Property inspections on rented property - a question

elvis86

I have just sat in for 2 hours, having left work an hour early, because my letting agents notified me that they wanted to carry out an inspection between 4.30 and 6.00pm (incidentally they only informed me on Monday, so pretty short notice!). They've failed to turn up, no phone call, nothing.

There is no requirement for me to be present when they do these inspections, but it is my personal preference that I don't want someone wandering around my home when I'm not in. Our letting agents have proven time and time again that they're pretty incompetent, so I'd rather not risk it.

My question therefore, is can I now state to the letting agents that I do not permit them to access the property in my absence, and dictate a time that suits ME? I'm not talking Sunday evening at 9.00pm or anything, but maybe between 5.30 and 6.00 so that I don't have to leave the office early?

I won't be able to contact them until the morning, so a bit of reassurance that it would be reasonable of me to do this would be much appreciated!

lizzielondon

yes

you have the right to quiet enjoyment of your home, you do not have to allow access to the LL/LA unless it is an emergency- this trumps anything inserted into the tenancy agreement

if you completely block access you're likely to be served notice- but what you're asking for is completely reasonable

elvis86

I thought so, just nice to have reassurance, thank you!

snapping_crocodile

You are entitled to quiet enjoyment, and entry should be on your terms. I would be tempted to change the locks, so they cant try and enter when you are not there, and then change the locks back before you move out

elvis86

snapping_crocodile wrote: »

You are entitled to quiet enjoyment, and entry should be on your terms. I would be tempted to change the locks, so they cant try and enter when you are not there, and then change the locks back before you move out

I've thought about that, but I think its in our tenancy agreement that we can't?

Anyone have any idea how much it might cost? Its an apartment within a secure(ish - another story!) development, the front door only has (rather worryingly, IMO) a single lock. I'm not very good at explaining, but basically a lock where you just turn the catch 90 degrees to lock it from the inside?

lizzielondon

it's been argued on here you can change the locks and change them back regardless of what it says in the agreement- although i don't know if this true

the only way they would find out is if they illegally tried to enter your home

i'm sure i've read that you are not allowed to do this in scotland *i think*

elvis86

A

lizzielondon wrote: »

it's been argued on here you can change the locks and change them back regardless of what it says in the agreement- although i don't know if this true

the only way they would find out is if they illegally tried to enter your home

i'm sure i've read that you are not allowed to do this in scotland *i think*

I'm really paranoid about them entering when we're out, because (in breach of our tenancy agreement) we have a cat. So its important that I know when they're coming so I can arrange for her to be shipped to a friend's for the day.

Any landlords that want to have a pop at me for that, go ahead, I consider myself a model tenant, cat aside, our apartments is spotless, rent paid on time without fail etc and she does no damage.;)

Also, we do have some relatively valuable stuff between us, and I'm not sure where you'd stand if this went missing and the only explanation was that the letting agents' key had been used?

Aside from that though, I just don't like the idea of a stranger in my home when I'm not there, y'know?:(

lizzielondon

i don't think any landlords are going to have a pop at you- you are not denying access just making sure it is at a time which suits you- which is fine!

why are parnoid they will come in without permission? have they told you they will?

Ladybird20

My tenants always allow me to take new tenants around when they are not in, which i prefer.However i wouldnt dream of opening drawers ect as i do respect peoples privacy ,,Its never been a problem as yet for me or my tenants...

Ditch_Crawler

lizzielondon wrote: »

why are parnoid they will come in without permission? have they told you they will?

No, they just failed to turn up at the time they said they would, which is just as annoying...

DC

lizzielondon

i assume that's by prior appointment? i think we're talking here about people turning up uninvited

it's up to each individual- your tenants obviously trust you so are fine for you to go into their home when they are not there-

but it's completely fine for someone to be uncomfortable with people wandering around their home & it's completely fine to specify visits can only happen when the tenant is present