As a Landlord, can you request Tenant details from Letting Agent?

im4gine3

im4gine3

im4gine3

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I'm currently renting out my flat which is being fully managed by the Letting Agent.

I'm also in a position where the current tenants have put in a notice wishing to vacate fro mthe property at a set date, which is fine by me and i have issued a formal notice of the same to them.

However i have come across a pickle where the letting agent is citing 'Data Protection' and/or GDPR, that they cannot provide me with the tenant contact details.

I checked online and there's several articles suggesting i as the landlord am able to get these details, and if they say otherwise, it's usually something to do with them potentially hiding something.

This is becoming an issue because i am wanting to use an alternative agent to provide the letting/managed services, and have set up a block meeting on Saturday to allow potential tenants to view the property.

Any advice on what i can do to get them to release the details, or who i should approach if they fail to act?
 
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im4gine3 said:
I checked online and there's several articles suggesting i as the landlord am able to get these details, and if they say otherwise, it's usually something to do with them potentially hiding something.
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This sounds like rubbish to me, because normally a landlord would be passed the tenant details by the agent, for the landlord to approve the person living in their property. The letting agent must be trying to hide something. The letting agency works for you, and should be helping you out.

Your only options are getting the details out of the agents somehow, or going direct to the property via letter/visit, although you're not supposed to disturb tenants, but if they're leaving anyway ... also, it sounds like something fishy is going on.
 
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I have the tenant names but no contact detail.

I was thinking of going to the property directly and talk to the tenants but wasn't sure if i was 'allowed' to.. as technically you are not supposed to disturb the tenants
 
im4gine3 said:
I have the tenant names but no contact detail.

I was thinking of going to the property directly and talk to the tenants but wasn't sure if i was 'allowed' to.. as technically you are not supposed to disturb the tenants
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Correct, you're not supposed to.

You're certainly not allowed to enter the property without the tenants being given notice, that will be in the contract.
 
I'm not sure how it stands with just ringing the doorbell to speak to them, but you certainly shouldn't enter the property without them having notice and their prior agreement.
 
Diddums said:
Hang on, are you wanting to ask the tenants to do block viewings this Saturday? And you're asking them today? Think you're pushing your luck a bit with that one tbh.
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Accessing the property | Housing Rights

www.housingrights.org.uk www.housingrights.org.uk

If your tenancy agreement does not have a term about viewings, you should:

ask tenants to allow limited viewings
check if they have a preferred time for viewings
ensure you give at least 24 hours notice of a viewing
confirm that the tenants agree before going ahead


today is absolutely fine?
 
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I think the key bit there is "At least". He's giving maybe 36 hours, which is very much on the short side, especially if it's going to be a "block viewing" which suggests it's going to be longer than say a single possible tenant who could be expected to be there for a short period at a set time.

I would not be overly amused at less than 2 days notice that some strangers were going to be coming into where I live, unless it was an emergency, especially if the notice was during the working week meaning any tidying up/putting stuff away had to be done in one evening.
Not to mention if I'd already got plans to have guests around.
 
rG-tom said:

Accessing the property | Housing Rights

www.housingrights.org.uk www.housingrights.org.uk

If your tenancy agreement does not have a term about viewings, you should:

ask tenants to allow limited viewings
check if they have a preferred time for viewings
ensure you give at least 24 hours notice of a viewing
confirm that the tenants agree before going ahead


today is absolutely fine?
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It says it there in your quote, "check if they have a preferred time" - I think they can decline on that basis? Not sure tbh.
 
You can certainly knock on the door to speak to the tenants if you want - this alone doesn't breach the 'right to quiet enjoyment' rules. It's things like letting yourself in for anything other than emergency repairs, harassing them etc that's illegal.
 
rG-tom said:

Accessing the property | Housing Rights

www.housingrights.org.uk www.housingrights.org.uk

If your tenancy agreement does not have a term about viewings, you should:

ask tenants to allow limited viewings
check if they have a preferred time for viewings
ensure you give at least 24 hours notice of a viewing
confirm that the tenants agree before going ahead


today is absolutely fine?
Click to expand...
They also have to agree, while 24 hours may be the minimum I'd expect at least 7 days notice if you'd be expecting to disturb a large part of my weekend.
 
Werewolf said:
I think the key bit there is "At least". He's giving maybe 36 hours, which is very much on the short side, especially if it's going to be a "block viewing" which suggests it's going to be longer than say a single possible tenant who could be expected to be there for a short period at a set time.

I would not be overly amused at less than 2 days notice that some strangers were going to be coming into where I live, unless it was an emergency, especially if the notice was during the working week meaning any tidying up/putting stuff away had to be done in one evening.
Not to mention if I'd already got plans to have guests around.
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If you've already served notice to leave the place then it's hardly unexpected that viewings will take place is it?

They don't need to be home for the viewing, just be aware of it. Hell they don't even need to tidy :D
 
Diddums said:
Hang on, are you wanting to ask the tenants to do block viewings this Saturday? And you're asking them today? Think you're pushing your luck a bit with that one tbh.
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radderfire said:
I'm not sure how it stands with just ringing the doorbell to speak to them, but you certainly shouldn't enter the property without them having notice and their prior agreement.
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rG-tom said:

Accessing the property | Housing Rights

www.housingrights.org.uk www.housingrights.org.uk

If your tenancy agreement does not have a term about viewings, you should:

ask tenants to allow limited viewings
check if they have a preferred time for viewings
ensure you give at least 24 hours notice of a viewing
confirm that the tenants agree before going ahead


today is absolutely fine?
Click to expand...

I managed to get hold of the tenants details by contacting them direct through the property manger/conceirge on site. The block viewing is for Saturday, however the agent was notified about this late last week, and yet they only notified the tenants about it yesterday.

I have a feeling the agents have been delaying the process as much as possible as i am leaving them for another one who is giving me a better deal.. and so they could be potentially be obstructing the viewing happening on the day.. i dunno
 
rG-tom said:
If you've already served notice to leave the place then it's hardly unexpected that viewings will take place is it?

They don't need to be home for the viewing, just be aware of it. Hell they don't even need to tidy :D
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According to the tenant.. he prefers it not to be the saturday as he will be at work and not in the flat.. it seems because he is still currently living there, until he vacates in September, he wants to be in the flat while the agent is doing a block viewing. Shouldn't matter if he is in or not right? or do agents prefer the flat to be empty?
 
my main concern about it is more related to potential and disruptiveness.

I can't speak for all tenants, or even this one, but i have had some pillocks in the past be 'uncooperative' to put lightly where viewings have taken place and they would bad mouth or become a nuisance, which in turn could turn away potential tenants. Not something i or the agents have caused but more that they are being evicted, they become troiublesome.

I'm just hoping the current tenant don't do the same.
 
im4gine3 said:
my main concern about it is more related to potential and disruptiveness.

I can't speak for all tenants, or even this one, but i have had some pillocks in the past be 'uncooperative' to put lightly where viewings have taken place and they would bad mouth or become a nuisance, which in turn could turn away potential tenants. Not something i or the agents have caused but more that they are being evicted, they become troiublesome.

I'm just hoping the current tenant don't do the same.
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:cry: says the slumlord booking viewings this Saturday when it is Thursday today
 
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