How often should the landlord visit?

alunharford

Castleman wrote: »

You sound like a real miserable git. Once every 3months - a landlord who comes round to check everything is ok and you'd demand money off the rent? :rotfl:Well done you!

Personally, I'd let a landlord round at reasonable notice maybe a couple of times a year. I understand that they have a lot of money invested in the property, and want to look after it. I have a good relationship with my landlord. But I'm not under the illusion that I have to let them come round, and when I do it's at a time that is convenient to me.

Castleman wrote: »

Let's assume landlord is there for 30mins, out of a 30day month - so 1/1440th of the month. Assuming you're paying £500/month, you'd charge them 35p. Hahahaha!

Except that the cost to me is far more than that, in terms of time, hassle and loss of privacy. I'd charge them the same hourly rate I'd charge a client who wanted me to do an hours work for them on a one-off basis.

Castleman wrote: »

Personally I'd try and keep a decent relationship with my landlord rather than get petty. That way they are more likely to help you out when the roof leaks, or the boiler breaks etc etc.

I'd rather maintain a professional relationship, and sometimes that means setting clear boundaries. I buy a service from my landlord - I don't understand why some tenants will put up with rubbish from their landlord that they wouldn't put up with in any other financial transaction.

lizzielou

as a LL I usually inspect after the first month, other than that if all okay I usually just text to ask if everything is okay, about once a month.

ruggedtoast

In 4 years of renting two properties Ive never seen a landlord.

DawnW

As a LL, it seems daft not to inspect the property a couple of months after a new tenant has moved in, and at intervals after that, at least until you get to know them. There have been too many incidences of cannabis factories in rented properties in this area to not do so, by arrangement of course. To be honest it would be negligent not to do so IMHO.

My current tenants have been in the property for over a year, and I am confident they are not the 'entrepreneurial' type, so I don't feel I have to inspect at all now, unless either the tenants themselves, or one of the tradesman I use mentions something untoward. Inspection is just a matter of a quick look at the fabric of the buildings - what furniture the tenants have and how tidy it is is their business. To be honest the tenant is far nosier than I am when she comes round to pay the rent every month :rolleyes:

poppysarah

ShelleyC wrote: »

I've been in my rented flat for nearly 18 months and to my knowledge the Landlords haven't been in once

I'd get one of those little shed alarms. You'd know for sure then.

mlz1413

melorablack wrote: »

How often is normal or acceptable for a landlord to "inspect" a property he is renting out?

At least once in the first 6 months, if you stay on then probably 6 monthly to a year, always with written notice and at mutally acceptable time and day.

Repairs and maintenance are different and should be as necessary, ie once a year for gas safety and as requested for repairs.

Your LL sounds like a nightmare! The furniture you accepted the property with is the furniture that should be left there when you leave, you have been more than generous allowing her to move things in and out and I would put a stop to it now.

If she is popping in and out with handy men you should not be expected to have the house spotless, you are paying rent so it's your home and can live how you like and if you want you can fill every room with junk and tat its not your LL problem until you move out.

Re her request to visit I would write to her saying that she has already inspected the property and that you feel this is an infringment of your quiet enjoyment and you do not wish to have another inspection so soon as she has already inspected 9 times in 6 months.

Are you on a 1yr contract or was it 6 months and now on periodic? And do you actually wish to stay?

minerva_windsong

When I was at uni someone from the lettings agency came round once or twice a term, but more often in the first half of the spring term (January to mid February) as that's when they start bringing round prospective new tenants so they worked in giving the house a brief once over at the same time. So it probably averaged out at once about every six to eight weeks. I don't know if that's more than the average because we were students, but they were only around for an hour at a time tops and I was perfectly happy with it.

They always gave us 24 hours' notice when showing prospective tenants and it was more like a week for the ones that were just inspections. We also got the letters saying 'you don't have to be in' but as three of us had very little teaching time at uni someone nearly always was, and if we weren't we trusted them as they were the uni-approved agency.

superfran_uk

Sounds like your landlady is a bit odd and very inexperienced... Doing the odd inspection at agreed times is one thing (I'd say once every 3 months-ish), however telling you what furniture you may or may not have is completely ridiculous. If you wanted to use the whole house for storage (as long as there is nothing stacked up against the outside wall etc) this would be perfectly acceptable as it is your home and you can do whatever you want as long as it does not damage the property.

I would tell her to get lost - it's not her home anymore. Obviously she is having trouble coming to terms with this! You can't have your cake and eat it too!

N79

I consider the following to be acceptable.

1st inspection around 3 months with T's permission and preferably with T there (to allow me to prod them into reporting any faults that they have not bothered reporting). This is mentioned in the tenancy agreement and invitation letter is sent at the two month point. If T fails to give permission before 4 months they get a S21 notice.

After that either every 3 months, every 6 months or every year, depending on the T. If the T is good at reporting faults then I usually just go once a year to check paintwork / roof / driveway and obviously annual gas service. If Ts not so good at reported faults then more often. (My worst case was 1 T failed to report a leaking roof for 4 months leading to expensive repairs).

I never comment on cleanliness / furniture - it is not my business. However, if the house looks like it could audition for the rat infestation of the year prize then I will follow up with a warning letter and return inspection. Essentially, if the T is not living in the property in a tenantlike manner and their behavour is risking damage to the fabric of the building I will take action - otherwise they can live how they like!

Jomo

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

Every 6 months seems fine to me unless he has a reason for access more than that,repairs etc and only then with prior permission from you.
I had a landlord once who kept a key(dont think they are meant to)and had been letting himself in when we were out.We were wondering why the dog was getting a bit aggrivated and why the chime I had hanging from the door was broken.Looked like he had let himself in,the dog had got out of the kitchen and ran at him and he had got the chime stuck in the door in his hurry to get out.
We got an extra door chain after that which he didnt have a key for.
He then complained that we had put on extra locks and he couldnt access for manitenance,repairs etc.I told him he shouldnt be trying to get in without permision and his reply was very angry,basically it was his house and he could do what he liked when he liked.Needless to say we didnt stay long after that.

Totally disagree with that particular statement...

I rented out a property and 2 weeks into the contract the tenants sent me a text to say they had left in a hurry (they were French) and that they had chucked the keys into the letterbox, obviously assuming I had a spare set, so if I hadn't of had a spare set of keys then what a pickle I'd be in!!

Although I do know that a LL cannot get access without permission...