Letting agent inspection

gwidan

I received an email from my letting agent this morning stating that
they wish to carry out a routine inspection of my apartment on
Wednesday. I am not available on that day to accompany them, and want
to be there when the inspection is carried out. I have told them this,
and offered an alternative date when I am free. The reply from the
agent is that due to having to make 20-30 inspections per day they are
unable to accomodate individual requests unless I am willing to pay a
fee of £30 (which they are "sure I would like to avoid"). Could
somebody please advise me where I stand?

Gwhiz

They have no right to charge you in this instance, especially as you are offering alternatives rather than being difficult.

You have every right to be there when they inspect.

[Deleted User]

Does this fee exist in your contract?

The long and short of it: they have no right to enter the property without your permission unless it's a certifiable emergency (fire, leak) and unless your contract states that you must pay a fee like this it's very unlikely to be enforceable in any capacity. They cannot just spring fees on you.

For reference the letting agency managing the property I'm living in at the moment informs me of inspection dates 2 weeks in advance and I'm free to rearrange at my convenience if the date is not workable and they only charge a fee if I agree to the date and then don't show up. The agencies behaviour in this case is pretty awful.

Gwhiz

citricsquid wrote: »

The agencies behaviour in this case is pretty awful.

It sure is! These are purely bully boy tactics in the hope that the tenant does not know their rights.

BitterAndTwisted

Periodic inspections are carried out on behalf of the landlord, in order to fulfill their statutory repairing obligations. You can be absolutely certain that the landlord is being charged for this service.

WRITE back (if you email them you should confirm this by letter, send a copy to the landlord as well, and retain a copy on file for future reference), tell them that you are happy for the inspection to take place but you are not willing to allow them access unless you are present, and at a day and time that is mutually convenient. You deny that they can attach a charge to you for performing a service on behalf of the landlord they represent and who is already being charged by them for it.

gwidan

citricsquid wrote: »

Does this fee exist in your contract?

The long and short of it: they have no right to enter the property without your permission unless it's a certifiable emergency (fire, leak) and unless your contract states that you must pay a fee like this it's very unlikely to be enforceable in any capacity. They cannot just spring fees on you.

For reference the letting agency managing the property I'm living in at the moment informs me of inspection dates 2 weeks in advance and I'm free to rearrange at my convenience if the date is not workable and they only charge a fee if I agree to the date and then don't show up. The agencies behaviour in this case is pretty awful.

No the fee doesn't exist in the contract. They previously rearrangd an inspection for me without any fuss. Apparently they now have "too many properties to inspect" to rearrange, and this is the only day that the guy will be in my building. It's very unsatisfactory service.

BitterAndTwisted

Their internal arrangements are none of your concern, so do not be side-tracked by reference to this.

WRITE as I advised and offer to arrange a mutually convenient alternative day and time. You DO NOT have to give them access unless it is with your express agreement.

nidO

You may also want to think about changing the lock barrel on your door, because it kinda sounds like they'll just gain access to the property when you're not there even if you tell them you're not happy for them to.

tiger_eyes

You could make up an imaginary charge of £30 to them that would cancel out their imaginary charge of £30 to you, and then nobody would be charged for anything ...