Too many inspections?

pmlindyloo

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Just see how the first inspection goes and take it from there. Maybe he will relax and carry out inspections less frequently. If he doesn't and you don't want monthly inspections then cross that bridge if/when you come to it by talking to the guy.

I agree with this.

I think once he sees that you are not trashing the place he will visit less frequently.

Try to be positive about this. You have a landlord who wants to maintain the property. This can only be a good thing.

If you have time go through the property and make a note of any
thing that needs fixing. Bound to be a couple of things at least!

Have a conversation about cleaning gutters or something, along the lines of 'what happens if...........do you want me to contact you, find my own electrician/plumber/send the bill to you/deduct from the rent? What happens if I can't contact you?

In other words take the initiative to show that you are a good tenant.

Hopefully after a while he will know that you are a good tenant and then can come to an agreement about how frequent the inspections are.

Leave the 'heavy stuff' until/if it all becomes a nuisance.

PS And don't forget the tea and cakes (only joking, you don't want him to become your 'friend'

m0bov

Once a year is about right. Its your home and u live your own life. Its not a hotel room!

regency_man

I think we give the landlord the benefit of the doubt in this situation, they may be using the 'threat' of regular inspections as a way of influencing you on the fact they want good care taken of the property. Especially if they are new to the landlord game. I suggest you say, perhaps after the second inspection (assuming you're keeping the place in good order!) something along the lines of: "As you can see I'm looking after the place, I was wondering if we could reduce the frequency of these inspections, as it is slightly inconvenient for me to arrange them with you every month, perhaps once every 3 months?"

However, should the regularity of the inspections not decrease or the demands on cleanliness be overbearing (especially regarding the fridge) I would not stand for it and begin to make a stand. As mentioned above inspections are about the condition and repair of the place, not how you live your life. It is your prerogative how often you clean the fridge out, it should only really become the landlord's interest if the condition of the fridge got so bad that it was causing material damage to the fridge beyond normal wear-and-tear with age.

The bottom line however, is that if the Landlord doesn't like you, then they'll probably refuse to renew your rolling tenancy after the initial period (usually 6 or 12 months) is up and you'll have to find a new home. So really it's all about compromise, on both sides.

I used to rent a garden flat with incredibly oppressive landlord who would genuinely turn up with a pair of white gloves and run her fingers behind the radiators and accuse us of being 'filthy individuals' if they came back up with dust on. Yet did nothing when we continually reported the severe damp problem that was so bad it caused my clothes hangers to rust. One day she came to inspect the house the day after we got back from a 3 week vacation, as we hadn't cleaned the bath immediately before leaving, some of the pinky mould/bacteria you get around baths had spawned around the plug hole. She got on such a high horse about it, and was so offensive to us about they way we lived our lives that I shouted her out of the house using a wide array of colourful language. She threatened to evict us, but obviously had no legal way of doing so nothing came of it. I refused to allow her in for further inspections after this, though we suspect she was entering the house after that point without our permission. 3 months later when the tenancy was up for monthly renewal, she refused to renew- it was expected.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I would say even three monthly inspections are excessive; every month is ridiculous.

Write (a proper letter, not a text) to your LL saying you're glad he takes property maintenance seriously, and you'll be happy for him to inspect the place 3 months after you move in, and annually thereafter. This shows that you acknowledge it's reasonable for a LL to keep an eye on the condition, but not reasonable for this to be required every few weeks.

alan0356

You cannot simply change the locks - you are a tenant - ie you rent the property not own it.

The tenancy will no doubt have reference to changing locks - if you do this you are in effect stopping the owner of the property access to their own property and breaking the terms of the tenancy.

I own numerous rented properties and inspect them on a six monthly basis always giving at least 24 notice.

If locks are changed and there is an emergency - ie water leak, damage in a storm how is landlord or workmen going to gain access to property.

The person who noted that it your home and you can do what you want is also mistaken - a tenant merely rents the property and has such not the right to change anything without the landlords permission.

If you want to change a property to your own designs go and buy one and paint your rooms purple and orange or whatever - no one will care as it will be your property - but if you are renting respect the landlord and the terms of the tenancy agreement you signed !

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Oh lordy here we go.

Pixie5740

alan0356 wrote: »

You cannot simply change the locks - you are a tenant - ie you rent the property not own it.

The tenancy will no doubt have reference to changing locks - if you do this you are in effect stopping the owner of the property access to their own property and breaking the terms of the tenancy.

I own numerous rented properties and inspect them on a six monthly basis always giving at least 24 notice.

If locks are changed and there is an emergency - ie water leak, damage in a storm how is landlord or workmen going to gain access to property.

The person who noted that it your home and you can do what you want is also mistaken - a tenant merely rents the property and has such not the right to change anything without the landlords permission.

If you want to change a property to your own designs go and buy one and paint your rooms purple and orange or whatever - no one will care as it will be your property - but if you are renting respect the landlord and the terms of the tenancy agreement you signed !

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Where to even start with the pile of drivel?

Tenants can change the locks and it is quite simple to do. If a tenant suspects that a landlord is letting themselves into their home whenever he feels like it then changing the lock would be a very sensible idea. How would a landlord who wasn't letting themselves into the tenant's home without the tenant's consent or any notice know a lock had been changed?

Some landlords keep going on about needing to access the property in the case of an emergency. How often, if ever, has that happened? Do you not think that tenants would be aware that there is a fire, a leak, or some other emergency happening to their home?

When you let a property to someone you are giving them ownership of that property in exchange for money. That's one of the reasons a tenancy can only be ended by the tenant or a court. Don't like that? Then you're in the wrong line of work.

Miss_Samantha

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Tenants can change the locks and it is quite simple to do.

It depends on there terms of the tenancy.

Pixie5740 wrote: »

How would a landlord who wasn't letting themselves into the tenant's home without the tenant's consent or any notice know a lock had been changed?

The landlord does not need further consent if he uses a right of access granted in the tenancy.

Guest101

alan0356 wrote: »

You cannot simply change the locks - you are a tenant - ie you rent the property not own it. - They own a lease, just like any leaseholder.

The tenancy will no doubt have reference to changing locks - if you do this you are in effect stopping the owner of the property access to their own property and breaking the terms of the tenancy. - oh my, thanks for the laugh

I own numerous rented properties and inspect them on a six monthly basis always giving at least 24 notice. - Do some more research then

If locks are changed and there is an emergency - ie water leak, damage in a storm how is landlord or workmen going to gain access to property. - How is a LL going to be a first responder in an emergency...

The person who noted that it your home and you can do what you want is also mistaken - a tenant merely rents the property and has such not the right to change anything without the landlords permission. - HAHAH

If you want to change a property to your own designs go and buy one and paint your rooms purple and orange or whatever - no one will care as it will be your property - but if you are renting respect the landlord and the terms of the tenancy agreement you signed !

Wow, what an 'interesting' view point

marksoton

I'll put the kettle on. It's going to be a long afternoon.

[STRIKE]And yes they can change the locks[/STRIKE]