Tenant demanding our workmen's contact details

sariebeth

Hi there,

Not sure if anyone can answer this but worth a try.

We have quite a difficult tenant in one of our properties who has driven away several of our workmen in the past. She needs a radiator fixing, which we have arranged with one of our local plumbers. However, as she demands that any workmen pre-book with her we have asked him to give her a call to set a date. He will call her, but only when he knows when he's free. She is demanding his phone number to call him. But we are saying no, because all she's done in the past is badger people until they refuse to go round again.

She's saying it's her legal right to have our workman's phone number. We say it's not as she calls us for maintenance, not the workman.

Do we have to give it to her? I don't think I can cope with loosing another good plumber!

Many thanks in advance

Incidentally we did have 2 gas men in the past who told us under no circumstances to give her their number as they already knew her reputation from other people they worked with!

G_M

She has no 'right' to their phone numbers, but she DOES have the right to pre-warning of when they are coming. She also has the right ('quiet enjoyment') to refuse access.

You, of course, also have the right of access (and your contractors) to do the work.

But if you cannot compromise on these conflicting rights, you would have to get a court order for access. Not really practical!

Who is driving the repair? Is it something she is insisting you fix? Or something you want to fix and she does not care?

If the former, just write to her politly explaining that in accordance with her wish for the radiator to be fixed you have arranged a contractor who will phone her 24 hours in advance to arrange a visit.

If the latter, maybe forget fixing the rad till she leaves. and if she's that much trouble, maybe a S21 is in order.....?

sariebeth

Thanks for the reply! It is something she is requesting that we fix.

Yes we completely appreciate that she has the right to advance warning. But she won't let us book a date in. For example we can't say he will come next Friday at 4, because whatever date we pick she says is inconvenient. She likes to choose the date and time (and she gives us the option of 1 date and 1 time, often at short notice) and if the guy can't fit that it she blows a fuse and demands their number.

We made the mistake of booking in a time once before, and even though she had about a weeks advance warning, and she didn't say anything to the contrary, she refused to let him in!

And if we do eventually get someone in, she usually doesn't like them and tells them to leave or tells them never to come back. So they can't finish the job and the whole thing starts again.

Her contract ends very soon and she knows she's not getting a renewal!

Sorry I just re-read your answer. Thank you, we will send her an email (her preferred form of contact) and tell her that our workman will give her 24 hours notice to arrange visit.

LurkerTurnedPoster

1. She is growing marijuana in the attic and needs time to hide the smell.
2. She is agrophobic andlor has mental health problems, someone entering her home is a frightening to her, as if she had to leave the property and skip down the highstreet in a bikini.
3. Substance abuse.
4. She is being as annoying as possible as she knows she is not getting a renewed contract, thinks the world is against her and is lashing out.

5. Good luck!!!!

DVardysShadow

I think you have to show her what an S21 notice looks like.

sariebeth

LurkerTurnedPoster wrote: »

1. She is growing marijuana in the attic and needs time to hide the smell.
2. She is agrophobic andlor has mental health problems, someone entering her home is a frightening to her, as if she had to leave the property and skip down the highstreet in a bikini.
3. Substance abuse.
4. She is being as annoying as possible as she knows she is not getting a renewed contract, thinks the world is against her and is lashing out.

5. Good luck!!!!

Ha ha yeah I'm fairly sure mental health problems cover it. I don't want to divulge too much, but we have just had correspondence from her accusing us of harassment for not giving her the numbers and saying her solicitor has advised her to sue us!

Counting down until she moves out...

LurkerTurnedPoster

I found this:

NOTICE REQUIRING POSSESSION of a Dwelling House
(England & Wales - Housing Act 1988 as amended by Housing Act 1996 – Section 21 Notice)
I give you notice that I require possession of this
dwelling house by virtue of: (delete statement (1) or (2) as appropriate)
(1) Your Fixed-Term Assured Shorthold Tenancy - Housing Act 1988 section 21(1)b
(2) Your Periodic Assured Shorthold Tenancy - Housing Act 1988 section 21(4)a
To: name of tenant
From: name and address of landlord
Address: of dwelling house
DATE OF EXPIRY of this NOTICE:
(This is the last day of the tenancy period – AFTER which date I seek possession - see notes below)
Signed (landlord / agent):
Agent’s Name & Address: (when served by agent)
Date this NOTICE is SERVED:





Tenants and Landlords please note:
• On or after the end of a fixed-term Assured Shorthold Tenancy a court must make an order for possession if the landlord has given notice in writing under Section 21.
• The landlord does not need to give any reason for requiring possession.
• Where there are joint landlords, at least one of them or their agent must serve the notice.
• Where there are joint tenants, it is preferable that each tenant be served notice.
• The notice should be served in person or through the letter box or by first class post – keep a copy and record the date and time, who served the notice (any witness), or Post Office proof of postage receipt – allow 3 working days for delivery.
• Fixed-term s21(1)b The length of the notice must be at least two months, and the notice must be served before or on the day on which the fixed-term comes to an end.
• Periodic Tenancy s21(4)a (i.e. where the tenant has stayed-on after the expiry of the fixedterm) a notice can be served after the fixed-term has ended specifying a date after which possession is required being the last day of a period of the tenancy (usually the day before a rent payment day) and not earlier than two months after the date the notice was given.
• Periodic Tenants – the landlord requires possession after the date stated in this notice or at the end of the period of your tenancy which will end next after the expiration of 2 months from the service upon you of this notice.
• If you as tenant do not know your rights after you have been served a notice requiring possession see a solicitor, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau or your local authority rent officer.

© LandlordZONE.co.uk - supplied free in good faith – no accuracy guarantee & no liability accepted – use at your own risk

mirand

You are absolutely right in refusing to give her the contractor's phone number.
It is her legal right? how ridiculous is that...
I agree with Dvardyshadow , show her an S21 notice and she may realise how lucky she is to have a landlord who cares and promptly see to any repairs in the first place.

giddypenguin

How soon does the contract end? As it's just one radiator can't it wait until shes gone? Or is that suggestion likely to inflame the situation further? Other than that the only thing I can think of is asking her for a list of dates she is free - but I understand you've tried that.

LurkerTurnedPoster

This may come in handy, it is the landlord tenant handbook that shows both the landlord and tenant responsibilities - you may already have seen it, but certainly worth a browse: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/138307.pdf

sariebeth

Thanks guys. She has already been served a section 21, that's all sorted.

She believes that having one radiator not working is a breach of her human rights, I wouldn't like to attempt the argument. She sends us lengthy emails detailing how we've treated her badly - even though we have the numerous responses which show the lengths we go to to keep her happy.

I'll have a peruse LurkerTurnedPoster, thank you!