How often is too often for an inspection (Renting)

butler_helen

Yes if I owned the house and had good tenants in for three years (ish) I'd leave them alone. I'm happy for them to inspect but wish I could be there.

Nixer

I'd write them a letter explaining what quiet enjoyment is and cc the landlord - although I presume he or she is happy since he or she is paying the agency to do all these inspections. And, since you want to move anyway, you could refuse any further "inspections" and consider changing the locks until you leave because if the agency are that ignorant they might well just let themselves in anyway. If they moan that the locks have been changed you can counter moan that they should not have been trying to enter without your permission.

I actually think that every 3 months is borderline !!!!takery too but obviously everyone's different and I don't think there is any definition in law of what's reasonable.

We've been inspected once in 2.5 years here (2 years ago) and never in our previous house. Although both current and previous LLs are a bit rubbish about doing repairs so maybe that's why they don't inspect.

Geenie

I inspect once a year, give plenty of notice, and don't go at a time when the tenants are not there or convenient for them. It is not about snooping around, but checking that the place is not in need of repair. It is what a LL should be doing to keep the place working well.

theartfullodger

How a tenant lives in their house, their property (see..
http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2010/08/31/urban-myth-when-a-landlord-lets-a-property-its-still-his/
) is entirely up to them - as long as it gets given back as-was, less "fair wear 'n tear".

So, if tenant (eg..) decides to keep coal in the bath, have the sink overflowing with mouldy dishes & pans, the vinyl floors filthy & the curtains drawn all day every day that's his absolute right.. (But might not get a great reference,,)

Landlord's (or their agents) ONLY right to an inspection is under
Landlord & Tenant ACt 1985 Section 11.(6)
(See
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/70/section/11
)

(6)In a lease in which the lessor’s repairing covenant is implied there is also implied a covenant by the lessee that the lessor, or any person authorised by him in writing, may at reasonable times of the day and on giving 24 hours’ notice in writing to the occupier, enter the premises comprised in the lease for the purpose of viewing their condition and state of repair.

(Note: Not to tell T how to live their life...)




- but T can allow LL in for anything else, if both agree...

IMHO Tenants may make the "inspection" shorter by presenting LL/agent as they walk in through the door with a prepared list of defects to the property for the LL to fix.

T also has the right (quiet enjoyment etc..) to refuse all such visits: Expect suspicion re. brothels or cannabis farms to result from total refusal to any inspections ever...


Cheers!

Artful

Ihatecameron

I think LL's should not inspect until 2 weeks before a tenant/s is due to move out. At that point the LL should draw up a list of what they think needs doing for the tenant/s to get their full deposit returned.

Doshwaster

When I was renting I quite appreciated an inspection every 3 months. It was a good opportunity to raise any maintenance issues - and gave me a kick to tidy up. Previous landlords never inspected and it was impossible to get any repairs done.

loveandlight

Inspections every 3 months is unreasonable and is more like harassment. I would get in touch with the landlord because they may not even know how OTT the letting agent is being. Most letting agents do things without consulting the landlord and the LL gets the blame for it.

There is no way I would stay if inspections were every 3 mths. That is unreasonable and the courts would think so as well. Unless of course there was cause for concern which in your case doesn't sound like they have reason to be like that.

BitterAndTwisted

Lettings-agents generally charge the landlord for inspections so they would be pretty keen to keep them up in order to justify their fat fees for them.

In the OP's position, now that they have proven themselves to have been keeping the property in good order I would write to both the LL and the agent suggesting that frequent inspections are intrusive and unnecessary, and suggest that six-monthly ones would be appropriate. At the same time I would be adding a nice, long list of repair issues which have been reported before and not addressed if there are any.

James_N

Angelhales2601 wrote: »

I've been in this property over 18 months now, initially every 3-6 months the letting agents wanted to inspect, thats been getting more frequent. To the point that the last one was in December and now they want to do one again, this is taking the p**s surely. I'm sure theres something about peaceful enjoyment of the home is there not? I'm planning to move out as soon as possible anyway and this being one of the key reasons, non of my previous letting agents have ever done this. Am I alone in thinking its taking the mic or not?

My property is inspected monthly by my letting agent. And no, there is no fat fee involved. it's a business. If the tenant doesn't like it, don't sign the contract. I "inspect" the property I live in continually.

There are enough landlords who don't give a damn, and tenants on here whining about that. Where a landlord does want to keep the property in a good way (and the tenant happy), other tenants whine.

Sometimes it seems to me tenants are a whole lot of trouble as a class of people. They don't want any responsibility, want everything their way, but are quick to demand their "rights" when things go wrong.

James_N

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Lettings-agents generally charge the landlord for inspections so they would be pretty keen to keep them up in order to justify their fat fees for them.

In the OP's position, now that they have proven themselves to have been keeping the property in good order I would write to both the LL and the agent suggesting that frequent inspections are intrusive and unnecessary, and suggest that six-monthly ones would be appropriate. At the same time I would be adding a nice, long list of repair issues which have been reported before and not addressed if there are any.

And THIS is exactly what I mean above. Have your cake and eat it. Claim you don't need inspections: then whine about repairs.