Newbie renter access question

lisyloo

I'm a noob at renting.
What's normal regarding access to the property for boiler servicing, repairs etc.?

Does the lanlord/agent usually arrange access and give the tenants notice?
or is it up to the tenants to let the repair people in?
or just whatever suits?

I rent a flat in London and spend weekday evenings there.
I'm an hour away by 2 buses across the really busy parts of London so it's not easy to just "pop back" from the office.

I'm a newbie but I would have expected this to be the agents/lanlords problem and they just notify me "I'll be coming round on Weds with British Gas to service the boiler".

Guest101

lisyloo wrote: »

I'm a noob at renting.
What's normal regarding access to the property for boiler servicing, repairs etc.?

Does the lanlord/agent usually arrange access and give the tenants notice?
or is it up to the tenants to let the repair people in?
or just whatever suits?

I rent a flat in London and spend weekday evenings there.
I'm an hour away by 2 buses across the really busy parts of London so it's not easy to just "pop back" from the office.

I'm a newbie but I would have expected this to be the agents/lanlords problem and they just notify me "I'll be coming round on Weds with British Gas to service the boiler".

you defintely dont have to be there.

most tenants choose to be, but entirely upto you. If they expect you to be in, you can ask them to pay for time off work. - i doubt they'll do it, but then you've been reasonable and can now just get on with stuff.

Innys1

Guest101 wrote: »

you defintely dont have to be there.

most tenants choose to be, but entirely upto you. If they expect you to be in, you can ask them to pay for time off work. - i doubt they'll do it, but then you've been reasonable and can now just get on with stuff.

And then there are posters on here who insist on being there and expect the landlord to pay for the time their time off work.......

theartfullodger

Clearly it is the tenant's interests to facilitate the servicing of the boiler...

ellesbellesxxx

We always ask our tenant if such and such a date will suit, and give her option if she would like to be there or if we can go on - it's been a mix so far...if she has been around she has been happy to be in or if she has been busy she has been happy for us to go in.

Guest101

Innys1 wrote: »

And then there are posters on here who insist on being there and expect the landlord to pay for the time their time off work.......

Well some people are silly after all

Innys1

Guest101 wrote: »

Well some people are silly after all

No, some people are dangerous.

They don't seem to understand that what they expect from their landlord is completely unreasonable - and are indignant when it's pointed out to them.

I'm only grateful I'm not their landlord.

bobbymotors

I don't even ask.. just inform the tenant that the annual gas safety check is due and that I and the gas engineer will be round on XXX at XXXpm and tell them there's no need for them to be there

Owain_Moneysaver

When I've rented through an agent the agent kept keys for the properties and the tradesman would collect keys for all the houses he was visiting that day, do the work, then hand the keys and reports back at the end of the day.

Guest101

bobbymotors wrote: »

I don't even ask.. just inform the tenant that the annual gas safety check is due and that I and the gas engineer will be round on XXX at XXXpm and tell them there's no need for them to be there

Isn't it good you've had tenants who don't say no to that. I would if it wasn't convenient

bobbymotors

Guest101 wrote: »

Isn't it good you've had tenants who don't say no to that. I would if it wasn't convenient

Why wouldn't it be convenient? There's no need for the tenant to be there.


And if they think I might steal £20 out of their top drawer while I'm there then I wouldn't want them as tenants anyway...


Apart from being the law it's for the tenants safety so there's really no arguing about it.


For the record, I NEVER turn up unannounced or anything but a gas check is different.