonable? I am still living here until the end of the tenancy and I am not feeling entirely comfortable with strangers in. I would have to vacate the property for the duration of the viewings and I while am sure any risk of transmission would be minimal, having to vacate the place is a bit inconvenient as I work from home at the moment and don't really have anywhere else to go. So in sum, I want to be fair and I want this to be smooth and nice as possible for all parties, but I am feeling a bit uneasy about viewings. 

grumiofoundation

In my opinion you are not being unreasonable. 

dimbo61

Well that is up to you.
The Landlord will be hoping to get the property re-let as soon as possible.
You have given notice and not the Landlord serving you notice.
"The LL has been fair and nice "
People are desperate to find a new home in many parts of the country.
Do you need a reference ?
Are you going out shopping ?
Are you going out for exercise ?
Did you view your new home before you signed up to buy or rent it ?

oystercatcher

I don't think I would be happy allowing complete strangers into my home in these times. The only suggestion I could think of would perhaps be to allow one block viewing/ open morning etc, at a time convenient to you followed by a professional cleaner paid for by landlord. This may be acceptable to the landlord as the cost of the cleaner would be less than the loss in rent caused by a gap between tenants.

Hannimal

I would absolutely think that any new tenant should have the right to view this property in person, and frankly find it a bit disgusting that some agents are only showing video tours. I think that is grossly unfair on tenants.

I go to the supermarket on my street but not really anywhere else, I have made myself a home gym because of the virus. I don't regularly spend time away from home, particularly during the week, as I am expected to be working.. of course now I am just procrastinating on this forum. 

I don't think I need a reference, I am buying my own place which is the only reason I am moving, I've loved living here. I would like to be empathetic to the landlord though and not make a fuss. I suspect he doesn't need the money to survive if the property goes empty for a bit as he owns several properties and shops in this city. 

MaryNB

We had to find another tenant when lockdown was at its strictest and I didn't feel comfortable have loads of people trekking through the house. We put together a video tour to minimise the number of people viewing. Only if they were happy with the place did we let them view it. Different situation though, the onus was on us to find someone.

If you do decide to allow viewings you could try to get the landlord to insist prospective tenants wear a mask, and leave a bottle of hand sanitiser at the front door. Having said that, I was told by EAs I needed to wear a mask while going to view houses but noticed other people viewing ignored the instruction completely. 

Only proceed if you're comfortable with it.

theoretica

When I was moving out of rented (though not in a pandemic) my landlord showed people round - I can't remember if it went to the first viewers or if there was a second viewing.  So one thing to think about is allowing one or two viewings but not many and they should only take a few minutes. 

Hannimal

I viewed several houses in June / July and generally estate agents were not wearing masks and I could see people before /after me arriving to view without masks. I can insist all I want but I don't think I would have any power or say on whether people were masked or not. 

I think this property will go very quickly.

theoretica

If you were present, at least when the viewings started (or make the landlord wait and you show the flat) you could refuse to let people in without masks - and it should be as safe as when you were viewing other properties.  But of course let everyone know before hand what you planned and that it is a condition for allowing the viewing.

Robbo66

The property could go on the first batch of viewings so then there would no need for anymore. 
Make sure the agent and viewers are following Gov guidelines by wearing gloves and a mask, as you quite rightly say the risk of transmission is very small. 

moneysavinghero

Offer to take photos and film a video tour for the EA. They can then market the property and make it clear that prospective tenants will be able to view once you have moved out.They cant move in until you have moved out anyway so the landlord wont be losing more than a week or two of rent.

Not being unreasonable at all.