Hi, I have just given one months notice to my landlady and within minutes received an email saying she’d like to show the estate agent round and any interested future tenants. I realise this is because she doesn’t want a gap between tenants but I’m not comfortable with people coming in when I’m out and definitely don’t want viewings when I’m in. I’ve checked the tenancy agreement and there’s no mention of viewings during notice so was wondering if this is normal practice or I can refuse the request?
Any help would be much appreciated.
I assume you are going to rent again? Or if buying maybe a good reference to the mortgage company? Do you want a favourable reference from the landlady? But dont want to help her. I rest my case.
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I asked if it was normal practice, if so I will accept that and gladly allow viewings. If it’s not I will politely refuse as would be my right. As for your reply regarding not wanting to help, I have been nothing but helpful whilst in tenancy and I’m sure if a reference was required it would be a glowing one.
Without knowing the circumstances you have no case. Good evening.
Darren as you have given notice you should have the decency to allow viewings for any future tenancy or the landlady will lose a months rent if you are obstructive. It’s called working together. Rob
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Again, I simply asked if this is normal practice, a simple yes or no reply would be suffice. I am not aiming to be obstructive and already said I understand about landlords not wanting by gaps between tenants. I would assume there would be a break between tenants to redecorate or carry out any work needed . Does working together include patronising people asking advice?
I have now offered a compromise so no longer need this question answered
Darren, you are under an obligation to accommodate viewings during the period of notice and I’m sure your tenancy agreement states this as all my STA’s certainly do. Whilst I can empathise to some extent that you prefer not to condone viewings when your not at home I do think it’s only reasonable to assist with viewings when your in.
What you fail to recognise is that any potential tenants wishing to view a property may almost certainly have to honour a period of notice to their current landlord as you are serving yours and you are being selfish by obstructing your Landlord depriving him of his rental income by keeping a void period to a minimum.
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As I have already said I read the agreement and there is no mention. As I have said, I am not deliberately obstructing, merely asking a question as I’m concerned about privacy and my possessions. As I have said, I have offered a compromise and we have come to an agreement. I get on very well with my landlady and help in any way I can. As I have also said, I no longer require this question answered so why send yet another condescending reply calling me selfish? I’ve clearly hit a nerve with a few people with such a simple question.
It’s sorted, move on
Darren,
What do you expect fellow landlord to say!
It is a normal practice to allow viewing.
Say ‘it is normal practice to allow viewing’ , that would answer the question perfectly. Also, read the question and replies before jumping in.
Getting defensive of your ‘fellow landlord’ and patronising people is totally unnecessary and just plain rude.Can none of you even see this?
Civility costs nothing.
Hi Darren, this is a good question that I’m sure many tenants find themselves thinking at this point in the tenancy.
In general, you have the right to quiet enjoyment of the property and do not have to let anyone in. There are exceptions, including emergency repairs. Does your tenancy agreement include any terms that give the landlord permission to enter the property for viewings? It is common for tenancies to include a term along the lines of “the tenant will not withhold consent for reasonable access to the property for the purpose of viewings during the notice period of the tenancy”. If your tenancy agreement has such a term, then you are bound by it.
To answer your question about what common practice is, I would say that it is common practice to let the landlord enter at reasonable times and with reasonable notice to show prospective new tenants the property. But if you don’t want to do that, then you could decide not to. There may be consequences that are hard to predict, however.
Sam
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Thank you for your informative and polite answer Sam
My reason for asking was out of concern for privacy and my possessions. I have a lot of expensive audio equipment, some of which is easily pocketable.
I understand the landlords financial reasons for the viewings but in my opinion it’s not very respectful of the tenant who is still paying and living there. From the replies from landlords I’ve had on here I can see that for some it’s all about the money. The us and them attitude is pretty disturbing. This of course is only a few landlords, there are far more nice ones. My current landlady being one of the nicest.
I have come to an agreement with my landlady and will be packing up some of my equipment early and putting it into storage and any viewers will not be left on their own. A happy compromise albeit not ideal regarding privacy but it’s only a month.
Thanks again for your reply
Darren
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its not all about the money. I wait till a tenant has moved out and then i do viewings, as when empty the tenant can visualise their own possesions there . It also gives me time to weed out people who I would not get on with because of their opinions or way of living
Good for you, that’s the most decent and fair way.
I agree , I wouldn’t want to rent from a bigoted narrow minded landlord any more than you’d want a messy disrespectful tenant
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exactly right just as I am judging a tenat I know they are judging me . its two way
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if you have good judgement of people saves problems in the future
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Dear Darren, I have to deliver a response to your comments in this post .
You claim “it’s all about the money”… Try converting your landlady’s mortgage Providor to a charity by suggesting they should write-off any void periods and I wish you every chance if success but sadly you will fail. Most Landlords carry a hefty mortgage that they have to honour every month and surprise surprise, that also includes “void periods” which we Property investors try very hard to avoid.
Your Landlady is running a business and, as you have described you enjoyed a good working relationship. I am therefore rather amazed that you raised the question in the first place by expressing your reluctance to assist the Lady to try and establish another tenancy to replace yours as soon as possible to your exit to enable a void period to be as short as can be.
Granted, you state you have e pensive audio items then without debate you could have stipulated that viewings were only possible when your at home even though you stated you “definitely are not prepared to have any viewings when your in”
I’m pleased that you have now indicated that you have now reached an agreement with your Landlady.
Try informing your new Landlord of your feelings regarding viewings after tendering notice and I would be most interested in the response you may get!!
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This is really boring now Geoff, if only you’d replied politely in the first place eh?
As far as I’m concerned this is the end of the discussion, by all means have the last word if you wish but I’m out. Enjoy your evening
Most Tenancy agreements do state that a vacating tenant should co-operate with viewings in the last 4 weeks of their tenancy. It may be that the particular agreement isn’t a suitably drafted one, to the Landlords detriment.
What I would say, is remember the last time you were looking for a property and might have had to wait for one to become available for viewing.
There are 000’s of applicant Tenants out there waiting to view properties to take up the day they become available ( I’m sure your aware of the Housing shortage )
I certainly take your point about viewings when your not present but this is a case where Both tenant and Landlord need to co-operate for not just both their benefit, but also those tenants looking to view a property.
As a landlord I always believed that tenants had to assist with accommodating viewings in the notice period.
All my off the shelf tenancy agreements have contained this clause as I believe do Openrent standard agreement.
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