Property viewings while living in the property as a tenant

ChewyyBacca

I have the same dilemma. Once the notice is given, LL would want to book viewings for potential tenants to minimize loss of rent. However, I don't want unknown people walking through my house, even a mask doesn't help assuage my fears, given the aerosol/droplets theory on c-19. While I want to continue to have a cordial relationship with LL, I don't want to jeopardize my health (life). Havent given notice yet, and Im thinking of paying for 15 additional days after vacating the property, so that they can conduct viewings. Again, its all in my head, haven't proposed to my LL yet.
Having said that, the inventory of flats around me in 1/4th mile radius is continually increasing. The flats have lost £50-200 of rental value, since May 2020, stats from observing listings on RM and zoopla. So I really don't expect people jumping to get viewings the moment LL lists the flat. However I have seen houses with gardens snapped up real quick. I also think it will be almost impossible to prove the loss of rent, when similar properties have been up on RM since July 2020.
And here i agree with OP, the recent spate of new restrictions definitely help the argument of not allowing viewings, even though its clearly stated in tenancy agreement to allow for them.

Hannimal

@ChewyyBacca
I am going to fight my corner on this one. No way am I letting people in here while I am living here, the LL should budget for space before tenancies and risking the tenants (and prospective tenants and letting agents) health is not worth it. I am absolutely sure this will not backfire on me as I think suggesting viewings now is entirely irresponsible. 
Over here (central bristol) flats still go very quickly, so I am sure a lot of people would want to view. this will be an easy flat to find new tenant for so can't imagine it would be empty for long either way.

Worst comes to worst I would go with what someone in this thread suggested and reluctantly agree to have them over, then inform them in the morning that I have a cough. I don't think I would need to lie to them but I would if it came to that. I am not letting anyone else outwith my bubble in here either. 

Sistergold

Thank God you are now in a position to buy your own place! Everyone is losing something at the moment, freedoms, loss of income etc. LL should not ask for viewing just to prevent loss of earnings! At present it’s even scary to meet with friends what more strangers coming in and out? To be honest even before the virus it’s so inconvenient to have viewings while renting but you just cope with it! One should budget for vacant periods! 

You are not being unfair at all as you can not allow viewings with increasing COVID cases! 

csgohan4

I would make sure you change the locks and switch them back when you leave to ensure, noone comes in without your permission

Hannimal

Yeah... so my partner (we don't live together) works in respiratory and has been working on COVID wards earlier. I see very few people but I see my partner a couple of times a week. I would be absolutely devastated if I took my partner off work for 2 weeks because of being exposed so I am trying to be extra careful. I can at least work from home if I have to self isolate but they can't. On the other hand, while my partner is working on a green ward right now they are in respiratory and so there's a lot of opportunity to be exposed at work, so my odds of getting the !!!!!! from my partner are not slim. I wouldn't want to expose the estate agents, not even though I think they are leeches. 

steampowered

Personally, I think you are overreacting, and possibly winding yourself up. 

If you are worried - stay at least 2m away from people who are visiting, ask them to wear masks and ask them not to touch anything. That will bring the risk to pretty much zero.

You are regularly meeting a partner who works on a Covid ward, so the risk of catching Covid from him is going to be hundreds of times higher than catching it from someone doing a viewing.

Hannimal

@steampowered - what you are saying about 2m is not true in indoor spaces. It is pretty clear now that the coronavirus does not just spread in droplets. Anyway, you probably also think that many of the other rules are overreactions. In several parts of this country all visits in households are banned. I really don't think it is an overreaction to not allow people to come into my flat during a pandemic because my landlord is worried about missing a few days of rent. 

Also the risk of me getting COVID from my partner worries me much less than my partner or the EA getting it from me. 

m0bov

The LL can do all the viewings he wants, once he gets back possession.