Landlord let himself in.....

frugallass

I live in a rented flat and my landlord lives in the flat (servants quarters) above me. He's a retired engineer and it's great whenever something breaks or needs doing because he's always happy to fix things.

However, he wanted to come and do the annual gas safety check but gave me less than 12 hours notice, I said that there would be no-one in but he said "it's okay, I'll use my pass key" - I was a bit peeved off and told him I was concerned about the dog being territorial but he said it was okay, I felt that I had no choice but to let him help himself.

He phoned me the following day to say that the gas hob needed replacing and the boiler needed a bit of work and said he would call me again to organise it.

He phoned and spoke to my 16 year old daughter and arranged to come yesterday at 4pm - I was a bit miffed that 1) he had arranged it with her and 2) had given less than 24 hours notice but it needed doing and she said she would be home at 4pm anyway.

He came yesterday and started work on the hob but had to leave it because he needed a part and said he would be back today (I presumed he meant he would come round when she got home from school at 4pm).

Got home at 7pm, the hob hasn't been touched but a fluorescent (?) light under the wall unit has been fixed

Hubby is away all this week and I feel really uncomfortable that he is letting himself in like this. I don't want to call him because I know I will lose my temper but I don't want him to think it's acceptable. On the other hand I don't want to upset him and him then give us notice to quit.

I just had a knock at the door and it was one of my neighbours from the flat downstairs. She informed me that her husband had been working from home all day and noticed the landlord had let himself into the flat 3 times today. She said that she has kept quiet up to now but felt that she had to say something as she knew hubby was away. She said that he did this with the previous tenants (who noticed disturbed furniture and moved items etc).

I feel physically sick that this man is invading my privacy.

I just checked the 'tenancy agreement' and it doesn't look good to me, it says:-

The Second Party (ME) agrees to give free access at all reasonable times when required to the First party (LANDLORD) or his representatives to any part of the premises hereby let for the purpose of inspecting or repairing the same.

How would you interpret that?

I have written a note, to be put through his door in the morning, but tell me what you think before I do post it....

Dear ******

I noticed that you let yourself into the flat to replace the tube light. Could you please arrange all future access to the flat via ***** (hubby) on the landline?

Regards

barnaby-bear

frugallass wrote: »

I live in a rented flat and my landlord lives in the flat (servants quarters) above me. He's a retired engineer and it's great whenever something breaks or needs doing because he's always happy to fix things.

However, he wanted to come and do the annual gas safety check but gave me less than 12 hours notice, I said that there would be no-one in but he said "it's okay, I'll use my pass key" - I was a bit peeved off and told him I was concerned about the dog being territorial but he said it was okay, I felt that I had no choice but to let him help himself.

He phoned me the following day to say that the gas hob needed replacing and the boiler needed a bit of work and said he would call me again to organise it.

He phoned and spoke to my 16 year old daughter and arranged to come yesterday at 4pm - I was a bit miffed that 1) he had arranged it with her and 2) had given less than 24 hours notice but it needed doing and she said she would be home at 4pm anyway.

He came yesterday and started work on the hob but had to leave it because he needed a part and said he would be back today (I presumed he meant he would come round when she got home from school at 4pm).

Got home at 7pm, the hob hasn't been touched but a fluorescent (?) light under the wall unit has been fixed

Hubby is away all this week and I feel really uncomfortable that he is letting himself in like this. I don't want to call him because I know I will lose my temper but I don't want him to think it's acceptable. On the other hand I don't want to upset him and him then give us notice to quit.

I just had a knock at the door and it was one of my neighbours from the flat downstairs. She informed me that her husband had been working from home all day and noticed the landlord had let himself into the flat 3 times today. She said that she has kept quiet up to now but felt that she had to say something as she knew hubby was away. She said that he did this with the previous tenants (who noticed disturbed furniture and moved items etc).

I feel physically sick that this man is invading my privacy.

I just checked the 'tenancy agreement' and it doesn't look good to me, it says:-

The Second Party (ME) agrees to give free access at all reasonable times when required to the First party (LANDLORD) or his representatives to any part of the premises hereby let for the purpose of inspecting or repairing the same.

How would you interpret that?

I have written a note, to be put through his door in the morning, but tell me what you think before I do post it....

Dear ******

I noticed that you let yourself into the flat to replace the tube light. Could you please arrange all future access to the flat via ***** (hubby) on the landline?

Regards

http://www.all-about-the-home.co.uk/yale-saa5020-pir-shed-alarm-with-programmable-keyfob-saa-5020---free-delivery-600-p.asp I love technology.... He shouldn't be doing this - putting something in a contract doesn't overrule statutory rights... with a teenage girl in the house (as an ex-tutor) you don't do this kind of thing to cover yourself....

Zandoni

Apart from the letting himself in he certainly shouldn't be working on gas appliances, unless he is Corgi qualified of course.

frugallass

ooo I'm not sure about that one - thanks for pointing that out

poppysarah

I'd give shelter a call. I'm not sure that the tenancy saying he can pop in whenever he wants counts for anything. I'd imagine to be renting your flat on a AST you need to have sole rights.

However nice someone seems unless they have been CRB checked I wouldn't want them to have key access to my daughter and even then not. Overdramatic? Sure! because bad things do happen sometimes and it's always always better safe than sorry.

I'd check up on his corgi status (Can you look on a list online anywhere? Or just ask him outright for the corgi number of the person doing the work.)
Explain you'd rather the repairs were done whilst you were there. In writing. Politely. But shelter will confirm whether or not landlords can write this sort of rot in their agreements and it be legal.

I'm sure your daughter is safe but I know that teenage girls can be very sensitive sometimes and just not want to be around a strange man in their own home. It's perfectly normal - and something that needs to be taken into account - from the landlording point of view.

Geenie

I commend your LL for wanting to keep on top of repairs and ready to do them as and when needed. BUT, he has to give sufficient notice when coming, and arrange a time to suit you so in when he calls. This letting himself in, as and when he pleases is not on in any situation. It is an invasion of your privacy and I would not be best pleased.

He may well not realise how uncomfortable it makes you feel, and thinks he is being a good LL, but he needs to be made aware that this is not acceptable behaviour.

My gut instinct is to move.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Right now I would be checking the whole house for hidden camaras!!!!

frugallass

Strangely enough I've been on the lookout for somewhere else for a little while - purely cos the energy bills are so high in this place - but it has spurred me on to look a bit more thoroughly

frugallass

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

Right now I would be checking the whole house for hidden camaras!!!!

it's funny cos we've often joked that he probably has hidden some !

clutton_2

he may be utterly unaware that you are uncomfortable - and no he does not have the right to let himself in. he is doing repairs very quickly, but without your permission.

why not get hubby to write to him, a nice polite letter, then change the locks - as long as you keep the LLs locks and change them back to h is when you move in you are not breaking the law

frugallass

clutton wrote: »

he may be utterly unaware that you are uncomfortable - and no he does not have the right to let himself in. he is doing repairs very quickly, but without your permission.

why not get hubby to write to him, a nice polite letter, then change the locks - as long as you keep the LLs locks and change them back to h is when you move in you are not breaking the law

the tenancy agreement says I shouldn't change the locks without his prior knowledge and permission so I'm leaving them alone

I'm posting the note in the morning and hopefully this will be the end of the 'confusion'