Landlord entering flat without permission

hollydays

A friend is renting a flat privately while at university.The Landlords are have recently taken to allowing people into my friends flat while they are not their,or my friend has entered the flat to be alarmed to find someone in their.On another ocasion,she was asleep in bed when someone walked in.They are entering to do maintenance.Non urgent.What is the situation on this.

mi-key

Basically what they are doing is illegal - as landlords they can only enter a property without advance permission if it is specifically to carry out emergency repairs ( for example, if someone left the bath running and the flat below contacted the landlord because the person was out ).

Landlords have NO right to enter your friends HOME without permission - nor do letting agents or any workmen on their behalf.

RHemmings

mi-key wrote:

Basically what they are doing is illegal - as landlords they can only enter a property without advance permission if it is specifically to carry out emergency repairs ( for example, if someone left the bath running and the flat below contacted the landlord because the person was out ).

Landlords have NO right to enter your friends HOME without permission - nor do letting agents or any workmen on their behalf.

This question gets asked quite often, and we often get the correct answer that this is illegal. But we rarely hear what people can do about it. What can people do? Is there anyone who has dealt with this problem and obtained a satisfactory conclusion?

moomin-mama_2

You can contact your local authority as they should have a tenancy relations officer (although they could be something else). They'll contact the landlord on the tenants behalf explaining the tenants right to 'quiet enjoyment'.

Also shelter do tenancy relations work (at least they did when I worked there) try https://www.shelter.org.uk for your nearest. Alternatively the CAB or local law centre may be able to help.

Tassotti

At RH.A Tenant can legally change the locks and not let the LL have a spare key.When the tenancy ends, the locks must be put back, or the cost of doing so can be retained by the LL from the deposit.Tass

hollydays

moomin-mama wrote:

You can contact your local authority as they should have a tenancy relations officer (although they could be something else). They'll contact the landlord on the tenants behalf explaining the tenants right to 'quiet enjoyment'.

Also shelter do tenancy relations work (at least they did when I worked there) try https://www.shelter.org.uk for your nearest. Alternatively the CAB or local law centre may be able to help.

as stated it is privately owned-why would the LA do this?

hollydays

Tassotti wrote:

At RHA Tenant can legally change the locks and not let the LL have a spare key.When the tenancy ends, the locks must be put back, or the cost of doing so can be retained by the LL from the deposit.Tass

whats rha ?

barnaby-bear

hollydays wrote:

as stated it is privately owned-why would the LA do this?

They do - I've used them it's about raising housing standards - why does council tax pay for fire engines to protect private houses and individuals.... some LA services are about quality of life for society

moomin-mama_2

hollydays wrote:

as stated it is privately owned-why would the LA do this?

As a part of their homelessness prevention strategy. Also to remind landlords of their responsibilities - after all they are breaking the law and to raise standards in the private rented sector.

sultry33

all private landlords now have to be registered i believe now, with this comes certain rules.
check your tenancy agreement it states on there that noone is allowed to enter without giving at least 3 days notice, unless emergency an that you have refused entry.

i would call the police if anyone entered my house without me letting them in.

your situation is very bad and unproffesional, go see council as already stated and check your tenancy.
good luck

montrose5

If I remember the law correctly the landlord has a right to enter the property for maintenance however it must be with reasonable notice to the tennant and mutually agreeable. You can change the locks but you will obviously have to be there if the LL requires entry (I would suggest you have a friend with you). Have a quick word with CAB before doing anything and take along your lease agreement. This sounds very much like harassment, possibly to 'encourage' your friend to end the lease early