Advice needed - rented student house

mikepatton

I am currently in my second year of University and have recently moved into my second rented house (furnished).

I need advice of the following situation:

Earlier this week we had arranged for our landlord to come round and collect some furniture which we had no use for. He came whilst we were in bed in the morning, took the furniture and left. We came downstairs to find that he had left a note in our kitchen explaining that he was not happy with the state of our kitchen (basically the dishes and saucepans hadn't been cleaned the previous night) and that he would return in a couple of days to inspect and throw away any "mess" (dirty saucepans and plates) still there.

Firstly I would like to know if a Landlord can legally remove one's possessions if he deems it to be "mess"?

Secondly, we later remembered that the previous night we had locked the front door and put on the chain, as we do every night. So therefore the Landlord had to kick the door in to enter, removing our chain, even though he had our mobile numbers to call to get us to let him in. Therefore, is a Landlord legally allowed to break entry for the purpose of collecting some furniture that we offered back to him?

And lastly is a Landlord allowed to inspect a property if it isn't his purpose of visit?

I offer huge thanks to anyone who can shed some light on these issues we have been having.

Morgan_Ree

When you say he came early in the morning are you talking 'student early' ie anthing before lunchtime or was it a geniunly unreasonable time of the morning?

For a landlord to enter a property they must give a minimum of 24 hours notice, you landlord did this, it's just a shame you lot didn't bother tidying up the night before!!

mikepatton

It was probably around 11am (I didn't say early), but surely the time he came and the state of the kitchen is not the issue here?

Morgan_Ree

mikepatton wrote: »

Firstly I would like to know if a Landlord can legally remove one's possessions if he deems it to be "mess"? Nope he can't do that

Secondly, we later remembered that the previous night we had locked the front door and put on the chain, as we do every night. So therefore the Landlord had to kick the door in to enter, removing our chain, even though he had our mobile numbers to call to get us to let him in. Therefore, is a Landlord legally allowed to break entry for the purpose of collecting some furniture that we offered back to him? Did have a key?

And lastly is a Landlord allowed to inspect a property if it isn't his purpose of visit? Although the purpose of a visit was to pick up furniture you can't expect him to walk around wearing blinkers. Of course he's going to have a look at the place
Either way he has solved this problem by telling you he's coming round to do an inspection

Apologies for the early part
I clearly misread

BitterAndTwisted

You arranged for the landlord to come but you didn't know what time he was due to turn up, is that right?

Listen up and listen good: your landlord has a right to do periodic inspections, presumably to check the place isn't falling down but by law they have to give you 24 hours notice and you do not have to comply, you can decline without giving a reason although it would be better for tenant/landlord relations is you allow reasonable access.

The state of the kitchen is none of his goddamned business as long as you return the property and the contents in the same state you found them at the beginning of the tenancy.

Your landlord has absolutely no right whatsoever to kick the door down to gain entry if you haven't invited them in. That's trespass and punishable by law. Get him to repair the door and once he's done that change the barrels of all of the locks on every door and keep them in a safe place to replace them when you leave. they are inexpensive and not difficult to fit. Pop down to your nearest hardware store and ask their advice if you're uncertain.

Put it in writing that you know by law that your are entitled to "quiet enjoyment" of the property and that he will not be allowed access unless you agree to it at a time of your choosing. Anything else is harassment and you are protected by law. The penalties are severe.

Keep a diary of everything that has happened and anything that happens from now on. You might have need of it.

Regards,

Tomahawk

mikepatton

Thank you both for your responses

He does have a key to the front of the property. I am happy for him to allow himself in if there is no answer when he knocks. But to allow himself in when the chain is on (if there chain is on we must be in), shocked me.

He has tended to not give us a time of his visits, so we had taken up the habit of chaining ourselves in, so he doesn't walk in at an untimely point, such as my female housemate walking round in a towel.

I see the point made about "wearing blinkers", it isn't really much of an issue at the end of the day.

Ultimately my landlord's manner is making me and my other housemates uncomfortable before we have actually started the first term.

He is in fact a landlord approved by the university. So I was thinking the first plan of action would be to get a parent to speak to him about his behaviour, perhaps preventing any further action. If that doesn't work, we will take it to the university.

Fire_Fox

Don't get a parent to deal with it, you are adults and you are the tenants! Do you want your landlord to go to your parents and complain about, say, too many 'overnight guests' or telling them who is a smoker? If not don't open that line of communication.

mikepatton

Fair point. We are going to write a formal letter to the landlord, warning him against further behaviour. We'll threaten him with legal action/complaining to the university if it happens again.

Fire_Fox

Or you could write a polite letter, and keep the relationship with your landlord positive! Warning and threatening tend to get you exactly nowhere.

morg_monster

Yeah do try to keep him onside, you've got at least 9 more months of living there, realistically.
If he's that concerned about harmless mess in the kitchen, its a sign he has high standards and so hopefully will be quick to deal with any problems you might have.
Just clean up for when he comes around for the inspection, and mention in a friendly way, sorry you don't always do the washing up straight after dinner, but it does get done eventually and you do generally keep the kitchen clean. He's probably just wanting to nip a potential problem in the bud early.

Regards the letting himself in bit, when the chain is on, that is not on. Again, keeping it light, ask him if he tried knocking on the door, if he says yes, remind him he's got your mobile numbers to call if his knocking doesn't rouse you from sleep! If he says no, tell him that you would rather he didn't just let himself in when the chains on (or at all, to be honest). Any probs, mention that you do know about "quiet enjoyment" and are entitled to 24 hrs notice of his visits.

I really would try and keep things friendly at this early stage. he may just be new at this and paranoid about things.

clutton_2

threats will only annoy him - as others have said, a polite informal chat might be whats needed - i agree that his behaviour at letting himself in is just not right - its not on, not on at all