Repeated unauthorised entry by landlord

chicken_licken_3

Morning all,

Can anyone help at all please, I am at the end of my tether.

I moved into a rented house in December, I rent via an agency which the landlord owns and run, it's mostly student houses but he owns a few house in nice areas and I rent one from him with my 2 year old.

When we first moved in, the landlord would 'pop by', just to check everything was OK, this was every few days and in the end I said I was OK and I would ring if there were issues, he never let himself in, he just knocked on the door after I was home from work.

That stopped and everything seemed fine for a week or so. Then I noticed I was coming home from work and lights in the house were on, the first few times I thought I had just left the lights on myself and thought no more of it. Then I went to see my Mum for a few nights whilst my son was at his fathers, I cme home and my lounge and kitchen lights were on, I know I wouldn't have left them on for that long (plus on a prepayment meter so not prudent to leave things going!).

Got a bit freaked, spoke to my neighbour opposite (I'd asked him just to keep an eye out) and he said the landlord had been in that afternoon, he'd assumed that he'd had my permission.

Called LL the next day, he denied this and said the previous tenant looked like him and this is where the neighbour must've been getting confused, I said I would like the locks changed and he said yes on the condition I provided him with keys, I wasn't overly happy about this but did so.

Since then, the 'incidents' have become more frequent, I have a shed and repeatedly, I've come back and the door is locked, but the light on inside, I do have a key but don't use the shed. I've come home to my bedisde lamp on, my bathroom lights on, things moved. Neighbours have said they have seen the landlord coming and going and have given me dates and times. they are prepared to act as witnesses. One neighbour challenged him and he said he had permission to be there from me, she called me at work, I called the LL and he denied he'd been at the house and said he'd fallen out with the neighbour some time ago and she was trying to make trouble.

I'm now very uneasy about living here, I can't sleep at night very well, every noise disturbs me, I'm constantly preoccupied at work and I'm concerned about my safety and that of my son too.

The LL has never given notice to enter the property.

Given that he is doing this, would I be enititled to end the agreement early? I love my house and my neighbours but it is getting to the point where I honestly feel I will have a nervous breakdown. Do I need to get a solicitor involved at this stage.

I should add, I have called the police each time this has happened and got crime references.

I don't know which way to turn at the moment.

Thanks in advance folks.

theartfullodger

Change the locks: Keep the old locks & put them back when you move out. You do not have to give him any keys .

Write LL a calm polite letter stating you refuse all visits, inspections etc without your prior written agreement which you are not yet giving. Advise him there have been some odd events, that the Police have been informed & there are crime ref numbers.

Artful (Landlord)

Nixer

I'd add to artful's usual good advice, it sounds as if you have excellent neighbours so do keep them onside. Is there any way you can contact the previous tenant or any of his current tenants without the LL knowing? I think in your shoes I'd want to know whether he is being a nuisance to all tenants or just you. The latter would have me preparing to leave I think - it sounds like stalking.

Are the police aware that it is the landlord or do they just think it's an intruder? I mean have they had a word with him?

I don't know whether you could end the agreement early - Shelter might be the people to ask but I'd suggest following artful's advice first. If the locks are changed and only you have the keys then the next logical step is that he either goes quiet or complains that you have changed the locks. If the latter you can then remind him about quiet enjoyment.

Good luck.

go_cat

This is stalker behaviour can the police not have a word with him ?

Have you mentioned to the LL that you have reported it to the police?

PasturesNew

1] Change the locks, he doesn't have any rights to a key. S0d him
2] See the neighbours - tell them that unless you've put a note through their door specifically telling them that you are expecting the LL then they are to immediately phone the police and report a break in in progress if they see him entering.
3] Shed, change the lock and put a shed alarm in there

This freakoid isn't right in the head. He's probably been laying on your bed sniffing your pillow in the afternoons. He's a menace.

There is absolutely nothing he can say which would make his behaviour OK or legal. He has no right to do any of this. Get the barrel of the locks changed now, today, no waiting.

annaS_2

As well as changing the locks, you could also contact the Private Housing team at your local council (I think the department name varies with each council) - they were brilliant when I had a similar problem and, being the council, their help is included in your council tax so is 'free'.

They were really supportive and said they would usually try an informal phone call first if I wanted to keep it low key but when they read the documentation I had from the Landlord they sent him a letter saying they would prosecute if he didn't back down (harassment of a tenant is a criminal offence) - the hassle stopped straight away (and I moved out as soon as I could!).

I'm sure they'll be able to help you, too.

go_cat

Just had another thought if you know what time of day roughly he comes can you get a friend ( preferably big and male ) to be sat waiting for him and ask if he can help him !!

PasturesNew

go_cat wrote: »

Just had another thought if you know what time of day roughly he comes can you get a friend ( preferably big and male ) to be sat waiting for him and ask if he can help him !!

And/or set up a live streaming webcam pointed at the door and put a shout out on somewhere like Facebook etc inviting people to "Trap my Landlord", people would love to have that running on their desktop hoping to be the ones to catch him and screenie/record him entering. They could be given simple instructions: "If the camera is running and you see a man entering, phone the police and give them this crime number....." with one of your old references.

Although you could also put up a sign saying "video surveillance", just to scare him off a bit maybe.

GEEGEE8

Take a day off work and wait for him to come over.. hide in the house and catch him out!

Sounds awful though and I really feel for you..

What about a hidden camera?

martindow

OP have you changed the locks as suggested? A cheap and easy move which will instantly put a stop to this and put your mind at rest.

BitterAndTwisted

Chicken_licken you don't need to pay someone to change the locks. You only need to change the barrels if the locks themselves are pretty common ones. Replacement barrels can be bought for about a fiver from hardware stores or B&Q. It's not particularly difficult and you only need a screwdriver to do it. I'd change one lock each on the front and back doors. Keep the original barrels so you can swap them back when you leave.

PLEASE do as Artful suggested and put it in writing that you deny access unless you agree to it in writing.