We're renting a house that is for sale, what to do?

hopeitwill

What would be a normal notification period should we have from the EA for a viewing? When somebody wants to see the house, we get a notification a day before that they're going to come the next day. They're not even saying "Can we...?", but it's more like we have arranged a viewing tomorrow so we're coming. Is that normal?

theartfullodger

They can notify you but you don't have to either reply or permit any viewing.  No for viewings, surveys, valuations, measurements, photos etc etc.

A sensible landlord would offer you an inducement for viewings etc: I'd want at least 50% off the rent as well as a good, written, reference.

That a house is being sold (or indeed sold) does not end a tenancy not compel tenant to leave.  Likely 12-18 months for eviction if you decide to stay.  I'd want £10k+ to leave earlier you hold all the negotiating cards.

hopeitwill

Not to be holier than thou, but the landlord can keep his money. We pulled out from buying the house, so I feel for his predicament wanting a quick sale. Not my problem true, but I'll give him the decency, the decency that we were not given when he lied about the tenures on the LR.

It's more the fact that these viewing requests from the EA with only one day's notice are becoming very annoying. Although not even requests, it's more like "we're coming tomorrow for a viewing". Strangers coming and seeing the house when it's not clean up to the standards of a "viewing" is even more disturbing for me. Not that we're living like slobs but we work full time, we clean during the weekend.

Main question is, what would be a normal notification we should be getting from the EA? A week, 3 days?

Suseka97

I wouldn't think there's a norm - but it really ought to be by mutual agreement.  You could tell the LL or his EA that viewings have to be between a particular window of time and on certain days only, especially given we are still in a lockdown.  

hopeitwill

Suseka97 said:

I wouldn't think there's a norm - but it really ought to be by mutual agreement.  You could tell the LL or his EA that viewings have to be between a particular window of time and on certain days only, especially given we are still in a lockdown.  

Think we're gonna have to play hard ball from now on. 

greatcrested

Access by the landlord or his agents/contractors etc should follow 24 hours written notice, or else by agreement.

As others have said, and particularly during the pandemoc, even following written notice you could refuse access.

What does your tenancy agreement say regarding access (if anything)?

hopeitwill

greatcrested said:

Access by the landlord or his agents/contractors etc should follow 24 hours written notice, or else by agreement.

As others have said, and particularly during the pandemoc, even following written notice you could refuse access.

What does your tenancy agreement say regarding access (if anything)?

We're on a rolling contract so assuming that the original contract still holds then it says 24 hours but only to check for repairs etc.

greatcrested

Yes the originalterms of the tenancy agreement still apply.

If it says nothing about access for viewings you have further justification to deny access - if you need it.

hopeitwill

greatcrested said:

Yes the originalterms of the tenancy agreement still apply.

If it says nothing about access for viewings you have further justification to deny access - if you need it.

Sorry, I have just seen that there is a clause that we should be giving access to prospective tenants or buyers to view to property with a reasonable period of notice, although my reasonable period of notice doesn't seem to match his.

hopeitwill

So our landlord is now saying that the buyers for the house we're renting is at the enquiries stage as we are for the house we're buying and that we need to discuss our moving out date. Our solicitor refuses to give us an exchange date before the enquiries are answered in full, and this makes my OH incredibly stressed. I should add there is no upper chain.

When does the 6 month eviction notice come to an end? The landlord didn't even tell us when the house was sold, we only noticed it when a guy came to change the sign in front of the house from for sale to sold stc.

Is he being unreasonable? Or are we being unreasonable to ask for more time before we exactly know?