Unrelated; estate agent threats.

[kazine]

We're moving in 3 weeks time and the estate agents have rang up today asking if they can do a viewing TOMORROW! It IS in our contract that they should, but I've told them we need to do a bit of repairing as our cat has scratched some wallpaper, they didn't seem to care and still want to do viewing. They've threatened me with taking away money from the deposit if we don't let them do a viewing (can they do that?)

I'm tempted to ring up and ask our new place if they can put forward our move as I feel really uncomfortable with people coming in our house, especially when I'm alone and OH is out at work and I'm pregnant

 

[Rickles]

As a landlord and tenant myself - yes you need to let them do viewings... it doesn't matter if work needs doing, they can tell a future tenant it will be sorted at a later date - our bathroom is currently covered in damp, but the viewings are going ahead. With our current house I've said no viewings between 11 and 2 due to DD having lunch and nap. Then no viewings after 5.30pm and this hasn't been a problem.

BUT your landlord doesn't want the property empty for a month because you wouldn't let anyone in, if this is the case they might have a case to take some of your deposit as compensation for loss of earnings... however it is not a sensible comment from the estate agent who should allay your fears and be flexible.

We've had it for the last 2 months as a tenant was found but then their references fell through. If you are not happy being alone at the house at the same time I'd suggest you can ask your landlord to supply a key to the estate agent and arrange to be out when they come over. Or go to the agency and meet the lettings agent so you are familiar with each other. The guy renting our place has been very sympathetic to not disturbing family life. I have been very flexible with last minute requests - so if I say no - he doesn't push it at all, just cheerfully says when is good for you.

HTH xx

 

[kazine]

As a landlord and tenant myself - yes you need to let them do viewings... it doesn't matter if work needs doing, they can tell a future tenant it will be sorted at a later date - our bathroom is currently covered in damp, but the viewings are going ahead. With our current house I've said no viewings between 11 and 2 due to DD having lunch and nap. Then no viewings after 5.30pm and this hasn't been a problem.

BUT your landlord doesn't want the property empty for a month because you wouldn't let anyone in, if this is the case they might have a case to take some of your deposit as compensation for loss of earnings... however it is not a sensible comment from the estate agent who should allay your fears and be flexible.

We've had it for the last 2 months as a tenant was found but then their references fell through. If you are not happy being alone at the house at the same time I'd suggest you can ask your landlord to supply a key to the estate agent and arrange to be out when they come over. Or go to the agency and meet the lettings agent so you are familiar with each other. The guy renting our place has been very sympathetic to not disturbing family life. I have been very flexible with last minute requests - so if I say no - he doesn't push it at all, just cheerfully says when is good for you.

HTH xx

Do I need to allow viewings NOW? We are going to be moving out 2 weeks before the end of our contract.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

As a landlord and tenant myself - yes you need to let them do viewings... it doesn't matter if work needs doing, they can tell a future tenant it will be sorted at a later date - our bathroom is currently covered in damp, but the viewings are going ahead. With our current house I've said no viewings between 11 and 2 due to DD having lunch and nap. Then no viewings after 5.30pm and this hasn't been a problem.

BUT your landlord doesn't want the property empty for a month because you wouldn't let anyone in, if this is the case they might have a case to take some of your deposit as compensation for loss of earnings... however it is not a sensible comment from the estate agent who should allay your fears and be flexible.

We've had it for the last 2 months as a tenant was found but then their references fell through. If you are not happy being alone at the house at the same time I'd suggest you can ask your landlord to supply a key to the estate agent and arrange to be out when they come over. Or go to the agency and meet the lettings agent so you are familiar with each other. The guy renting our place has been very sympathetic to not disturbing family life. I have been very flexible with last minute requests - so if I say no - he doesn't push it at all, just cheerfully says when is good for you.

HTH xx

Agree ^^

Yes yoy do need to allow viewings. Landlord wants new people in day after people move out in some cases.
When we moved from our rented place as soon as we put notice in estate agent/landlord rang to ask if such and such was okay for a viewing. Just the way it is

I was always on my own (i was one showing them around) with 2 young children.

 

[kazine]

I'm so annoyed and reluctant to do anything to help this particular estate agents because they have been TERRIBLE the entire time we've lived here. No help at all. The landlord agrees and actually was going to sack them when we renewed but we're not renewing.

In January we waited a month of emailing and calling them to try and get bathroom light fixture repaired and it never happened, the landlord had to do it despite paying them for repairs.

 

[EmzyJA]

The agent should be there too for the viewings. I'd double check with them, maybe that way you'll feel a bit safer. But I agree with the others that it is the normal thing to happen. With my mums house I was literally doing work in the property and it was a partial building site when we had tenants viewing. You shouldn't be responsible for showing the tenants around that'll be the job of the agent. Most landlords will need to get a new tenant in quick so they don't lose income. So the sooner they can do viewings the better.

 

[Rickles]

As a landlord and tenant myself - yes you need to let them do viewings... it doesn't matter if work needs doing, they can tell a future tenant it will be sorted at a later date - our bathroom is currently covered in damp, but the viewings are going ahead. With our current house I've said no viewings between 11 and 2 due to DD having lunch and nap. Then no viewings after 5.30pm and this hasn't been a problem.

BUT your landlord doesn't want the property empty for a month because you wouldn't let anyone in, if this is the case they might have a case to take some of your deposit as compensation for loss of earnings... however it is not a sensible comment from the estate agent who should allay your fears and be flexible.

We've had it for the last 2 months as a tenant was found but then their references fell through. If you are not happy being alone at the house at the same time I'd suggest you can ask your landlord to supply a key to the estate agent and arrange to be out when they come over. Or go to the agency and meet the lettings agent so you are familiar with each other. The guy renting our place has been very sympathetic to not disturbing family life. I have been very flexible with last minute requests - so if I say no - he doesn't push it at all, just cheerfully says when is good for you.

HTH xx

Do I need to allow viewings NOW? We are going to be moving out 2 weeks before the end of our contract.

Afraid so - tbh getting all the paperwork and references through can take a month so I'm not surprised the estate agent wants to get going... Plus as most people /potential tenants have to give a month's notice when moving out it's reasonable to allow viewings as soon as you have given a month's notice.

The only way you can avoid this is to speak to your landlord and see if he will wait until you have moved - it would be at his/her discretion though, they are not obliged to wait that long xx

 

[Buttercup84]

I viewed several tenanted properties both on my own (as in just shown around by the tenant) and with an agent. I don't think they even obtained consent first in some cases (not on imo!) so I can only assume that tenants do need to allow viewings.

 

[leash27]

We only gave notice to our Estate Agent last week that we have bought our own house and are moving at the end of June. We have already had people round to view the house at the end of the same week with just 24 hours notice. The agent did accompany them around the house so all we had to do was be here really.

I guess it's understandable that they would want to try and have new tenants ready to move in as soon as you have moved out so that they aren't losing any income from the property.

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