Landlord wants to enter flat - Can I specify a time?

sticky23

Backstory: My previous landlord went bankrupt last summer, and the administrators are now trying to sell the flat to an overseas investor.

Just before Christmas, I received a call from the managament company asking for access to the flat to show the prospective owner around. The day she was due to fly in, I was working, so left a spare key with them. However, she missed her flight, and the visit was postponed and key returned to me. Second time around, I was going away for a few days, so again left a key with them. I arrived home just before Christmas to find that that they (man from the management company and prospective owner) had left the back door unlocked (for three days). This door leads onto a communal balcony/walkway, so anyone could have gained access. They had also left the blinds open, so people had a clear view of anything to steal... Nothing was missing, but if it had, my insurance wouldn't have paid out. I rely heavily on my two expensive computers for work, so this could have been disaster for me.

After Christmas I spoke to the management company - they apologised, but the guy in question was away. I haven't heard anything from him, until today when he called up and asked me to leave the key for him on Wednesday for a mortgage evaluation. There is no way I'm leaving a key with him, and I told him why - he didn't even apologise.

I have told him that I leave for work at 9 in the morning and return at 7 - he is welcome to come around before or after that. My question now is: Can I do this legally? Obviously those times aren't particular convenient, but I'm not prepared to take time off work for him either (Self-employed, so if I don't go to work, I don't get paid)..

Any advice would be much appreciated..

poppysarah

I would refuse to let them have a key again. What they did was utterly shocking.

Give him a choice of times.

Stick to your guns. Sodd'em.

BitterAndTwisted

Poppysarah wasn't explicit although she was concise! No, legally you do not have to give them access at any time for any reason, although you can agree to them having access at a time and date of your choosing, not theirs. And I agree, sod 'em!

Colincbayley

Can I add my Sod'em to the list as well please?

HO87

Are you on an assured shorthold tenancy?

Allowing l/l access is usually provided for in the tenancy agreement and may well specify a minimum amount of notice - other than in an emergency (such as a water leak etc). Generally speaking provided the landlord (or his agent as in your case) gives a minimum of 24 hours notice then they are in the clear - unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise and specifies a longer period - if the purpose is to effect an essential repair, for example, or to carry our a periodic inspection - which will probably also be allowed for in the agreement.

I suggest that you write to the agents complaining of the actions of their employee the last time they had access. Remind them that as the landlord's agent they are no more entitled to access than he is and that your provision of access previously amounted to a courtesy. You should insist - given their failure to secure the property properly during the last visit - that you be present and that any visit will therefore have to be before 9.00am or after 7.00pm.

Copy in the administrators of your landlord's bankruptcy - they have a very specific interest in the property now as well. The management company will undoubtedly have the details. If they don't you can search you landlord's name online on the Individual Insolvency register here and the details of his adminstrators (and the necessary references) will be shown against the record.

PasturesNew

Yeah. Sod 'em.

asharon

add another sod em, useless [EMAIL="t@@t"]t@@t[/EMAIL]

sticky23

Thanks for all your replies... I appreciate them.

I'm on an assured shorthold agreement. It does say about the Landlord having to give 24 hours notice, but it doesn't specify for what purpose they are allowed to enter...

I'm slightly worried about jeopardising my relationship with my new landlord - I find it's best to keep on their good side... But maybe I should come around to your way of thinking...

poppysarah

I think you should put it in writing to them that you are putting your foot down purely because of the "appalling lack of security and consideration applied to your home after their last unsupervised key access"

It is utterly sick what they did, and although no loss was incurred it would have been one your insurance wouldn't have covered you for.

Leave a property insecure is one of the worst things they could possibly do. Altering blinds is a bit of an intrusion and shows their lack of thought and care.

Fire_Fox

PoppySarah is spot on, explain to your landlord why you are refusing to allow unsupervised access. Point out you have been willing to allow this on three previous occasions.

bitsandpieces

Agree - sod them. No obligation to allow access at all, but you could just offer them supervised access. Explain why (the fact the guy in question hasn't even had the sense to apologise yet is shocking).

If they insist that you come home to let them in when you're at work, you could warmly agree: so long as they pay you the usual rate for the amount of your time it will take, + expenses That might annoy them, though