Can i refuse viewings

Threshold on Facebook. Threshold on Twitter. We would like to use cookies on our site. You can choose to accept and agree to this use, or you can manage your settings to adjust your choices. Learn about how we use cookies. Manage cookies Accept all cookies. Save these settings. What to do Agree at the start of the tenancy how frequently inspections will be carried out and how much notice will be given. Related Advice Sections Standards and repairs Ending your tenancy.

About Threshold Threshold works to prevent homelessness and campaigns for housing as a right. Connect with us:. The landlord might also have grounds to serve a Housing Act section 8 notice if you are dealing with an assured shorthold tenancy AST but this won't necessarily assist in securing early access for viewings.

We would suggest that a court may be sympathetic to a tenant in the current circumstances, particularly if the tenant has been shielding or is otherwise in a vulnerable group.

Indeed, depending on the facts, the courts may be disinclined to grant injunctive relief in some instances, even if the landlord was prepared to go to the time and expense of making such an application. If acting for the landlord, it may be sensible, when requesting access, for the landlord to make clear what steps will be taken by those participating in the viewing to ensure that the visit is undertaken in full compliance with government COVID guidelines.

Particular consideration should be given in the event that the tenant is vulnerable. For further information, you may wish to see the section on House viewings in the government's guidance note, MHCLG: Guidance for landlords and tenants , which contains some helpful information about how viewings might be conducted at the moment.

This information could be provided to the tenant with a view to persuading them that the visit will be conducted safely. Similarly, if acting for the tenant, you may wish to draw attention to the government guidance and suggest that the tenant seeks further information and assurances from the landlord in connection with how any viewings will be carried out, and any additional cleaning that might reasonably be requested to be carried out after each visit.

You may find the following previous queries of interest, even though some of them are not on all-fours with the situation that you are dealing with:. To do so would be a derogation of grant. Generally, these will fall within three different categories, which are:. As a landlord, you have a right to enter your property in order to assess the state of repair or to empty a coin operated fuel meter.

This instance is a little different in that it will have been pre-agreed by both landlord and tenant and covered in the tenancy agreement.

The right to access to provide services is usually reserved for ongoing tasks such as cleaning or regular maintenance jobs like gardening when the rear of the property is only accessible via the property. In most instances, yes. The minimum notice a landlord is required to give by law is 24 hours, but they can give longer should they wish to do so.

Many landlords chose to do just that, as it allows them to diarise the appointment and gives the tenant fair notice to ensure they are present when the landlord calls. There are, however, some occasions where a landlord will be legally entitled to enter a property without notice or permission. These are rare and usually fall into the emergency categories listed above. In fact, any representative of the landlord will have to adhere to the same rules as the landlord and get permission to access the property, except in the case of an emergency.

Yes, they can. Simply adjusting the time and date will be enough to gain access to the property. That being said, landlords may occasionally come across a tenant that continually refuses to give them access to the property in question. A tenant can change the locks and refuse to give the landlord a set of keys, should they wish to do so. This will, however, be subject to the tenancy agreement and whether or not there is a clause within it that states otherwise. In fact, many would argue that a tenant should change the locks as soon as they move in.