Landlord frequently turning up unannounced.....

clark24

Hubby has pointed out to me that he isn't actually our landlord in the eyes of the law, a member of his family is but as they live further away and 'have a life' he takes it upon himself to do the 'landlording' in the absence, so it is their name on the lease but we have never met or spoken to them, we have only dealt with him, and tbh we have seen more of him than most tenants should have to in their first month! So as he isn't the actual legal landlord (i.e does not own the house, name is not on lease, is only acting on behalf of actual owner as it is convenient for them that way) where do we stand?

Also the garden wraps round the house, their is a front gate and a back one but the house is in the middle of the plot of land, so when he comes in (by which ever means he feels like on that day) he can just wander all the way round, looking in all the windows, peering in all the bins etc. We can't lock the gates as we need access for delivery men and post men and friends who visit. And apart from the friends we have no way of anyone else letting us know they need the gates opening (long drive, large garden) so can't bolt them shut, much as I would love too (or electrify, that occurred to me earlier as he magically appeared behind me).

So he's not the landlord, does act on behalf of them tho with their blessing, he has decided we are planning on trashing the house as are not posh enough to rent his house (would love to tell him who my family actually are, he would bloody change his tune then!!) and has told our actual landlord this and between them they have decided he must keep checking on us to catch us in the act or prevent it happening by making us know we are being thoroughly watched.

What I hate is that without his constant unwanted intrusion and accusations this house would feel like home, as it is it doesn't, I can't relax here as I am constantly looking over my shoulder, fretting about any little bits of mess and jumping everytime I hear the gates squeak.

DVardysShadow

Ah! I suggest a letter to the actual Landlords imploring them politely to call this person off. cite some examples - choose those with creepy or petty connotations and invite them for an inspection

If you feel strongly enough about it, offer a termination by mutual agreement as you are not prepared to tolerate the intrusion. Even if you don't want to go down this road, a polite, short, well written and above all reasonable letter is required to give a tone which will convey that you are not a problem but you are having problems with their 'agent'. Hopefully that will put an end to it - but if not, a letter later from a solicitor will not come as a surprise

faerie~spangles

What a horrible position to be put in.


A) If I were you I would phone the police and report a perv/peeping Tom flashing himself every time he is on the property.

Invest in some motion sensor cameras and outside lights. I'd go as far as having some nanny cams in the property too

C) CONTACT THE LANDLORD!

[Deleted User]

AS others have said, change the locks.., that will deal with most of the internal intrusion.

I know its an expense u could do without, but I buy blinds from a seller like inensonthenetltd or just search for window blinds on ebay. I used this particular seller because the blinds were unbelievably inexpensive but seem to be fine quality wise even 6 months later. Then there's no way he can peer in the windows. I found nets were more expensive and still allowed some view of inside the house. Once blinds are closed, u still get quite a lot of light (with white blinds) but no one can see in.

If he turns up whilst u are walking in the street and follows to your door as if expecting to be invited in, just say "I'd invite you in but I am just about to rush off again" very firmly. You are perfectly within your rights to do so.

And I'd write to your actual landlords, telling them that he is actually breaking the law unless he has given 24 hours notice.., and even then you are within your rights to refuse except in an emergency (let them figure out the rest).

They can't evict u because of this til your contract is up.., the most they can do is agree with you a mutual early date to relinquish the tenancy, which I doubt u'd be too bothered about.

I'd put locks on the gates too, saying u've had suspicious people loitering but u'll remove the locks once u've left if its questioned.

I hope this helps.

[Deleted User]

AS others have said, change the locks.., that will deal with most of the internal intrusion.

I know its an expense u could do without, but I buy blinds from a seller like inensonthenetltd or just search for window blinds on ebay. I used this particular seller because the blinds were unbelievably inexpensive but seem to be fine quality wise even 6 months later. Then there's no way he can peer in the windows. I found nets were more expensive and still allowed some view of inside the house. Once blinds are closed, u still get quite a lot of light (with white blinds) but no one can see in.

If he turns up whilst u are walking in the street and follows to your door as if expecting to be invited in, just say "I'd invite you in but I am just about to rush off again" very firmly or "I'm sorry, can't chat, really must rush" and speed up walking. You are perfectly within your rights to do so.

And I'd write to your actual landlords, telling them that he is actually breaking the law unless he has given 24 hours notice.., and even then you are within your rights to refuse except in an emergency (let them figure out the rest).

They can't evict u because of this til your contract is up.., the most they can do is agree with you a mutual early date to relinquish the tenancy, which I doubt u'd be too bothered about.

I'd put locks on the gates too, saying u've had suspicious people loitering but u'll remove the locks once u've left if its questioned.

I hope this helps. I have a very similiar landlord too.., and I had to adopt these strategies.

ViolaLass

I second the idea of a letter to the landlord citing the least pleasant sounding intrusions.

Werdnal

Now you have explained the full LL situation, I would agree with the others that you need to write to the name and address shown on your tenancy agreement and explain the situation. The "person" visiting your property may be a little over-zealous in his appointment as some sort of "agent" to oversee the property. His self-appointed power over you has obviously gone to his head!

As well as changing the locks, you have no obligation to let the "person" in when he turns up on the doorstep, and you can just tell him your a busy/on you way out etc, and close the door in his face.

If he persists in snooping around in the garden, ask him to leave YOUR property, as whilst the tenancy agreement is in place, you have sole possession of the house and its garden, so if he is entering without prior agreement or notice, he is trespassing and you just request he leaves immediately.

Whilst I totally understand in a new tenancy you wanted to be civil to him to protect your relationship, he is now overstepping the mark and you need to get a little firmer in your dealings with him. After you have written to the LL (allow 2 working days for a 1st class letter to arrive), if this person turns up again, tell him you are not dealing with him face-to-face any more, and you are now in direct contact with the LL over this person's encroachment on your quiet enjoyment of the property. Request that he please leave YOUR property immediately and refer him to the LL. If he then turns up again, you are within your rights to call the police and report him for harrassing you!

blunther

Wow. What a fruitcake. I'd second what someone above said, and be in touch with the police personally. This bloke is not your landlord. A call to the police that there is a man in the back garden looking through the windows at your young daughter might put the willies up him a bit.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

What an awful situation to be in.The bloke sounds like a terible combination of terminal nosiness with a perceived notion of authority.

You most definitely should NOT be stressing about his opinion on your kitchen tidiness, or indeed any aspect of your life whatsoever.

The first step is to send a carefully worded letter to the landlord named on the contract politely reminding them of the notice requirement for inspections, and of your statutory right to quiet enjoyment. Start keeping a record of dates and times of vists; this makes it look more formal and less anecdotal.

You can also speak to the Tenancy Relations Officer at your local council, who may be able to intervene on your behalf. The police are notoriously poor at dealing with landlord disputes, insisting that it's a civil matter, but it might be worth having a word with your local plod and focusing on the Peeping Tom nature of the situation (teenage girl alone in the house, guy popping round unannounced with a long ladder, hiding in bushes, peering through windows etc).

Good luck!

propertyman

A very frustrating way to deal with this type is simply to look and treat him as if he is not there- it's very passive aggressive.

Do not respond to his questions and deny him access, and at worst say " appointment" or "leave".

If he refuses to do so then you call the Police with your best "terrified lady alone in the house, creepy guy won't leave" voice.