Landlord gave 1 hour notice to enter while I was at work.

chucknorris

theartfullodger wrote: »

gjchester stated, no doubt believing it to be true & in good faith...
- er,,, not quite... correct description would be "provided notice is given (minimum 24hrs) and the Tenant does not refuse."

Any tenant is entirely at liberty to write refusing all visits from anyone, without his prior permission being granted, in advance, and in writing. He can refuse all visits when asked.

Clearly in those circumstances if any repairs were needed the LL's responsibility to carry them out would be placed on hold.

Don't believe me?? Try it, end up in court & see what the judge says...

Cheers!

Lodger (landlord since 2000)

But why on earth would a tenant want to refuse a landlord who just wants to gain access to do some work?

For example this coming Tuesday I am doing minor work in 2 of my properties, one to inspect and clean off some mould from the bathroom ceiling and the other to replace a towel rail that the previous tenant broke. Both tenants are happy for me to proceed with the work. Do some tenants think that landlords actually enjoy cleaning off mould or fixing towel rails? If so I assure you that I have better hobbies than that, and I am only doing this for the tenants benefit not because I get some sort of pleasure out of it.

Yes of course I agree that the OP has been messed about, I am talking generally not specifically.

On another subject what concerns me more about the OP's situation is his poor puppy left alone. I do homechecks for numerous dog rescue centres and leaving a puppy alone is just not right.

franklee

chucknorris wrote: »

But why on earth would a tenant want to refuse a landlord who just wants to gain access to do some work?

For example this coming Tuesday I am doing minor work in 2 of my properties, one to inspect and clean off some mould from the bathroom ceiling and the other to replace a towel rail that the previous tenant broke. Both tenants are happy for me to proceed with the work. Do some tenants think that landlords actually enjoy cleaning off mould or fixing towel rails? If so I assure you that I have better hobbies than that, and I am only doing this for the tenants benefit not because I get some sort of pleasure out of it.

Yes of course I agree that the OP has been messed about, I am talking generally not specifically.

The point is that the appointment has to be convenient for the tenant and each tenant will have different views on what they want to go on in their home (the place where they live, that houses all their possessions and that they are paying rent for).

In my case I don't allow anyone in without my being present, it's just not negotiable. What is negotiable is an appointment time as I can get home easily, but if I was for example away on holiday any "towel rails", checking the electricity meter, having a look round etc. would have to wait till I got back.

I think that a tenant who isn't happy like the OP needs to say and write a firm no the first time anything like the OP's case happens and stick to it. As the OP caved in the landlord probably doesn't even realise there is a problem.

Also the OP getting into giving reasons why s/he wasn't happy just gave the agent a chance to counter them:

T: it's not really convenient, as we're both at work
A: the landlord could just let himself in with his keys
T: he might let our puppy out
A: He'll be careful

After a similar incident, I just said and backed up in writing: I'm not happy with what happened on XXX, describe what happened. In future I require at least 24 hours notice and for the appointment to be mutually agreed so that I can be present for every visit. I do not want anyone letting themselves in when I'm not there.

chucknorris

franklee wrote: »

The point is that the appointment has to be convenient .

Obviously it has to be convenient for the tenant, otherwise the landlord would be inconveniencing the tenant which goes against my principle of ensuring that I am building a good landlord/tenant relationship.

gozaimasu

Oh god, this post really worries me...

My landlords (they are a couple) rent to us privately, but we have a contract that went through the council, whatever that is called. The first few weeks I moved in, I found that one of them just came round at the weekends, letting himself in and doing some work. It was legitimate work (fixing the patio, installing a barbeque) but I was really shocked that he'd just came round without letting us know!

The second time it happened I fired off an email to them asking if they could please give me 24 hours notice next time they wanted to come round. I got a really rude reply back saying that in the 17 years they'd been landlords, they'd never had any "complaints" of the sort and that they were shocked by what I'd said, which was in contrast to previous tenants who had always made them feel welcome and made them a cup of tea etc.

They also said that they were not required to give us 24 hours notice if they wanted entry to the common areas of the property, since the bedrooms have locks on them, and they would only be required to give 24 hours notice if they wanted access to the bedrooms.

I can't possibly be in the wrong here? It feels very unnerving to find out that people have just come round your flat without you being there. It's a complete intrusion on my privacy.

What makes it worse is that there is a cleaner guy who comes round once a week (supposed to be a Thursday) but he just seems to come round when he wants to do maintenance or hand deliver a letter to one of us, etc. Surely there needs to be some boundaries? Who can I go to for help?

Sorry to hijack the original thread, but reading that story got me worried...I'm not in a position to just randomly leave work to go and attend to an intrusive landlord.

sooz

gozaimasu wrote: »

They also said that they were not required to give us 24 hours notice if they wanted entry to the common areas of the property, since the bedrooms have locks on them, and they would only be required to give 24 hours notice if they wanted access to the bedrooms.

If the bedrooms have locks on them, are you living in an HMO (house in multiple occupation)?

project500

Personally I would just forget the whole episode, its just no big deal and just let it go, if I ruffle the landlords feathers by sending letters and complaining he may just make life awkward for me in future and I may need his help for something ,say a reference or something in the future. Not worth the hassle of making a big issue of it .

poppysarah

asking to see the meter then asking to look round. VERY cheeky at such short notice.
I'd have refused and asked for the 24 hrs notice.

olly300

chucknorris wrote: »

But why on earth would a tenant want to refuse a landlord who just wants to gain access to do some work?

Lots of reasons:
1. They don't get on with the landlord
2. They have stuff all over the place as they are into crafts or an art student i.e. clothes, papers and the landlord or any visitors means they have to move them.
3. They are messy and want to clean up before the landlord enters the place.
4. They have pets who are not friendly to strangers.
5. They are just people who like very little human contact due to certain conditions, and have to psyche themselves up to allow people into their home.

gozaimasu

olly300 wrote: »

Lots of reasons:
1. They don't get on with the landlord
2. They have stuff all over the place as they are into crafts or an art student i.e. clothes, papers and the landlord or any visitors means they have to move them.
3. They are messy and want to clean up before the landlord enters the place.
4. They have pets who are not friendly to strangers.
5. They are just people who like very little human contact due to certain conditions, and have to psyche themselves up to allow people into their home.

LOL @ No.5!!!

You missed one off the list - people are entitled to privacy in their own home and might not want some random walking around it when they're not there.

Oh, and it wasn't a complaint, it was a polite request for 24 hours notice. Yes it's an HMO, but that shouldn't make any difference surely! :rolleyes:

ess0two

As stated you were both at work does it matter.