Landlord let himself in.....

real1314

I think all the people crying "pervert" need to take a long hard look at themselves. Equally with the comments about cameras.
None of you have any idea what this bloke is like, but you're suggesting appalling things about him.
The OP has not suggested anything that could lead to this sort of conclusion.

I think you should think hard about having a jaundiced view of the world.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

real1314 wrote: »

I think all the people crying "pervert" need to take a long hard look at themselves. Equally with the comments about cameras.
None of you have any idea what this bloke is like, but you're suggesting appalling things about him.
The OP has not suggested anything that could lead to this sort of conclusion.

I think you should think hard about having a jaundiced view of the world.

QUOTE OP "it's funny cos we've often joked that he probably has hidden some (CAMARAS!) !"


:rotfl:

poppysarah

real1314 wrote: »

I think you should think hard about having a jaundiced view of the world.

Whether landlords are pervs or not they should not let themselves in to their tenant's home as if it were their own.

That's the law. And when landlords start breaching that one you need to think about their motivation. Are they just being nice doing repairs whilst you're not there or are they going through your underwear drawer.

m_13

frugallass wrote: »

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 think the fact that the landlord let himself into the flat three times in one day and that the previous tenants noticed 'disturbed furniture and moved items etc' suggest that this landlord does not recognise or understand that the property is no longer his during the tenancy. He also said the purpose of his visit was to sort out the hob but then fixed a light.

I'm not suggesting he is a pervert but as my mother says 'you look with your eyes not your hands'. There is no reason for furniture or items to move unless working in that area of the flat. I'm presuming that the previous tenants mentioned it because they felt uncomfortable - perhaps that is why they moved out?

princeofpounds

I want to make one thing very clear here - there is a suggestion above that this landlord may be a resident landlord, which would make the OP a lodger rather than a tenant, and give the landlord certain extra rights whilst removing some from the OP.

This is almost certainly not the case. To be a resident landlord you do not merely need to be in the same building. You need to be sharing the same living space. The usual test is whether the landlord and lodger share bathroom and kitchen space. From what the OP has said, they appear to live in a separate dwelling that simply happens to be in the same building.

By the way, having an AST contract between lodger and resident landlord is not 'illegal', merely inappropriate. Many of the contractual terms as agreed would still stand, but the statutory law applying to ASTs would not apply (various forms of protection from eviction, quiet enjoyment, deposit insurance etc.). It is wise however to get it right so that both lodger and landlord are fully aware of their obligations and rights.

As for suggestions of cameras etc being over the top... I don't think *anyone* is saying this is the base case situation. They are just saying that it would be wise to check. It does, on rare occasions, happen.

The situation with the 16yr old and the repeated entry is certainly odd, and could fall either side of the dividing line between voyeuristic and kind concern to get things repaired. We simply don't know. Even if slightly nosey it might be entirely harmless. But the fact that the neighbour has seemed keen to warn the OP and mentioned it is part of a pattern of behaviour that drove out previous tenants would lead one to legitimately conclude it is not so normal, on the balance of probability.

The fact that the landlord may be working with the gas system without qualifications is also a concern. This is just as much to the landlord as the tenant, because it is an offence.

A change of locks and perhaps a firm word is all that is required to resolve the situation. Either everyone continues happily with appropriate patterns of access, or the landlord evicts (with the required notice) in which case it is clearly not a viable rental in terms of security anyway.

barnaby-bear

real1314 wrote: »

I think all the people crying "pervert" need to take a long hard look at themselves. Equally with the comments about cameras.
None of you have any idea what this bloke is like, but you're suggesting appalling things about him.
The OP has not suggested anything that could lead to this sort of conclusion.

I think you should think hard about having a jaundiced view of the world.

I do know that I would not happily let myself into my neighbours/family members houses even though I have spare keys - on any pretext whatsoever. People have different levels of privacy and comfort.

I used to tutor young adults 16-18 and I certainly would not put myself in a position to make anyone feel uncomfortable nor anything that could be perceived as unprofessional.

Going in and out of someone's house without their knowledge is just a bit weird.

barnaby-bear

clutton wrote: »

i absolutely agree about the locks - as long as the original locks are in place when you move on, the LL can have no issue with that.

I've always been a big fan of the portable shed/caravan alarm - or landlord training device..... just adds that extra reassurance that they haven't been in and has given the odd enthusiastic LA a bit of a shock - especially when the neighbours (who actually knew they were nosy LAs and a PITA and just up for a laugh - turned up confronting them as intruders carrying a rounders bat, apparently she was shouting at her son to call the police :rotfl: ).... always got written notice of entry after that....

http://www.all-about-the-home.co.uk/yale-saa5020-pir-shed-alarm-with-programmable-keyfob-saa-5020---free-delivery-600-p.asp

dawsinho

I'm stunned at the amount of ignorance being showed by 90% of people on this thread!

who was it that suggested the OP should move house!?! I can completely sympathise with the original poster and agree the landlord should arrange access and give sufficient notice.

How about the original poster grows up and acts like an adult! Pop round to your landlords apartment, have a cup of tea and express your concerns for privacy and that of her daughter etc etc etc

DO PEOPLE NOT TALK ANYMORE?!?

m_13

dawsinho wrote: »

How about the original poster grows up and acts like an adult! Pop round to your landlords apartment, have a cup of tea and express your concerns for privacy and that of her daughter etc etc etc

DO PEOPLE NOT TALK ANYMORE?!?

I think anybody who is concerned they might lose their temper and make things worse is very sensible not to 'pop round' and express their concerns! If the landlord has done this to previous tenants then I doubt sharing a cup of tea is going to change their mind.

Castleman

m_13 wrote: »

If the landlord has done this to previous tenants then I doubt sharing a cup of tea is going to change their mind.

Au contraire if the previous tenants just moved out without telling him it wasn't acceptable, he might not consider it an issue.

Sounds like just a case of misplaced good intentions and an OP whose worried about getting angry - just talk about it with him like a rational adult.

As for the landlord needing to enter 3 times - maybe the first time he went to check on the gas, noticed the tube light was out so went back to get the tools to do it (second entry). then he noticed he had a flat-head instead of phillips screwdriver so had to go and get that (third entry). Not exactly unfeasible.

Just have a chat with him - 99% of people would be reasonable in this situation and wouldn't get angry or emotional!