LL constantly visiting property without written notice

salsoul

Hi,

I'm after some advice about the above. I have spoken to the LL/Agency at least 3 times previously about this and the agency has completely ignored me every-time.

I have just come back to my rented property and found that the door was unlocked and some of my belongings have been moved around, not just a little bit but to the other side of the room, on speaking to the other tenants in a Multiple occupancy house with a basement and 4 floors, (basement separate - my property) the landlord has been around 3 times today to show perspective tenants the free rooms upstairs (there are no spare rooms downstairs in my property) As far as I am aware the LL has to give written notification of 24 hours before any visit to the property (is that right)? Im so angry and dismayed that the LL / Agency feel they have clear rights of entry at any time they see fit... I would like to know if I have a clear course of action I can take directly to the LL/Agency to stop this.


Thank you

Kind Regards

Salsoul

BitterAndTwisted

If you rented the whole property on your own then the landlord would have no automatic right to enter the property without your consent, and would need to give you at least 24 hours written notice of their request for access. As you rent a room in the property with a number of other people the landlord is free to access the shared parts at will.

If you don't want the landlord poking about in your room I suggest that you secure it. Showing prospective new tenants round does not require access to your own room, so get a lock.

salsoul

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

If you rented the whole property on your own then the landlord would have no automatic right to enter the property without your consent, and would need to give you at least 24 hours written notice of their request for access. As you rent a room in the property with a number of other people the landlord is free to access the shared parts at will.

If you don't want the landlord poking about in your room I suggest that you secure it. Showing prospective new tenants round does not require access to your own room, so get a lock.

Hi Thank you for your response, The basement part of the property has a seperate lock with patio doors on it and has its own address, but we all use the same entrance /front door its quite a complicated setup, we have our own kitchen in the basement and bathroom so it is technically a self contained property. does that make a diffrence ?

thanks

anselld

If it is an HMO with separate room contracts the LL can visit the communal areas at will. However he should not be accessing your own room without notice.
What type of lock does your room have? Cylinder or euro locks can be be fitted with a replacement barrel fairly cheaply and then replace the old one when you move out.

salsoul

anselld wrote: »

If it is an HMO with separate room contracts the LL can visit the communal areas at will. However he should not be accessing your own room without notice.
What type of lock does your room have? Cylinder or euro locks can be be fitted with a replacement barrel fairly cheaply and then replace the old one when you move out.

Hi,

It has a standard handle with the lock built into the handle

anselld

salsoul wrote: »

Hi Thank you for your response, The basement part of the property has a seperate lock with patio doors on it and has its own address, but we all use the same entrance /front door its quite a complicated setup, we have our own kitchen in the basement and bathroom so it is technically a self contained property. does that make a diffrence ?

thanks

Sorry last post crossed.

Patio door is usually euro-cylinder. One screw to replace the barrel.
Is the rest of your room secured via separate access?

salsoul

anselld wrote: »

Sorry last post crossed.

Patio door is usually euro-cylinder. One screw to replace the barrel.
Is the rest of your room secured via separate access?

Yes I have a lock on my room and there is a lock on the patio door


there is a lever to the left that locks the door and the barrel stop the handle being able to move

Ive just tried to post an image but becasue im a newbie it wont let me:(

salsoul

The point being is that its a separate property so surely the laws on multiple occupancy don't apply. There is just me and a flatmate in 2 separate rooms.


Regards

Salsoul

G_M

Sounds a bit ambiguous. It might be an HMO, but I suspect not.

* You have your own front door to the basement area
* the basement area is self-contained. Not shared in any way with the LL, or the occupants above.
* Do you and your flatmate have a single "joint and several" contract, or did you each sign separate contracts?

1) IF it is an HMO, the LL can enter the common/shared parts (but not your private room).
2) IF not, he should not enter the flat without consent

Stop 'speaking' about this to the LL/agent: WRITE.

Write a letter, to the landlord, and postit to the address on your tenancy agreement "for the serving of notices". Post a copy to the agent.

Be friendly/polite, but ask him in future to contact you in advance if he needs access so that you can agree a mutually convenient date/time for inspections, repairs etc.

Optionally, you could also consider changing the lock, either to your flat (if you are confidant it is not an HMO) or to your bedroom(s).

I'm unclear about the flat entrance:

there is a lock on the patio door

we all use the same entrance /front door

So you go in the (shared) front door, out into the rear garden, then in through the patio door to your flat?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udgnrM11fX8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48SrVmlbZpQ

anselld

salsoul wrote: »

The point being is that its a separate property so surely the laws on multiple occupancy don't apply. There is just me and a flatmate in 2 separate rooms.


Regards

Salsoul

What does your agreement state?
Do you and your flatmate have a tenancy agreement which states you two jointly rent the whole basement flat?
Or do you have a contract which states you rent a single room?

salsoul

G_M wrote: »

Sounds a bit ambiguous. It might be an HMO, but I suspect not.

* You have your own front door to the basement area
* the basement area is self-contained. Not shared in any way with the LL, or the occupants above.
* Do you and your flatmate have a single "joint and several" contract, or did you each sign separate contracts?

1) IF it is an HMO, the LL can enter the common/shared parts (but not your private room).
2) IF not, he should not enter the flat without consent

Stop 'speaking' about this to the LL/agent: WRITE.

Write a letter, to the landlord, and postit to the address on your tenancy agreement "for the serving of notices". Post a copy to the agent.

Be friendly/polite, but ask him in future to contact you in advance if he needs access so that you can agree a mutually convenient date/time for inspections, repairs etc.

Optionally, you could also consider changing the lock, either to your flat (if you are confidant it is not an HMO) or to your bedroom(s).

Thank you I will do exactly that,
We have separate contracts for a separate address upstairs is just a number for the address my address is number then **A
however I have asked the Agency to inform me who the LL is and they have refused to tell me so how do I go about getting that information from them?

Kind regards

salsoul