Landlord making lots of visits with buyers

[mums]

Hi,

 

Thank you for this forum. I've read some interesting stuff here but I haven't managed to find quite what I'm after, so here is my situation and a couple of questions.

 

I moved into a property to rent with a couple of my friends, the landlord wants to sell this property and is asking that we let him or the estate agent show some potential buyers around. I'm ok with this in principle and will move out when the tenancy expires (this isn't a situation where he has surprised us with this and wants us out early). There is a term in our contract that he must give us 24 hours notice to show people around, but doesn't say that we can ever refuse.

 

The problem is that I would rather be in the house to keep an eye on things when people are over. It would be fine if it was just the landlord, but bringing potential buyers is bringing strangers and people that I do not know into the house. There is nearly half a year left on our contract and already people are starting to come round and look at it (it takes a long time to sell a house I gather). So far I have been able to arrange for myself or one of my housemates to be in when people are visiting.

 

Soon it will not be possible for someone to be in, like when we all have work and suchlike.

 

It makes me extremely uncomfortable to have strangers coming round to the house, the landlord has promised to keep an eye on them but there is only one of him and sometimes multiple people visit at the same time (like as a family (sometimes with kids), or as two different parties coming to view at the same time). I fear that people might take something or look at my personal stuff.

 

I believe that I am within my right to tell the landlord that I do not want people to come round if I am not in, despite the term in my contract that he can show interested applicants with 24 hours notice. Is that correct?

 

To be honest, I didn't think I would have to endure six months of this. When I signed the contract I assumed, perhaps naively, that it would just be in the last month. Had I known it would be as much as this I probably wouldn't have signed or I would have tried to negotiate some other terms.

 

Regardless of if I can tell the landlord that I don't want the people in my house when I am not here, I don't really want to do that. I don't want to upset him, he's a nice enough guy and is just trying to sell the house, it must be pretty tricky for him to do that while there are still people living there. Besides, we are still here for another six months, I don't want to start a war.

 

So, with that in mind, am I allowed to install CCTV in the house? I wasn't thinking of anything drastic, just a web-cam or two trained on our valuables.

 

It makes me ill to think about having lots of people coming round to the house and being nosy or risk them taking things. I've lots of valuable items, camera gear, computer accessories, spare mobiles, models, etc, etc that would be very easy to steal or accidentally break and having some coverage would make me feel better if I could watch it at work. Also, if something did happen and I caught it on camera, I wouldn't feel so bad about telling the landlord I want him to stop future visits.

 

My housemates think I'm paranoid :/

 

What do you think?

 

Thank you for your time

Edited August 6, 2012 by mums
typo

[mariner51]

Ts are allowed to prevent access for viewings, despite any prior Contract clause, and even temp change locks to prevent access,

I appreciate you don't want to obstruct LL attempts at sale but CCTV seems OTT.

I would suggest you inform LL you have changed locks and offer 2 times / week eg 2hr weekday & w/e when you will accomodate viewings by PRIOR APPOINTMENT (min 48hr Notice) & subject to T availability for entry.

If property is for Sale you may have to accomodate EA int photos for brochure.

[mums]

Hi Mariner,

 

Thank you for clarifying that. As far as I understand, I have certain rights in law, and if the contract contradicts those rights then the law takes priority. (Something akin to "Your statutory rights are not affected"?). Please would you be able to point me to the relevant section of law that states about how we don't have to allow visitors in? Just in case it comes to it.

 

I have given the matter some further thought over night and decided that I will ask my landlord if he will avoid bringing visitors when there is no one here, I won't get pushy about it but will see what happens if I make it a friendly request in the first instance.

[raydetinu]

I would still recommend cahning locks as Agents and/or the LL will take advantage that you are not in and come round when it suits them, regardless of your point of view.