Landlord entered flat without permission

martindow

G_M wrote: »

* Don't open post (it's not yours irrespective of the wording of the Act). Either keep it and arrange collection at convenient time, or foward it, or return to sender - your choice

If there are a lot of letters from the mortgage company arriving I would not agree with this. If the LL is not paying the mortgage and does not have permission to let it is very much in your interest to know that there could be a problem in the near future. In these circumstances I would open occasional letters to be aware of what is going on.

After leaving I would also inform HMRC if I had any suspicion that he was not declaring the income.

TBagpuss

G_M wrote: »

Simple answers:

* protect your privacy. Change the barrel of the lock(s). Cost? £5 - £15. Time? 10 minutes DIY

* Don't open post (it's not yours irrespective of the wording of the Act). Either keep it and arrange collection at convenient time, or forward it, or return to sender - your choice

* No - you can not use any of this as 'breach of contract' to end the tenancy. If that is what you want you must negotiate - and expect to pay the LL's costs

Agree with all of this. Personally I would write to the landlord (ink and paper, keep a copy) asking that they arrange to have their post redirected or alternatively provide you with pre-printed labels to allow you to forward it to him of his agents. State that it is not convenient for you to hold post for him so he needs to make alternative arrangements.

If he does not respond I would start re-directing everything to the address you have for him (you don't need to add postage when redirecting, so it is simply a question of sticking it in the post box)

If it doesn't stop after a few weeks, start returning it to sender instead

jaylee3

I was also told by an agent once, (many years back) that they MUST have a copy of the key if we changed the locks. I do not know why. They had no reason to come into the property when we weren't there.

As for the post: I used to take the post to the agents for a while, then got sick of it as the LL never thanked or acknowledged us doing it, she just assumed we would take the bloody post the the agent! So about 6 months and some 30-odd letters later, I told the agent I was tired of if. So they said I could just stick it in the postbox with 'return to sender' on it, and that it wasn't my problem.

Turned out one letter was a cheque for PPI - some 2 grand. The LL contacted the agent and asked them to ask me if a letter from a certain bank had come to the house. I said 'I can't remember as I just stick stuff for the LL back in the post.' It took the LL another 4 months to get the cheque raised again. Serves her right for using the rental address so much. She hadn't lived at it for 4 years when we moved in!

[Deleted User]

jaylee3 wrote: »

I was also told by an agent once, (many years back) that they MUST have a copy of the key if we changed the locks. I do not know why. They had no reason to come into the property when we weren't there.

What the agents say and what you do are for you to know and them to find out.

There is no reason for them to have a key other than them to feel like they have some sort hold over you. All inspections should have written notice and be accompanied by you. Therefore no reason for them to have a key.

Some agencies claim they need a key for emergencies, what emergencies! Are they snooping around waiting for an emergency to happen?

arcon5

If there are a lot of letters from the mortgage company arriving I would not agree with this. If the LL is not paying the mortgage and does not have permission to let it is very much in your interest to know that there could be a problem in the near future. In these circumstances I would open occasional letters to be aware of what is going on.

Op would still have some protection in law, its not like they'd just turn up with the heavies and have her out!

martindow wrote: »

After leaving I would also inform HMRC if I had any suspicion that he was not declaring the income.

*bangs head*
How have you gone from LL letting himself in to collect mail to reporting him for money laundering related issues!!!

Some people are so melodramatic!

martindow

arcon5 wrote: »

Op would still have some protection in law, its not like they'd just turn up with the heavies and have her out!




*bangs head*
How have you gone from LL letting himself in to collect mail to reporting him for money laundering related issues!!!

Some people are so melodramatic!

Is it so melodramatic? People who have their post coming to rented houses may be quite innocent and just lazy but equally they can be on the fiddle, renting without the lender's permission, etc.

Imo a tenant in this situation should do what they can to find out what, if anything, is going on and possibly prepare themselves for a move in the near future. In this case, they need to be sure that they have money for a new deposit, first month's rent and agents fees put aside if they need to move.

I would prefer to check the situation to be forewarned. Regarding tax, I would have no scruples shopping someone if I thought they were not declaring to HMRC. The rest of us pay one way or another for other people's unpaid tax.

jjlandlord

Deleted_User wrote: »

All inspections should have written notice and be accompanied by you.

Please state the law that says that the tenant must be present during inspections.

jaylee3

jjlandlord wrote: »

Please state the law that says that the tenant must be present during inspections.

The tenant does not have to be present during an inspection, but the landlord and agent DO have to have the tenant's explicit permission to enter the property.

Neither the landlord OR agent has any right to enter the premises without the tenant's permission. Going in against your wishes is harassment

Harassment by a private landlord.

From Shelter

threatening or being violent towards you
intentionally moving in other tenants who cause a nuisance to you
harassing you because of your gender, race or sexuality
forcing you to sign agreements which take away your legal rights.
Unreasonable behaviour by your landlord or letting agent which could count as harassment includes:

interfering with your post
entering your home when you are not there or without your permission
visiting your home regularly without warning, especially late at night
stopping you from having guests.

Change the locks. The Landlord or agent can NOT enter without your permission unless there is a VERY good reason (like an imminent health and safety issue, or he thinks you are growing a cannabis factory!)

[Deleted User]

jjlandlord wrote: »

Please state the law that says that the tenant must be present during inspections.

I said SHOULD.

They still have to give notice of an inspection. They can't do it unannounced.

jjlandlord

jaylee3 wrote: »

... but the landlord and agent DO have to have the tenant's explicit permission to enter the property.

The landlord has a right of entry upon 24 hour notice for the purpose of inspecting the property. That's his explicit permission.