Can my Landlady do this?

Missko

Okydokey - it's not a huge discount but it is below market rent. (£600 versus £650) On the basis that I'd rather have them (people I knew previously and trusted) than some random.


So yes, actually! We're not all so-and-so's you know!

Missko

Just because it was originally "accidental" doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. I had to read up on it, talk to an agent, that's all.


Should we ban the use of "accidental" landlord and replace it with "someone who bought a property to live in but for various reasons ended up renting it out but who is not necessarily an amateur because they have read up on it and involved an agency"
or is that a bit long-winded?


I just ask because the phrase seems to make so many people angry!

Viberduo

Missko wrote: »

What I also don't understand is that surely the TENANTS would WANT me/my agent to get in if there was an emergency? Or even a suspected one? It would take much longer to get in without a key and by then there could be a serious issue. Ie the flat is now flooded/burned and they can't live there! Just because they thought I might snoop through their underwear collection or whatever!
There is a certain amount of trust in the landlord-tenant relationship. I trust them to look after the place. In return, they trust me to have a key to use in an emergency. I have absolutely no interest in snooping (esp as I'm 450 miles away!)
I assume you have all had bad experiences.
No point getting a decent LL's back up by changing the locks ie inferring that we are a snooper. Esp if you are the first tenants and, accordingly, it's not even as if previous tenants could still have a key.
In summary - if you feel you HAVE to change the locks then you clearly have a bad LL and should think about moving! and FYI I could tell they had changed the locks just by looking eg during a routine inspection. (Which I don't even do because I trust them!!!)
My personal preference is they don't change the locks. If they don't like that, don't live there. Can't understand why I am being flamed for that.

Because you do not understand other peoples point of view, someone could be nervous, had bad experiences or even your attitude may come across as impolite to a tenant.

I have had a LL who agreed a set time to collect rent every week(2 hour slot) I would wait in all day and hours after the agreed time and go out go get rude phone calls from LL saying they turned up and I wasnt there, then the same LL complained "flat was a mess" he HAD to go in to know that and it wasnt, his idea of a mess was a pan and plate and cutlery from my dinner I cooked just before I went out, another time he said I was intentionally avoiding rent and pocketing the money and I had a student overdraft(mentioned the amount) and 2 grand in savings in the bank, he also knew I had just got a cheque from relatives for birthday(they wrote a letter with it)

How did he know that, HE WENT THROUGH MY LETTERS, he even in the past opened letters that came through when I was away from weekend and dumped the open letters on the side of my kitchen.

Caught another LL going through my drawers once when I owed £1 to him looking for small change(he was tight with cash though) and when I asked him he said he had a right to do what he wanted as it was his property, the same LL also used to turn up whenever he wanted to collect rent despite having a agreed time and date then like the other one I would go out after waiting in to the early evening(i.e 5-6pm) then come back to either find him in the building or phoning me and saying he knew I was avoiding him since either my light was on then turned off(or the other way round) or something like a dinner plate was on the side and wasn't before and TWICE in the tenancy I went away for the weekend and he claimed I was in because the ouside bins were filling up.

So I changed the locks on the one who used to go through my drawers, then again it was a bedsit not a full flat.

I was illegally evicted once too when LL claimed I owed money when I paid in advance(I actually paid early but LL said I had gaps in payment) and LL kept a grand worth of possessions and I got no help at all from the police who for one thought the LL can do what they want(which they cant) and two when I mentioed the alleged arrears they just said "its your own fault for owing them money".

Wyndham

If you live 450 miles away, what exactly are you going to do in an emergency?

Missko

Wyndham: Have my agents go in with their key!

quidsy

Hope you give tenants 24hr notice otherwise you'll find yourself in hot water

booksurr

Missko wrote: »

In summary - if you feel you HAVE to change the locks then you clearly have a bad LL and should think about moving! and FYI I could tell they had changed the locks just by looking eg during a routine inspection. (Which I don't even do because I trust them!!!)
My personal preference is they don't change the locks. If they don't like that, don't live there. Can't understand why I am being flamed for that.

you really don't get it do you!!!!!

actually several of the posters are LL (such as myself)

as a new tenant you have no idea who has keys to the flat you now live in as your home containing all your possessions. Nor does the LL.
How do you know which of your previous tenants have had keys cut and given then out down the pub to their mates ? Which of those mates passed those keys on to scrotes?

any sensible tenants would change the locks from the outset so they know their possessions are under their control. Just the same as any sensible owner occupier would do so when moving into a new property.

why you are being flamed is because you refuse to accept the legal position, the tenant has a right to quite enjoyment which they can control by keeping out "livid" LL like you through changing the locks. You as LL have a right to sue them for breach of contract if your contract said they couldn't. The court will ask you what financial loss you have incurred as a result, you will admit to none, the court will award against you. You as LL have a right of access without notice if there is an emergency. If this entails causing damage because of changed locks you can sue for the cost of that damage. That is a risk the tenant takes in order to keep the likes of you out of their home

I am glad your finances were such that you could afford to become an "accidental" LL. Other people are not so fortunate. However, as you have made no effort to learn about professional LL responsibilities is it any wonder your "advice" is challenged

jaylee3

Missko wrote: »

"Accidental landlord" just means I didn't buy it as a BTL. I moved away for work. I am therefore not doing it as a "business" ie to make money, but only for my own convenience. I do, of course, declare to HMRC!



You all sound really bitter about the fact that some people can afford to be landlords, by the way!

And yes, after 14 months it hasn't worked out in London and I will be moving back at some point. As a tenant, limited security is part of the deal. In the same way that I accept liability for the mortgage and maintenance of the property. You can't have it all ways!

Priceless. :rotfl:

You sound like a piece of work! I pity your tenants, seriously. You sound like someone who screams and screams, and throw your toys out of the pram, and stamps your feet when you don't get your own way.

You categorically should NOT be a landlord. It's not fair on ANYone who rents your property. You know, the one we are all soooooo jealous of because WE can't afford an extra property to rent out! :rotfl:

You must be sooooo much richer than the rest of us on here because you're a landlord! In fact, I'm sure you rolling in it! PMSL.

Wyndham

Missko wrote: »

Wyndham: Have my agents go in with their key!

Assuming it's not a Sunday or the middle of the night. Assuming they are passing and see the emergency, or a neighbour thinks to tell them rather than the person who actually lives there. I find the circumstances where a landlord or their agent would need to enter the premises to be almost negligible.

So yes, in an emergency, you can enter without notice, but given that you are so far away, and your agent probably disinterested unless they are sure, then I really don't see that you have a point here.

It's their home, they don't need to let you in at all if they don't want to.

cloo

I've got to say (as, until 4 weeks ago an 'accidental' landlord myself) as a piece of friendly advice and not having a go: Missko, you say that 'Some insecurity is part of the deal' for your tenant. If your tenant decides that the insecurity doesn't suit them, the law may back them up as having certain rights, whether they were agreed by you or not, as a lot of law basically assumes certain conditions as being the case as a minimum, so I hope when you do need to move back things work out OK. And yes, this may happen even if they have agreed to certain things, been a good tenant and/or are family/friends.

I can relate to nerves about things... stuff went a bit wobbly with my (until then excellent) tenants of 7 years delayeing and delaying their move out when I sold. I'd been totally transparent with them the whole time and had given them loads of warning and I was aware there was nothing I could do if they decided to change the locks and not admit anyone. Luckily it never came to that, though.