Landlord frequently turning up unannounced.....

GDB2222

Nicolafine wrote: »

I would definitely take the advice given here although I seem to remember that you can't change locks on a rented property (I could be wrong though)

Most tenancy agreements have a clause in saying that the tenants must not change the locks. That is probably unenforceable. If you do change the locks, you need to put the old ones back in again at the end of the tenancy.

As a landlord, I very much prefer it if tenants do not change the locks. This is not so I can come snooping in the property whilst they are out, but so that I can get in in case of emergency. It is a matter of respect, and my tenants know that they can trust me to respect their privacy.

marliepanda

GDB2222 wrote: »

Most tenancy agreements have a clause in saying that the tenants must not change the locks. That is probably unenforceable. If you do change the locks, you need to put the old ones back in again at the end of the tenancy.

As a landlord, I very much prefer it if tenants do not change the locks. This is not so I can come snooping in the property whilst they are out, but so that I can get in in case of emergency. It is a matter of respect, and my tenants know that they can trust me to respect their privacy.

100% agree with what you say. But, if you were going in and snooping, or threatening to do so, can you not see why people would not trust you and change the locks? And would you deny that they were right to do that?

elona

I have never seen a thread where a car finance company pops round every week and checks the car is been cleaned and polished to their standards either.

If someone came and stood in front of the car so you could not drive away or do what you were entitled to do with the car you were paying for then I do not think you would be pleased.

It sounds like the relative that is staring in windows and scaring a teenage girl may have problems to put it politely. He is not the landlord and I doubt the landlord has any idea of the things that are going on.

DVardysShadow

marliepanda wrote: »

100% agree with what you say. But, if you were going in and snooping, or threatening to do so, can you not see why people would not trust you and change the locks? And would you deny that they were right to do that?

I am reading GDB as saying, in effect, that to get the tenants not to change the lock, the LL must show the tenants that they don't need to.

marliepanda

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I am reading GDB as saying, in effect, that to get the tenants not to change the lock, the LL must show the tenants that they don't need to.

I was responding in part also to GDB saying landlords can 'do no good round here.'

I have seen no threads on here where people have advised changing the lock in the face of a respectful landlord.

thegirlintheattic

GDB2222 wrote: »

As a landlord, I very much prefer it if tenants do not change the locks. This is not so I can come snooping in the property whilst they are out, but so that I can get in in case of emergency. It is a matter of respect, and my tenants know that they can trust me to respect their privacy.

This argument has been used time and time again but there are very few emergencies where immediate access is required that would allow for the LL to be called to open the door anyway.

For example, in a fire or a gas leak, the emergency services are not going to call you and wait for you to turn up, thy are going to kick the door in.

I change the locks when moving into a rental, I always replace the original locks when moving out, but I do not want someone who has no legal right to be in the property without my permission, to be able to let themselves in. You also have no idea how many people may have that key - ex-tenants, handy men, the neighbors. If the LL ever complained, not only would I point out it's my right but I'd also want to know how they had found out, as they could not know without trying to gain unauthorised entry. There is no need to the tenant to offer a reason for why they change the locks.

The reason many people hold a disdain for LL is because a lot of them have no idea what they are doing and hold an emotional attachment to the property which leads them to behave in an unprofessional manner. Remember, when a tenancy is in place it is not the LL's property.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

GDB2222 wrote: »

There's an amazing amount of resentment about paying rent. People are happy to pay finance on say a new car. They don't resent the payments to the car finance company, but renting a property seems to be so emotional. Consequently, LLs can do no good round here.

I don't resent paying rent to professional people conducting their business within the law. I do resent paying it to bumbling, aggressive amateurs who employ clueless, incompetent agents.

The best renting experience I've ever had was through a company that let and managed loads of properties; 24 hr helpline, proper papertrail for everything, all conducted with a reassuringly professional demeanour.

Lovelyjoolz

GDB2222 wrote: »

As a landlord, I very much prefer it if tenants do not change the locks. This is not so I can come snooping in the property whilst they are out, but so that I can get in in case of emergency. It is a matter of respect, and my tenants know that they can trust me to respect their privacy.

But if you never go around there, you would never know if they did change the locks would you? So no skin off your nose. Unless there is an emergency, at which time the emergency services will probably have kicked the door down before phoning you.

I always tell my tenants to feel free to change the lock barrels if they want to. Then they can feel secure in their home. I'll even show them how to do it.

Besides, most tenants change the locks not because they think the LL will come in, but because they can't be one hundred per cent sure that a previous tenant hasn't kept a copy of the keys. One tenant I know did have this happen to him once. His flat was cleared by a previous tenant while he was at work.

Strapped

propertyman wrote: »

Buy garden sprinklers

And a large dog.

GDB2222

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

This argument has been used time and time again but there are very few emergencies where immediate access is required that would allow for the LL to be called to open the door anyway.

For example, in a fire or a gas leak, the emergency services are not going to call you and wait for you to turn up, thy are going to kick the door in.

I change the locks when moving into a rental, I always replace the original locks when moving out, but I do not want someone who has no legal right to be in the property without my permission, to be able to let themselves in. You also have no idea how many people may have that key - ex-tenants, handy men, the neighbors. If the LL ever complained, not only would I point out it's my right but I'd also want to know how they had found out, as they could not know without trying to gain unauthorised entry. There is no need to the tenant to offer a reason for why they change the locks.

The reason many people hold a disdain for LL is because a lot of them have no idea what they are doing and hold an emotional attachment to the property which leads them to behave in an unprofessional manner. Remember, when a tenancy is in place it is not the LL's property.

Last Tuesday, I was notified of a leak coming from one of my flats. For various reasons I could not get hold of the tenant for over 24 hours, so the leak continued for that period. Fortunately, it was a very, very minor leak, and the cost will be picked up the insurers. It would have been quite inappropriate to break the door down - last one cost over £500 to replace.

The tenant was not liable for this leak, but in other circumstances she might have been and could have had a bill for £000's from the downstairs flat.