Management Inspection?

Doozergirl

I've just received a letter from our managing agents saying that it is company policy to inspect all properties on a routine basis.

We've been living here for three months and I'm not mightily happy about this. Not only does the landlord send his kids round every few weeks to collect their post which they haven't bothered to redirect but now I'm supposed to let the letting agent come around the house to see how I live.

I've been a landlord and never felt I should do this as I considered it to be intrusive.

I'm going to be told that it's fine for them to do this as long as they give me sufficient notice, aren't I?

I'm mightily peeved :mad:

maninthestreet

Ref: Post collection - next time the kids turn up, tell them that their visits are not welcome, may constitute a form of harassment, and that in future all mail that is delivered to the propery that is not addressed to the occupiers (you) will be marked with 'NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS, RETURN SENDER', and put into the nearest postbox.

prudryden

Doozer -
That stinks. Re: post Tell them that you will forward the post to them as it is becoming very inconvenient.
Ask to see a copy of the Company's policy and how often they expect to do this. Again, tell them that this is highly inconvenient for you. You don't mind once a year, but more than that, it would be a nuisance.

Doozergirl

I'm just a bit peeved. I've calmed down a bit now but thanks, I am going to say something about the post. The LA already came to the house after we'd moved in to collect their post, before they divulged that they lived about 50 yards away in the same street(!) and always walk past with the dog. I feel like I'm being watched already; I don't feel like having people snooping around inside as well.

I'm a reasonable person and of course I'll let them in, but yes, I'm not having it a regular occurance, I'm renting a house, I'm not on probation :wall: I will ask to see their policy too. I want to know what they're planning to do.

prudryden

Doozer,
Food for thought. Perhaps the owner of your property is purposely not redirecting the mail because : he hasn't informed the mortgage company that he is letting.

Doozergirl

It's just a trickle now.

I just got angry again because he's been in three times to fix various things too How much do they need to see?

rosysparkle

Inspections are usually done quarterly on managed properties, and it's a service that landlords expect when they pay for full management. You don't have to consent if you don't want to, but where I work we do have to tell the landlords if tenants who won't consent to an inspection, and landlords have instructed us to serve notice on occasion. Not often (we don't have that many tenants who don't consent) but it has happened.

If you are getting the landlord's post, write the letting agent's address on the envelope and put it back in the post, no need for a stamp. The agent will have to forward it on again, and they will soon get the landlord to change the address when the quantity of post becomes a burden to them! You do not have to put up with your landlord or his family calling at the property.

They should have checked that the landlord has consent to let, but mortgage company letters (we can tell what they are without opening them) will alert the agents that there is a possible problem.

silvercar

They should have checked that the landlord has consent to let, but mortgage company letters (we can tell what they are without opening them) will alert the agents that there is a possible problem

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letting agents answer to landlords to tenants. They wouldn't check and wouldn't care. only problem occurs on repossession when a tenant would be evicted irrespective of the type of mortgage. Tenant would then have to take action agains landlord for breach of AST.

The purpose of a management check is to pick up on problems before they become more serious. I would have thought 6 monthly was the most frequent required.

Doozergirl

In which case rosysparkle, I think I might refuse on this occassion and invite them to inspect at 6 months instead. But can I really do this?

The letting agent has been in once since we moved in, the landlord three times, his kids have been to the door numerous times and they walk past every day...

My kids leave the lights on and the curtains open upstairs half the time and you can see straight into the front room as it has no nets. I've put a new mat and little trees in the front porch, so it's clear that I am houseproud. I sweep the front and they will know I'm not having crazy parties because they live in the same street!

I think it's OTT.

abaxas

maninthestreet wrote:

Ref: Post collection - next time the kids turn up, tell them that their visits are not welcome, may constitute a form of harassment, and that in future all mail that is delivered to the propery that is not addressed to the occupiers (you) will be marked with 'NOT KNOWN AT THIS ADDRESS, RETURN SENDER', and put into the nearest postbox.

That is always the best advice. This is your home!

In relation to visits, let them come round however make sure it's at your convienience. Ie state you are happy for them to attend >8pm at night when you are there, insist your are present at the inspection.

They have no right of entry.

rosysparkle

silvercar wrote:

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letting agents answer to landlords to tenants. They wouldn't check and wouldn't care. only problem occurs on repossession when a tenant would be evicted irrespective of the type of mortgage. Tenant would then have to take action agains landlord for breach of AST.

I can assure you that a professional lettings agency will both check and care. We ask that all our landlords have consent to let from their mortgage providers. Unfortunately we have to take their word for it if they don't show us proof, but we have disinstructed ourselves when we consider that there will be potential problems with a landlord.

The purpose of a management check is to pick up on problems before they become more serious. I would have thought 6 monthly was the most frequent required.

I respectfully disagree, having seen what a bad (although fully referenced) tenant can do in a short space of time.

I am sure that the OP would not cause a problem and I certainly don't mean to imply that the majority of tenants would. Most tenants (and landlords) with whom we deal are great, and we have very few problems.

But if the landlord pays the agency to do three-monthly checks, that's what the agency has to do, and report back to the landlord if for whatever reason this doesn't happen.