Landlord entered property and took pictures

princeofpounds

You don't need to do anything other than what I have told you (you don't even need to do that, and you certainly don't need to speak to this woman whoeever she is). You can speak to CAB and you can raise the photo issue, but I think they will tell you more or less what I have.

princeofpounds

You can't expect "quiet enjoyment" of a property that (a) you are not living in at the time and (b) workmen need to access to do major work

Silvercar is probably technically right on this one thinking about it. But the breach of privacy is the phrase I'd use.

Seriously, what have they done? Taken some photos and written a snotty letter. It doesn't actually mean anything at all under housing law, so try to move past it.

silvercar

meome0 wrote: »

When they lifted the floorboards there was raw sewage under the house as the waste pipe from the upstairs toilet and bath had never been capped off.

meome0 wrote: »

So this visit to check on works includes going upstairs and taking pictures? when none of the work was upstairs?

Its reasonable, given the extent of the work, to check that all the services are now running properly. This would include going upstairs to flush the toilet and check the bath waste to ensure there is no leak.

Landlords don't have magic wands that make let properties maintenance free. If a problem occurs they deal with it. How well they deal with it is a judgement on how good a landlord they are.

Your upset because you have the major inconveniance of needing to move out. Given the situation, that was a better option than staying put with limited facilities and workmen around.

franklee

meome0 wrote: »

Thankyou for this advice.I am concidering going to the C.A.B reguarding the whole thing.Would you concider the pictures taken of my property an issue that I should raise too? Not of course the one of the children as you have stated this is not illigal... I wish I had the space to explain everthing we have been though here but it would take too long..chris

I really can't see why the workman's access for repairs should include taking pictures of your possessions strewn upstairs. Also why say to you the room stank when it was you reported it to them in the first place and they know full well the pipe wasn't capped as they have just spent two weeks+ fixing it. It sounds to me like they may be gearing up for making some of it your fault, so getting your side written down and sent to them seems a sensible precaution. I take it your initial reports of the fault were backed up in writing? On the other hand perhaps they want to make sure they are covered in the event you claim some of your possessions were damaged by the workmen. You could write and ask them what their letter and photos are for? Talking it through with CAB seems a good plan and I would take along the photos and the letter to show them, take all correspondence that you have.

clutton_2

the issues they have raised are irrelevant but i can see how horribly annoying they may be.

the only only "conditiona" of the property they should be concerned about are a) if the new condition is good after the workmen have finished the repairs , and b) the condition you leave the house in when you leave at the end of the tenancy

did you get an inventory signed when you first moved in?

i agree with the earlier letter suggestion

franklee

meome0 wrote: »

I have tried talking to them on the phone for over 45 minutes , but the lady insisted that in her opinion the state of the upstairs was not made worse by the fact we took everything upstairs..allthough the other person who came in with her has said to me on the phone today that that wholey agreed with my side of events..I got the local newspaper involved in all of this and they published a full page...since then she took it upon herself to enter my premises and take the photos!!! They are aware that legal action wil prob be being taken and that is why they are trying to counter act..I didnt mention in my first post that the letter also stated that if we dont rectify the issues she has raised in the letter then we face eviction !!!

In the OP you said the letter was from the landlords, yet as there seems to be several people, is the lady at a letting agent, who is the other person? If so it may well be they aren't up to speed. Can you clarify exactly who is who, and which one is the landlord/landlady.

claireizadiamond

Having worked in the letting market, I can assure you that as you was still paying the rent at the time of the moving out it is your property as such, so the photos are a violation of your rights. Your landlord has also broken his contract as they have to respond to complaints within a resonable time period (any longer than 1 week is unreasonable) I would go to the CAB and talk to them, this landlord is obviously proving the lack of empathy to his tenants.

Welshwoofs

So I'm guessing this story in the Matlock Mercury is you?
http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/Raw-sewage-forces-Matlock-family.5461326.jp

It sounds horrendous, but I can't help but think you have far less chance of an amicable solution if you go to the papers and they've probably gone on the defensive now you'd chosen that path in the belief you intend to go for a large compensation claim on health grounds.

clutton_2

surely if the smell had been that bad the tenants should have kicked up a much bigger fuss sooner ? we all know what poo smells like ....

mewbie_2

tbh it stinks.