Is this normal practice with tenants when selling a house?

kmb500

Hello, I am renting a house with my friend and last week the agent served us with an eviction notice for mid May, which is when our original 12 month tenancy ends.

They are now asking us to prepare the house for buyers viewings, i.e. cleaning, tidying, and probably removing decorations. I expect they may also ask us to be available (or unavailable i.e. ask us to go out) for viewings.

This is 3 months before our tenancy ends and they want to be controlling how we live in our home this far out from the eviction... this seems very unreasonable to me? Is this normal for the letting agent? 

TIA

Marvel1

kmb500 said:

They are now asking us to prepare the house for buyers viewings, i.e. cleaning, tidying, and probably removing decorations. I expect they may also ask us to be available (or unavailable i.e. ask us to go out) for viewings.

No to any of the above, you are still living there they want a showroom they can wait until you have left.

goater78

I would refuse and I don’t think they can force you to do this. Is there anything in your contract to allow viewings?

At the end of the day what are they going to do if you don’t obey? You’re being evicted anyway. 

lesalanos

You have a right to quiet enjoyment so could refuse access.  You may want to limit it though to certain times when you would be willing to entertain viewings.

Will you be leaving at that date?

turnitround

You are not being evicted. Your tenancy does not end just because your 12 month term is up. Your landlord has to serve you the correct notice, has he done that?

You can only be evicted by the courts.

peterhjohnson

kmb500 said:

Hello, I am renting a house with my friend and last week the agent served us with an eviction notice for mid May, which is when our original 12 month tenancy ends.

They are now asking us to prepare the house for buyers viewings, i.e. cleaning, tidying, and probably removing decorations. I expect they may also ask us to be available (or unavailable i.e. ask us to go out) for viewings.

This is 3 months before our tenancy ends and they want to be controlling how we live in our home this far out from the eviction... this seems very unreasonable to me? Is this normal for the letting agent? 

TIA

They can ask but it's a bit cheeky. You are entitle to "quiet enjoyment" of your home. Also (sensible) buyers won't  invest in searches, etc or exchange contracts until you are actually gone. The exception to that last bit is if the buyer wants a house with a tennant

Jonboy_1984

We bought a house that was coming off the rental market and the estate agents arranged a single viewing day with the tenants rather than continued disruption.

When the original offer fell through, they then reverted to us rather than re-marketing and disrupting the tenants further.

Bottom line it does happen, but you generally have the right to peaceful enjoyment and therefore the  right to refuse, unless there is something specific in your tenancy agreement.

lookstraightahead

It's your home 

SDLT_Geek

Will you be relying on a reference from the landlord for another tenancy?

kmb500

Marvel1 said:

kmb500 said:

They are now asking us to prepare the house for buyers viewings, i.e. cleaning, tidying, and probably removing decorations. I expect they may also ask us to be available (or unavailable i.e. ask us to go out) for viewings.

No to any of the above, you are still living there they want a showroom they can wait until you have left.

That is my feeling as well, while I'm living here this is my home, not a showroom.

goater78 said:

I would refuse and I don’t think they can force you to do this. Is there anything in your contract to allow viewings?

At the end of the day what are they going to do if you don’t obey? You’re being evicted anyway. 

Thanks for asking about my contract. I have found this section in my tenancy:

8.3.2. To permit the Premises to be viewed during the last two months of the Term at all reasonable times uponprevious appointment during normal working hours made by any person who is or is acting on behalf of aprospective purchaser or tenant of the Premises who is authorised by the Landlord or the Landlord’s Agent to viewthe Premises and to erect 'For Sale' or 'To Let' boards at their discretion

I don't especially want to aggravate the agent and give them a reason to deduct money from our deposit; and I've also asked if they would consider ending the tenancy early, if I find somewhere to move to before May, so i still want to be able to be in a good relationship with them. but them asking us to do this 3 months out seems unreasonable.

SusieT

Then tell them that in line with the contract you will allow viewings in the last 2 months. However you do not need to have the house immaculate, just live in your normal way and put away anything you do not want to be seen. It sounds as if the landlord wants you to prepare and sell the house for them, and they also want you to leave at a time that will leave them with the shortest possible time with no revenue which for me is not on. I sold one of my rentals with the tenant in it, and they were happy they were not being asked to leave, another they wanted to leave so we came to an agreement that they would allow viewings and I would allow them to move without giving the correct notice, thus they could minimise any rent crossover, so to me your landlord is not being reasonable.
As others have said you do not need to leave at the time the landlord wants, you can stay longer. Were I the landlord I would be happy to agree a date convenient for you, but I have a feeling yours may not be as flexible