Tenant refusing viewings after being served Section 21?

Hello, Three weeks ago I instructed my managing agent to serve a Section 21 notice on my tenants.

I have been emailed by my agent stating that the tenants have asked that no viewings go ahead until the move out date. The agent has emailed the tenants stating that their request is a breach of the AST (citing the terms and providing a copy of the AST) and has requested a range of dates / times to work with.

My fear is that the tenants may refuse to vacate the property as they don’t appear to be looking for an alternative property and would struggle to meet the affordability criteria for properties in the immediate area.

What if anything can the agent do to ascertain the tenants’ true intentions? Is it inappropriate for the agent to remind the tenants of the consequences of failing to honour the AST or “staying put” (https://www.property118.com/are-councils-acting-illegally-when-telling-tenants-to-stay-put/)?

What should I do now to prepare for a worst-case scenario where the tenant refuses to leave?

I would like to engage a specialist that manages the process end-to-end but am struggling to find a short list of tried and tested firms.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

AJ