Too many inspections?

BadBehaviour

Hi,

my tenancy in this flat started about two weeks ago.

Tomorrow landlord is gonna inspect the flat for defects he said etc. He left a calendar with the inspection weeks. He basically seems to inspect once a month or anyway almost every month.

I feel it's a bit excessive honestly. It's stated he will inspect oven and fridge for cleanliness etc. Again I feel that's a bit excessive as well. I've never had my previous landlord look into my oven or fridge and he would pop by twice a year and not so often.

He seems like he takes care of his property and is keen to keep on top of maintenance but seems a bit overzealous to me.

What do you think?

Guest101

If you don't like it, tell him that the inspections wont be going ahead.


Once a month is far too excessive.


Offer a 3 monthly inspection, then change the locks.

Pixie5740

Did you have any indication before your tenancy started that inspections would be so frequent? Is there anything in your tenancy agreement about the frequency of inspections?

Having an inspection every month sounds over-zealous to me. He's your landlord not your mother so he has no business inspection your fridge and oven every month. Inspections should be a two-way street giving you the opportunity to point out issues with the property too. I think the most I've ever had a property inspected was 1 month after I moved in, then 6 months after the last inspection, then 12 later.

BadBehaviour

Guest101 wrote: »

If you don't like it, tell him that the inspections wont be going ahead.


Once a month is far too excessive.


Offer a 3 monthly inspection, then change the locks.

I don't know how to tell him without, you know, the relationship straining. He seems a good landlord; it's just that I don't think I can enjoy the flat if I have to think every month he has to inspect it.

After two weeks I haven't even moved most of my stuff here yet and don't have any furniture apart from sofas because I need to wait for payday to buy it.

Can he say anything about that?

BadBehaviour

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Did you have any indication before your tenancy started that inspections would be so frequent? Is there anything in your tenancy agreement about the frequency of inspections?

Having an inspection every month sounds over-zealous to me. He's your landlord not your mother so he has no business inspection your fridge and oven every month. Inspections should be a two-way street giving you the opportunity to point out issues with the property too. I think the most I've ever had a property inspected was 1 month after I moved in, then 6 months after the last inspection, then 12 later.

In the tenancy agreement frequency is not mentioned. It does mention quiet enjoyment of the property to be guaranteed by the landlord though. Estate agent kept saying how good he is and when I asked they didn't know how often he inspects. They did say he does the maintenance so not the estate agents and that if I have problems I have to deal with him directly.

Guest101

BadBehaviour wrote: »

I don't know how to tell him without, you know, the relationship straining. He seems a good landlord; it's just that I don't think I can enjoy the flat if I have to think every month he has to inspect it.

After two weeks I haven't even moved most of my stuff here yet and don't have any furniture apart from sofas because I need to wait for payday to buy it.

Can he say anything about that?

Say what? He's your landlord not your mother.


You can literally do as you wish in your property.


You can say:
"_ Off X, you're not coming in" or "Listen X, I appreciate you want the property to be looked after and I intend to do that. I'm not comfortable with the amount of inspections, so we either need to re-evaluate to something we're both happy with, or I'll need to take other steps. I am paying for this property, and I do have rights."

Pixie5740

As a tenant you are entitled to quiet enjoyment. Inspections should not be about how you live your life but how you are taking care of the property (not punching holes in doors and smearing poo over the walls) and an opportunity for you to raise your concerns. You do not have to make your home like a show home for inspections.

Before accessing your home your landlord must give you 24 hours written notice. If you don't want him coming into your home then tell him. Tell him that monthly inspections of how clean you are keeping the property are intrusive.

Your options are to communicate with your landlord or bend over and take it. Perhaps you could mention less frequent inspections during your first inspection.

Gilead

You could simply have an attentive and responsive LL who values the property - sounds like if you had an issue he would have it sorted asap.

I would imagine your tenancy agreement states the notice that has to be given for inspections, so by providing you with a calendar he has met his requirement. I would advise to accommodate him for the first two inspections then ask if he minds doing it quarterly.

Pixie5740

Gilead wrote: »

You could simply have an attentive and responsive LL who values the property - sounds like if you had an issue he would have it sorted asap.

I would imagine your tenancy agreement states the notice that has to be given for inspections, so by providing you with a calendar he has met his requirement. I would advise to accommodate him for the first two inspections then ask if he minds doing it quarterly.

The law says the landlord must give 24 hours written notice before entering a tenant's home and even then the tenant can say no. I don't think this timetable circumvents the OP's landlord requirement for written notice each and every time he wishes to enter the property. Maybe the landlord will resolve issues promptly but than again maybe he's just an anal, nosey parker, PITA landlord. Plenty of other landlords manage to get repairs carried out in a timely fashion without harassing their tenants every month.

Miss_Samantha

Pixie5740 wrote: »

The law says the landlord must give 24 hours written notice before entering a tenant's home and even then the tenant can say no.

The tenant cannot say 'no' in law...

Guest101

Pixie5740 wrote: »

The law says the landlord must give 24 hours written notice before entering a tenant's home and even then the tenant can say no. I don't think this timetable circumvents the OP's landlord requirement for written notice each and every time he wishes to enter the property. Maybe the landlord will resolve issues promptly but than again maybe he's just an anal, nosey parker, PITA landlord. Plenty of other landlords manage to get repairs carried out in a timely fashion without harassing their tenants every month.

A friend had a similar LL, came every 2 weeks, I did tell him he could say no, but he didn't listen, but carried on complaining about it....


So many people 'think' they know the law, and simply don't listen. These days if I'm asked I just direct them to shelter IRL as it's too much hassle debating when i'm trying to enjoy a beer.