Flat viewings

moneytipshelp39

Hello everyone! I’m leaving the flat and both landlord and agent are scheduling viewings (landlord is advertising with other agent than the one handling the tenancy). I, of course, understand I need to allow them access but they’re proposing different timings and I just don’t feel comfortable with people coming over all the time.I’m also wfh so I can’t stop at any time to receive people.

This is what the contract says. I take it that both the landlord and agent can schedule visits separately, right?

Also, there are repairs pending for months and the landlord has been postponing them but for scheduling the viewings they’re super diligent and even chase for me to respond quickly! I'm also doing treatment and have hospital appointments so I need to reject visits that coincide with Dr. appointments and work meetings and the landlord has messaged today saying I'm being difficult with complete disregard of my condition. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much!!

 

DullGreyGuy

Yes, the Estate Agent is an Agent of the Landlord and so either can enter the property at reasonable times with reasonable prior written notice. 

At least it sounds like its your choice to leave, its even worse when its the landlord thats decided to sell up etc so not only are you leaving your home but having the disruption of viewers coming around. 

BonaDea

In your place I would identify a few different 2-3 hour slots in the 7 day week which I could make available - e.g. one 2 hour morning, one 2 hour afternoon, one 2 hour evening, one 3 hour weekend (or 2 hours Sat, 2 hours Sun) - and tell LL and agent that viewings and contractors could come within those slots.  Otherwise, not.  

saajan_12

Yes you agreed in your contract to allow viewings, so further permission is not needed to hold *some* viewings. However they still have to allow you quiet enjoyment, which means not being inundated with too many or too inconvenient viewings. There's no black and white rule to where to draw the line, both sides just have to be reasonable. 

As far as you're concerned, the LL and Agent are one party, so between them, how many are they expecting to schedule in a week? You could suggest they arrange them in blocks so you have a very intrusive afternoon, but then its all done. Or you could suggest times eg a lunch hour and an evening each week. Or whatever. 
Remember they don't necessarily have to agree to your exact schedule, but neither do you with theirs. Its about negotiation, and you'll keep it a lot tidier if they are reasonable with times. 

FlorayG

The key word is 'reasonable'
It's not reasonable for them to interrupt you while you are working but then it's not reasonable for you to refuse all their suggestions
I would suggest you set aside an hour at your lunchtime and and hour in the evening and say they can make appointments for any day at those hours. Then you know when to expect them and they know they can make appointments without having to check in with you first, they just advise someone is coming during those set hours. Easier for all of you

Sam_666

Its still your home, nevermind contract. Contract wording is for courts to interpret.
As its your home, only you decide when someone can come around. Hope you changed locks long time ago.

ciderboy2009

OP - you could always request that they stick to their side of the contract and provide you with "reasonable prior written notice".  Unless "written" is otherwise described in the contract then I would suggest that it means hard copy rather than messenger/whatsapp etc.

DullGreyGuy

ciderboy2009 said:

OP - you could always request that they stick to their side of the contract and provide you with "reasonable prior written notice".  Unless "written" is otherwise described in the contract then I would suggest that it means hard copy rather than messenger/whatsapp etc.

Unless it's defined in the contract "in writing" has long been established that emails count as "in writing". It's if there are other aspects around it where you can pushback, like in the Leasehold Reform Act it says it must be in writing and sent by post and so email fails because of the second part. 

Ultimately the OP could be an !!!!!! if they wanted but that will depend on how much they will need a reference from the landlord in the future.