Letting Agents let someone into my house without informing me - advice please

ruintooeasy

Today I got home from work to find my son's bike had been moved (it's over the hatch for access to the cellar) along with a couple of other things. I immediately contacted my letting agents who informed me the gas safety inspector had been to the property to carry out the inspection, however it had already been conducted in august so he did not complete it and asked if i had not been informed! I explained that I had not been told anyone would be calling at the house and that I was not happy.

Advice please? The agency haven't been very good so far and I'm really annoyed by this! should I just leave it? What would you do?

thanks

BitterAndTwisted

Let me get this straight: someone let themselves into the property. This someone allegedly entered the property to carry out a gas-safety check but one had already been done in August so they did not therefore carry another out. Is that right? Can you also confirm that no-one from the agency or your landlord contacted you ahead of time and requested your permission?

ruintooeasy

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Let me get this straight: someone let themselves into the property. This someone allegedly entered the property to carry out a gas-safety check but one had already been done in August so they did not therefore carry another out. Is that right? Can you also confirm that no-one from the agency or your landlord contacted you ahead of time and requested your permission?

yes to all of this.

BitterAndTwisted

Well, you said that you told them you weren't happy so one hopes they won't try doing that again in a hurry.

One way to prevent it is to change the barrel of the lock on the front door. You need to keep the old one safe so that you can replace it at the end of your tenancy. A new barrel should cost about a fiver from a decent hardware shop or somewhere like B&Q and should take you about five to ten minutes with a screwdriver. Doing this, will prevent anyone getting in without your prior consent and the only way the agents or the landlord would find out you've changed the barrel is by trying to get in.

G_M

Write to the LANDLORD, with a copy to the agents.

Be polite. Thank them very much for taking their responsiblities regarding gas safety seriously, but point out the current certificate does not expire till next August.

Also put in writing your requirement for any future visits, whether by the landlord, or any of his agents, contractors or others, to be by prior written arrangement, and must be agreed by you in writing, so that you can arrange to be present at a time that is convenient to you. Assure him you will do everything possible to facilitate reasonable requests for access provided you have at least 24 hours notice.

Whether you choose to also change the locks as advised by Bitter is up to you, but since they should not be coming in, they won't know, will they........?

And you have a right to protect your home, even if your contract has a clause prohibiting changing the locks.

Above all, don't let this escalate and impact on your future relationship with the LL/agent, esp if you plan to stay long term. So as I say, be diplomatic as well as firm!

ruintooeasy

thank you both for your replies and advice