need legal advice - Agency wants to visit my house at any time w/o notice

Hi guys!

I need to find any leagal grounds to negotiate the letting contract on the property with one Agency that, essentially, says that the Agency can walk into the house at any time during business hours, including weekends during the viewing period (the last two months of renting).

I cannot believe that English people are so rightless and their private life in the rented house means nothing to the Agency.

The only thing I can reffer so far is that such visiting does not provide for the “peaceful enjoyment of property” – the fundamental point of the Housing Act of 1988.

Please, give me other ideas and material references!!!

You're right, they cannot do this - it's a common law right that hqas been codified in statute and that cannot be contracted out of. If they want to come round they have to give "reasonable notice" in writing, unless it's an emergency (eg burst pipe). If they insist on doing so, they may also be guilty of harrassment, which is a criminal offence. CAB or Shelter can give you more specific advice on this.

Liz, thank you so much!

Is it possible to contact CAB or Shelter anyhow?

Yes, anyone can contact them for advice! Good luck.

Typically, agents must give 24 hrs notice to visit the property.  In the last 2 months, you DO have to reasonably accomodate them if they give that proper notice.  I would say anything less than that 24 hours notice would be infringing on your rights.

(disclaimer: DH has been an agent for 6 yrs, so this info is from him)

I've always been under the impression that agents/landlords had to give 24 hours' notice before entering the property... actually, I'm pretty sure that stipulation is written into the contract for our flat.

We gave two months' notice on our flat back at the end of July, just before I went on holiday for two weeks. While I was away, I had one text message from the agency asking if it was convenient for them to come for a viewing the next day and one voicemail from them again a few days later regarding another viewing. When I returned from holiday, one of my flatmates informed me that we'd had 8 viewings in total and that they'd found new tenants already. I'm assuming that the agency also contacted my flatmates about the other viewings before showing up at the flat, but I only had two messages from them while I was in France.

I am very sorry, Liz, but *CAB* user name has 5 posts only while *Shelter* user name does not exist in the Member List... Are these the correct names?

I am very sorry, Liz, but *CAB* user name has 5 posts only while *Shelter* user name does not exist in the Member List... Are these the correct names?

They aren't members, they are organizations! Google them for locations in your area.

I am very sorry, Liz, but *CAB* user name has 5 posts only while *Shelter* user name does not exist in the Member List... Are these the correct names?

CAB = Citizen's Advice Bureau (http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/)
Shelter = Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity (http://www.shelter.org.uk/)

 Thank you all so much for the prompt help!