Tenant question

j1n

We are renting our property but the agency want to do an inspection when we are not in. They said they have the keys. We would rather be here when strangers are walking through.
Also, we found out that the people who take care of maintenance also have a key to the house and would like to come in when we are not in. These people are friends of the landlady.
My question is... Where do we stand with our contents insurance? Does strangers walking in and out of our 'home' invalidate our contents insurance?
We just don't like anyone walking through our place when we are not here. Agents get very stroppy when I tell them that!
Thanks for reading.

nidO

Change the lock barrels, no more issues.

No need to tell the agent or the maintenance people, if they phone to complain that they couldn't gain access to the property point out to them that if they admit trying to break into YOUR home again when they don't have your permission for entry you'll be contacting the police.

System

They have to give you 48 hours notice (at least I think that's the minimum) before entering the property.

The letting agent should be fairly trust worthy. I was present for the first few inspections but I just left them to it after that, they weren't interested in my stuff!

I would always be present when tradesmen were in though.

Bottom line is nobody can enter the property without giving you adequate notice, unless it's an emergency situation. They are breaking the law if they don't tell you.

EDIT: You could change the locks, but honestly this could cause more headaches. I had a gas leak once when I was away on a work trip, the agent rang me to ask permission to go in telling me if I said no the gas man would break the door down. In that situation, if I had changed the locks they would have smashed the door in.

Guest101

dieselpower1988 wrote: »

They have to give you 48 hours notice (at least I think that's the minimum) before entering the property.

The letting agent should be fairly trust worthy. I was present for the first few inspections but I just left them to it after that, they weren't interested in my stuff!

I would always be present when tradesmen were in though.

Bottom line is nobody can enter the property without giving you adequate notice, unless it's an emergency situation. They are breaking the law if they don't tell you.

EDIT: You could change the locks, but honestly this could cause more headaches. I had a gas leak once when I was away on a work trip, the agent rang me to ask permission to go in telling me if I said no the gas man would break the door down. In that situation, if I had changed the locks they would have smashed the door in.

It's usually in the tenancy, usually 24 hours notice. Otherwise it's reasonable notice.

On what basis is the agent to be trusted? Could be anyone.

Strange that the has man found time to contact a random letting agent, asking them if they managed a random property, instead of calling a locksmith... And the agent, knowing full well that the ll ( in this case they are acting on behalf of) has full legal right of entry during an emergency - would say such a thing...

In other words, the agent was an idiot.

j1n

The agents give us a week's notice but are not willing to negotiate on days or times. I am hourly paid but they say they will be here between 10 am and 4 pm. I lose a day's wages or take a day's holiday.
As for the maintenance people, we didn't even know they had a key to the place. We don't know them at all.
Also, we have an oil boiler that was due for service on 18th Sept this year bu t agent said it is the landlord's choice whether the want it serviced or not! We regularly have no heating or hot water some days! And now the landlord is going to send in a plumber! I don't get it! Very frustrating, to say the least.

Guest101

j1n wrote: »

The agents give us a week's notice but are not willing to negotiate on days or times. I am hourly paid but they say they will be here between 10 am and 4 pm. I lose a day's wages or take a day's holiday.
As for the maintenance people, we didn't even know they had a key to the place. We don't know them at all.
Also, we have an oil boiler that was due for service on 18th Sept this year bu t agent said it is the landlord's choice whether the want it serviced or not! We regularly have no heating or hot water some days! And now the landlord is going to send in a plumber! I don't get it! Very frustrating, to say the least.

Say no. Change the locks.

Enjoy your home.

System

Guest101 wrote: »

It's usually in the tenancy, usually 24 hours notice. Otherwise it's reasonable notice.

On what basis is the agent to be trusted? Could be anyone.

Strange that the has man found time to contact a random letting agent, asking them if they managed a random property, instead of calling a locksmith... And the agent, knowing full well that the ll ( in this case they are acting on behalf of) has full legal right of entry during an emergency - would say such a thing...

In other words, the agent was an idiot.

The letting agent would go out of business pretty quickly if they gained a reputation for stealing things from tenants properties. Obviously, don't leave your diamond earrings on display the day they are due to come round.

The neighbour had the gas leak, it filled our house too. They raised the alarm to the letting agent, who called me before going to the property. Not sure how that makes them an idiot?

System

Guest101 wrote: »

Say no. Change the locks.

Enjoy your home.

What's to stop the LA/LL serving notice when they find out?

I know if I had changed the locks and they had realised, I would have been out on my bottom in a month.

Guest101

dieselpower1988 wrote: »

What's to stop the LA/LL serving notice when they find out?

I know if I had changed the locks and they had realised, I would have been out on my bottom in a month.

No you wouldn't.

Notice is 2 months, then court.

Nothing stopping a LL serving notice for any and no reason too. Except the expense of having an empty property and finding new tenants ofcourse.

Only way they'd know is if they tried the locks without telling u first ( u can change them back, it takes 5 minutes, for authorised bisits)

Guest101

dieselpower1988 wrote: »

The letting agent would go out of business pretty quickly if they gained a reputation for stealing things from tenants properties. Obviously, don't leave your diamond earrings on display the day they are due to come round.

The neighbour had the gas leak, it filled our house too. They raised the alarm to the letting agent, who called me before going to the property. Not sure how that makes them an idiot?

Because in the event of an emergency they don't need your permission. So breaking down the door would be ridiculous.

kinger101

Guest101 wrote: »

It's usually in the tenancy, usually 24 hours notice. Otherwise it's reasonable notice.

It's 24 hours written notice by statute. It must be at a "reasonable time", which is not defined any further.