Landlords Keys

lighting_up_the_chalice

jjlandlord wrote: »

No-one said that tenants were not entitled to privacy.

Typical of some internet forums to have people completely ignore what is actually being written.

How can a tenant have privacy when they cannot control who enters their home or even when they enter it?

jjlandlord

I'll refer the trolls to post #23, and I'm out.

Rosemary7391

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

I agree. But apparently, we are in the wrong. Being a tenant means giving up all rights to privacy. Your LL can have 24 hour access to your home as long as they give you 24 hours notice. So, if he tells you today that he'll be popping round "sometime next week", don't be too offended to wake up and find him at the foot of your bed early one morning. It his right, after all. And LL's rights will always trump T's rights, such is their distorted sense of feudal entitlement.... Unless, of course, you inform yourself.

I think you'll find the trick is for moderate and reasonable behaviour on both sides, and proper communication. It makes sense for a LL to have a key - then the tenant needn't always be taking time off work for repairs to be done etc. But the LL should of course arrange a suitable time with the tenant. In a good tenant-landlord relationship I don't think it should matter whether the LL has the key or not, it's just sometimes more convenient all round.

lighting_up_the_chalice

jjlandlord wrote: »

I'll refer the trolls to post #23, and I'm out.

Probably for the best. You do seem to be tying yourself in knots.

lighting_up_the_chalice

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

I think you'll find the trick is for moderate and reasonable behaviour on both sides, and proper communication. It makes sense for a LL to have a key - then the tenant needn't always be taking time off work for repairs to be done etc. But the LL should of course arrange a suitable time with the tenant. In a good tenant-landlord relationship I don't think it should matter whether the LL has the key or not, it's just sometimes more convenient all round.

I completely agree. But a LL entering a tenants home without express permission isn't moderate and reasonable behaviour.

SaLoGo

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

I think you'll find the trick is for moderate and reasonable behaviour on both sides, and proper communication. It makes sense for a LL to have a key - then the tenant needn't always be taking time off work for repairs to be done etc. But the LL should of course arrange a suitable time with the tenant. In a good tenant-landlord relationship I don't think it should matter whether the LL has the key or not, it's just sometimes more convenient all round.

This is the annoying thing... for the last 2 years we've arranged inspections, services etc and never had an issue. They always agreed to come after work so I've never had to take time off work. Both sides have always been obliging. This is the first time they have written to say they're coming (if indeed they did as I have no letter).

I feel like they have me over a barrel... either I play ball or they'll just evict me

I think I shall wait until Sunday and write a calm rational letter to both the agent and landlord expressing my disappointment of the situation and shall provide a key on the basis that they will only enter the property with my written permission or in an absolute emergency. And and inspection does not constitute an emergency!

lighting_up_the_chalice

SaLoGo wrote: »

This is the annoying thing... for the last 2 years we've arranged inspections, services etc and never had an issue. They always agreed to come after work so I've never had to take time off work. Both sides have always been obliging. This is the first time they have written to say they're coming (if indeed they did as I have no letter).

I feel like they have me over a barrel... either I play ball or they'll just evict me

I think I shall wait until Sunday and write a calm rational letter to both the agent and landlord expressing my disappointment of the situation and shall provide a key on the basis that they will only enter the property with my written permission or in an absolute emergency. And and inspection does not constitute an emergency!

Your landlord may well be blissfully ignorant of his agents behaviour. He may even, quite rightly, be as horrified as you at how they are risking the continued goodwill of a tenant worth keeping.

SaLoGo

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

Your landlord may well be blissfully ignorant of his agents behaviour. He may even, quite rightly, be as horrified as you at how they are risking the continued goodwill of a tenant worth keeping.

I'm not that lucky!!

He's actually a she. She inherited this house when her father passed away 3 years ago... not sure if that's a good thing or not!

Guest101

This backwards and forwards is just silly.

The LA cannot deny the tenant access at any point in the tenancy. Nor can they charge the tenant any sum of money.

So their threats to changethe locks will cost them more than its worth.

Even if the agreement prevented changing the locks, the fact that the agents have tried to enter without pror agreement is cause enough to chane the locks.

Old_Git

I am a landlord and I understand the tenants point of view .
Many years ago I rented and the landlord called to collect the rent when i was at work .I never liked this but I had no choice .

I have seen Landlords who just knock the door and let themselves in ,then when they are inside they make an excuse to check the property when they are their .

My ex tenant was claiming housing benefit ,I got suspicious that he had moved out but was still pay the rent via housing benefit .

I let myself in to check .His furniture was still there but the fridge was unplugged and their was no food in the place.
I then checked the electric company ,and he hadn't bought any electric for six months .

I made an appointment to see him ,he claimed to be still living there .I didn't say I had entered the premises but I did tell him he hadn't bought any electric for six months .
He knew the game was up .

Give the agent a key and install a cheap alarm ,don't tell them the code .