Is my flat mate being reasonable?

Skiddley said:
I'm a landlord, a standard AST ensures that the landlord must give at least 24 hours notice before entering the property. This may only be waived in 'Emergencies'. You can also decline any request to enter the property, it is well within your rights - he cannot force entry it would undermine you ability to 'peaceful enjoyment' of the property.

Althought I don't think your flatmate is a 'prat', he needs to consider the relationship you both have with the LL, if you **** him off, it it likely that he won't do you any favours when you are expecting your full deposit back. A little compromise on both sides is all that is required.

Skidd.
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Trouble is housemate seems to think that he is compromising by allowing people access to the home without written notice.

I really don't want to have to go over his head on this, but I will if necessary.
 
NiCkNaMe said:
What? He seems perfectly entitled to what he has to say in my opinion.

He's just moved in, has just found out that the house is being taken over so has to move out, go through the HASSLE of finding another place, the expense of moving houses YET AGAIN... and in the meantime he has to put up with people looking around where HE LIVES!
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Surely this 'inconvenience' is part and parcel of what you let yourself in for when you rent a property?

I'm with your housemate on this, i'd at least seek compo for the inconveniance.
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What compensation would be reasonable? Refunding the rent equal to the amount of time people are viewing?
 
Yea I get you. He seems to be a little hot headded - good decision living with him :D

Like others have said, he can be there when agents/buyers visit + you should only expect a few viewings per week. Am sure you can talk him around if he values his deposit :D
 
Your flatmate does seem to be taking a bit of an extreme reaction although I can understand up to a point, it is unfortunate that your landlord wishes to sell but as long as he gives you notice then it isn't unreasonable for the landlord to wish to show people around. Your flatmate can stay in the house while inspections are going on, in fact many landlords seem to quite like it as the viewers can then ask questions about the flat.
 
I fairly sure he's fully aware that he can be there whilst a viewing is taking place, it's just he doesn't want to be there.

I can see where he's coming from, as when you come home from work you just want to relax and not have strangers poking their noses into your business.

It wouldn't bother me that much as it's hardly a major inconvenience.
 
I would tell the landlord that you are prepared to compromise but your housemate isn't, see what your landlord comes back with then.
 
The LL let me know also that he's more than willing to try and sell an empty property, *hint hint* :(

This is the unproffessional part housemate was refering to, i.e. can't convince one to back off so he's go behind his back.
 
Desmo said:
But who was most unreasonable first? The LL our your housemate?
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The LL should have let me know that there were plans to sell the property when I told him that there would be a change of tenants for a start.

Whilst I was away in NZ it sounded like the estate agents were hassling my housemate daily so he got p'd off with them. Also he got home once to find himself locked out as they had locked the chub lock (we only have one key for this and we never use it), the alarm light was flashing outside, and some of the lights inside the house had been left on.

So he's got some kind of personal vendetta against them now.
 
It does sound like they've gone about it the wrong way. But having a vendetta will just make it messy for everyone involved :/
 
PaulStat said:
The LL let me know also that he's more than willing to try and sell an empty property, *hint hint* :(

This is the unproffessional part housemate was refering to, i.e. can't convince one to back off so he's go behind his back.
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It isn't in his interest to have an empty property whilst he his trying to sell, I guess it depends on his circumstances, I.e., wether he needs to sell quickly or not.

If the LL is pushy, just find somewhere else, there are loads of good properties about and little competition this time of year!
 
I would be a bit annoyed if people were viewing just as I moved in. but it all depends on what you signed. Look at the contract ot just let him as he is probably within his rights to do so as long as he gives notice. And as said before, don't make your Landlords life annoying as he can make it MUCH more annoying for you.
 
I think you have given ample time for the agents to show prospective buyers around (40 hours per week), I would tell the landlord that and stick to it.

Seems to me that you're between a rock and a hard place, one is your housemate, the other is the landlord. I would stand firm on the offer you have already made regarding access.
 
i know nothing said:
I think you have given ample time for the agents to show prospective buyers around (40 hours per week), I would tell the landlord that and stick to it.

Seems to me that you're between a rock and a hard place, one is your housemate, the other is the landlord. I would stand firm on the offer you have already made regarding access.
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Problem is doing this means that the LL will serve us our two months notice ASAP.

I don't want to move for a good few months yet.
 
OK, i had a similar prob a few years ago with my landlady.

I hate being around when people are traipsing through the house and my landlady decided to sell the house I was renting. I spoke to her and told her that although it was her house, I was paying her £350 a month to live there and that it was hardly fair to
a) bring people around if she would not be responsible for my property while I wasn't there
b) bring people around every night - after all I was paying to live, not feel like a stranger in my own home.

I suggested two nights a week - I think it was Tuesday/Wed, when she was able to give the Estate Agents a timeslot to come around - think it was after 5.30 and before 8.00. The Estate agent could arrange 6 half hour viewings through that time and usually it was just 2 or 3, and finished by around 7. She did ring once or twice and ask if it was ok to bring someone on another night because they couldn't make Tues or Wed and I agreed, as they were one-offs.

It's not ideal, but it's a compromise that might work and you can always take your mate down the pub for a pint while they are there if you'd prefer. TBH i'd probably be a bit hacked off if I was him, paying out moving costs etc just to find you've got to put up with people coming round all the time and having to move again immediately!

You need to sit down and find a compromise that suits all three of you. Either that or hide your flatmate in the airing cupboard :D

edited to say: ... and if you don't want to move, make friends with next door and get them to play loud music when the prospective buyers view. <joke>
 
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PaulStat said:
Problem is doing this means that the LL will serve us our two months notice ASAP.

I don't want to move for a good few months yet.
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The problem is that you offered the whole week in the first place! You should have said two or three nights per week or something like that. But that's past history now anyway.

How about you go back to him and say that you feel he is being unreasonable as you have offered him every single weekday to show the property? I'm suggesting you do this in a nice and pleasant way. Alternatively why don't you ask him to propose some times to you? <<<This could backfire of course! He can hardly say that he expects the agents to be let in whenever it suits them! If he does you'll have to stand firm.

Your mate is right about one thing, the 'blackmail' bit, either you try and rescue the situation by having a chat with your Landlord or you upset your mate, or the landlord or both! I daresay you wouldn't find it funny if your mate left you with all of the monthly rent to pay by yourself and the problem gets further compounded by the landlord giving you two months notice and half your deposit back!
 
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