Who lets in workmen?

portchieboy

My daughter rents in London, the Landlord lives in Manchester and does not use a LA. All is fairly good, but there was a recent roof leak, anf the LL has insisted that Daughter stays in to sort out Insurance assessor (losing credebility in a new job), and further now that she stays in to take delivery of various replacement House goods. This has meant staying in a complete w/e, goods not turned up.

The Insurance coy, as above, is now writing to Daughter direct to sort out times/details etc.

LL thinks this is all OK in the contract, I cannot find anything except 'reasonable notice for access'. I think current situation is just about sorted out now, but for the future, what rights has she, or who should she go to for advice/mediation on this?

Thanks.

Debt_Free_Chick

Strictly speaking, it's for the Landlord to sort out - but where the property is let, it would be for the LL to agree with the tenant.

I would tread carefully here as access for stuff like this if for both the LL's and the tenant's mutual benefit. I imagine that your daughter is actually pleased that the repairs/replacements were carried out and done reasonably quickly ......?

Any "inconvenience" is no different to that she would have experienced as a homeowner. If she is not around to deal with such issues, she would have to be comfortable with someone else being around, in her absence.

What, exactly, is her complaint?

portchieboy

Take yr point, but she is a new girl in a big City in a pretty good new job, and there is a limit to the goodwill of her employers. Yes, she would have to stay in if it were her freehold, but it is the LL making the profit, so should he not employ a LA to deal with things like this?

Debt_Free_Chick

Whether or not the LL is making a profit is irrelevant to a tenant. What's important is that these things get seen to.

Many tenants actually prefer to deal with these things rather than having "strangers" in the property to deal with them - but there is nothing that requires a LL to use an Agent; it's a matter of personal choice. If an Agent were involved, your daughter may well be in the same position as the Agent may simply arrange for the goods/workmen to turn up on a certain day. The Agent would not automatically be around - it would be agreed with your daughter.

There should be no problem taking pre-arranged holiday when needed - everyone has similar issues to deal with.

obsessed_saver

I agree with Debt_Free_Chick. Count her blessings that she's got a good landlord that jumps on sorting the house stuff out quickly.

Dealing with the landlord direct is always much better than dealing with the LA! I doubt the LA will come sit around in the house waiting for deliveries, though they might have someone to come let in the workmen.

RainMaker_2

Interesting question.

Unless the Tenancy agreement states otherwise (I doubt it would), the Tenants obligation is to allow the Landlord, his agent, or his workmen, access for the purpose of repairs.

How exactly the Tenants comply with this is entirely up to Tenants. They could leave a key with neighbours / friends / leave key under bin / authorise landlord to use his own key, or I'm sure a number of other options.

When an exact timing can't be given by workmen I suppose the burden ultimately lies with the LL. Though I have to say I'd be pretty miffed if a Tenant wasn't willing to help me make their place a better place to live !

poppysarah

Can no friend or relative get up there to help if she knows no one? Much better than a stranger.

clutton_2

if you want repairs - you have to be flexible with access dont you ?