Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2021 to Question 155147 on in-person house viewings and guidance to ensure the safety of tenants, how tenants are able to enforce that guidance to agents and prevent unwanted in-person home viewings during covid-19 lockdown.

It is important that people who need to move can do so and home viewings are an essential part of the home moving process. We have been clear in published guidance that agents should not conduct viewings in properties where tenants are symptomatic or self-isolating. Where viewings proceed, tenant’s safety should be letting agents’ first priority.

Where tenants have concerns about the conduct of their agent, they should raise their complaint with the agent to give them an opportunity to rectify the issue. If an agent does not respond adequately or in a timely manner, a tenant may be able to escalate their complaint to the agents’ redress scheme, which can investigate and make an adjudication which is binding on the agent.