Change Locks so Landlord-Agent cannot enter

gary224

My estate agent is very annoying and i wud like to change the locks so they cant enter for their bi-monthly "inspections"

If i do this, can they rechange the locks or do something else to enter the flat?

thanks

[Deleted User]

Are they entering the property without your permission? That's not allowed unless it is for an emergency (and an inspection is not an emergency), you should remind them of your right to quiet enjoyment.

Your tenancy agreement might disallow changing the locks however even if that is the case the landlord (and by extension the agency) cannot change the locks back if you do change them, they would have to go through the process of evicting you (Section 21 notice, court order etc).

The general advice you'll find on this forum is to change the lock barrels when you move into a new place because you have no idea who else has the keys, if your landlord (or agent of) is entering the property without permission you would be very wise to change the barrels of the locks.

kinger101

Have they give a reason for visiting twice a month. Twice or year or quarterly is usual.

G_M

bi-monthly.

Twice a month or once every two months?

Either way, it's excessive. Every 3 months is common, though once a tenant has been there a while, 6 monthly is reasonable.

Your first step is to write to the landlord, at the address provided "for the serving of notices" (see you tenancy agreement) and copy the agent.

Tell them politely you are happy to facilitate inspections after 3 months, at a mutually convenient date/time when youcan be there, and ask them to write proposing several alternative dates.

If you get a reasonable response, then great! No need to do anything more.

If the response is unreasonable, then yes, change the locks. But keep the old ones to replae when the tenancy ands, and make sure you do not damage the door.

jaylee3

kinger101 wrote: »

Have they give a reason for visiting twice a month. Twice or year or quarterly is usual.

Bi-monthly is every 2 months isn't it?

Still seems too often though.

I wondered if he is coming in without permission too.

quidsy

Once a year is reasonable. Refuse anything more. Change the locks. They cannot force entry.

jaylee3

G_M wrote: »

bi-monthly.

Twice a month or once every two months?

Either way, it's excessive. Every 3 months is common, though once a tenant has been there a while, 6 monthly is reasonable.

Your first step is to write to the landlord, at the address provided "for the serving of notices" (see you tenancy agreement) and copy the agent.

Tell them politely you are happy to facilitate inspections after 3 months, at a mutually convenient date/time when youcan be there, and ask them to write proposing several alternative dates.

If you get a reasonable response, then great! No need to do anything more.

If the response is unreasonable, then yes, change the locks. But keep the old ones to replae when the tenancy ands, and make sure you do not damage the door.

It must be just me, because I think once every 3 months is far too often. I have had this and found it very intrusive and very annoying.

I have rented in the past (I don't now,) and we had a landlord once who came around every 3-4 months, and it irked me no end. We were clearly good tenants, and we paid the rent early every month, and even after 1.5 years, they were still coming that often.

And the third time they came (about 9 months after we moved into the property,) a new person took over the franchise of the property agent, and they took about 7 or 8 pictures in every single one of the 11 rooms. I was so annoyed and angry about it, because it felt very intrusive. The 80 or so pictures they took, had private family pictures in them, pictures of all the bedrooms with all our private and personal stuff in, some medicines and drugs we had left in the bathroom, racks of CDs and DVDs and books and our expensive electrical equipment (laptops, tvs, dvd players, cameras etc,) and it really narked me off that they had so many pictures inside our home, and many of our personal and private belongings.

This may sound dramatic, but I felt violated, as they had gone into every room and taken so many dozens of pictures of all our possessions and private things.

When the woman did the inspection, she seemed pleasant, but after she finished the write-up, she said 'I just need to take a few photos OK?' I wasn't prepared for it, and didn't know what to say. (With hindsight, I know I should have said no, but she took me by surprise.)

She then went on (as I said,) to take about 8-9 pics in every room, including the bedrooms and bathroom. I just stood there, thinking 'HOW many more???!' but didn't stop her. I was so angry with myself for not protesting.

I never mentioned anything to the agent as I didn't want to cause a fuss, but my DH was really annoyed and told the agent that nobody was ever going to be taking any again. They said it's 'procedure,' and he said 'what to take almost 100 pictures inside our home? Inside our personal and private space?' They said very little and shrugged their shoulders.

Luckily, just 4 months later, we left. And we no longer rent. Agents and landlords will take the p1$$ if you let them. Some of them are control freaks and bullies.

G_M

jaylee3 wrote: »

Bi-monthly is every 2 months isn't it?

It's ambiguous. It can be used for 2ce pm or 1ce every 2 months.

Once a year is reasonable. Refuse anything more. Change the locks. They cannot force entry.

More frequently is perfectly reasonable. Any property needs checking for maintenance more often than that. A slipped tile allowing water into the roofspace, for example, can cause a lot of damage if left too long.

It must be just me, because I think once every 3 months is far too often. I have had this and found it very intrusive and very annoying

.

The problem is that most tenants believe 'inspections' are about checking how the tenant lives; whether they are clean, tidy etc.

When I inspect, I'm looking for damage that I need to repair, either to ensure the tenant has a well-repaired home or just to maintain my property.

It's a balance, between imposition on the tenant and protection of the property.

Hence I 'inspect' after 3 months, since by then the tenant will have spotted, and be able to tell me, any problems, and thereafter 6 monthly.

But different LLs act differently.

Some barely care at all, and never inspect. The tenants then post here complaining they can't get the LL to do anything.

Others inspect... err... bi-monthly, and tenants post here complaining... well, you know the rest!

gary224

came in twice without any permission but sent a letter saying the date but not the time

once came in at 9am and just entered the bedroom of my 19 year old female flatmate.

i dont mind if they send me Section21. infact i want it. i wil change barrels as advised, thanks. but not sending extra key to agents.

G_M

gary224 wrote: »

....

i dont mind if they send me Section21. infact i want it..

In that case, why not just give notice yourself?

jaylee3

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

Best not plan to emigrate then as this is par for the course in some other countries.

The house I'm currently renting in the US has been put up for sale and there's nothing I can do about it. I've got months left on my fixed tenancy so I just have to tolerate it.

There are photos of everything on the web. There's even a walk through video so nothing we own is hidden. You can even read book titles as the camera pans past!

There's a lockbox on the outside of my home with the door key in it.

I get an hour or two's notice before viewings. The agent knocks on the door then lets themselves in with their clients using the key. It doesn't matter if I'm in or not, whether I'm in bed or in the shower.
Sometimes we come home and the beds have been jumped on by kids (at least I hope it's kids!). Sometimes drawers and cupboards are left open.

Oh, and the landlord can come every single day and let himself in if he wants to. My current one doesn't but my last landlord came in two or three times a week.

Still feel hard done by?

What; it's normal to take 80 to 90 photos inside YOUR HOME every 3 months? What a load of absolute rubbish. What the hell would they need to do that for? They would have got in and taken that many again over our dead bodies.

And if your last landlord came in three times a week, then more fool you for tolerating it. That is beyond unreasonable, and nobody, but nobody that I know would tolerate that; nor should they have to. Sounds a bit odd to me.

I also do not think that ANYone would be happy to allow a landlord to come every single day. Why should anybody be expected to tolerate that? And if he did attempt that; that would be nothing short of extreme harassment. He would get a short shrift if he tried that with us.

And you say

Oh, and the landlord can come every single day and let himself in if he wants to. My current one doesn't but my last landlord came in two or three times a week.

To be frank, I don't believe what you're saying. NOBODY would tolerate the landlord coming EVERY DAY