Tired of my landlords entering my flat - what are my rights?

Isolt

I live in a build to rent. It's a purpose built building and all flats are owned and let by a company not an individual.

Water rates, electric etc are inclusive and they say they need to take quarterly meter readings. We get 24 hours notice and are asked whether we grant permission for the meter reader to enter our flat unsupervised using their "management keys." We have the option of saying we don't give permission for this and that we'll be home during a particular time slot, for example 10 am to 2pm

I have already informed them I don't want anyone entering my flat unless it's an emergency. For this particular meter reading I'd told them I'd make sure I'm home from 12 to 4pm and to do the meter reading during that time. Nobody showed up. I contacted the management staff only to be told some bloke had come round to my flat, let himself in and done a meter reading earlier in the day, completely ignoring the time slot we'd agreed.

What are my rights? If it was you ,would you complain about some random bloke entering with a key without my permission? Thank God he doesn't appear to have stolen anything.

I'm really not happy. Just last month we had some other bloke round to read water meters. The week before that we had some people round to carry out some kind of inspection that involved opening all our cupboards, peering in the fridge and so on.

pmlindyloo

Isolt wrote: »

I live in a build to rent. It's a purpose built building and all flats are owned and let by a company not an individual.

Water rates, electric etc are inclusive and they say they need to take quarterly meter readings. We get 24 hours notice and are asked whether we grant permission for the meter reader to enter our flat unsupervised using their "management keys." We have the option of saying we don't give permission for this and that we'll be home during a particular time slot, for example 10 am to 2pm

I have already informed them I don't want anyone entering my flat unless it's an emergency. For this particular meter reading I'd told them I'd make sure I'm home from 12 to 4pm and to do the meter reading during that time. Nobody showed up. I contacted the management staff only to be told some bloke had come round to my flat, let himself in and done a meter reading earlier in the day, completely ignoring the time slot we'd agreed.

What are my rights? If it was you ,would you complain about some random bloke entering with a key without my permission? Thank God he doesn't appear to have stolen anything.

I'm really not happy. Just last month we had some other bloke round to read water meters. The week before that we had some people round to carry out some kind of inspection that involved opening all our cupboards, peering in the fridge and so on.

When you say you have informed them do you mean by telephone?

24 hrs notice is the usual notice required so does yoru tenancy agreement say anything about refusing a random time and asking for a particular slot of time. If not, do you have this in writing?

So, not a lot you can do about what has already happened.

WRITE a letter to the management saying that you do not wish for anyone to enter your property without your being present except in the case of an emergency. Add that, as previously agreed, you will make yourself available at the agreed time.

If this happens again the change the locks.

Isolt

When I moved in they sent an email asking us to clarify what permission we granted re access for maintenance. We were able to choose whether we gave permission -
for them to just hand out our keys to random contractors to enter whenever they want,
hand out the keys to contractors as long as we are notified in advance,
or that we only allow access if we are present and with 24 hours notice.
I chose the latter. They also email you before each meter reading visit to ask you to confirm whether you grant access while you're not home. If you say they can only have access when you are present then they allow you to select a time slot.
They just ignored everything I'd put in place.

Changing the locks would break the tenancy agreement

pmlindyloo wrote: »

When you say you have informed them do you mean by telephone?

24 hrs notice is the usual notice required so does yoru tenancy agreement say anything about refusing a random time and asking for a particular slot of time. If not, do you have this in writing?

So, not a lot you can do about what has already happened.

WRITE a letter to the management saying that you do not wish for anyone to enter your property without your being present except in the case of an emergency. Add that, as previously agreed, you will make yourself available at the agreed time.

If this happens again the change the locks.

Isolt

some kind of "check up" as part of the 5 year warranty on the buildings.
They had to check for defects, apparently. It was VERY intrusive.
There were three of them, and I had not been aware they were going to be peering into my fridge, freezer and washing machine and into my cupboards, peering down the bog etc.

Penitent wrote: »

What kind of inspection would require someone to rake through your cupboards and fridge? Did they tell you what they were doing?

theartfullodger

Write (yes, write - keep copy) to the company (yes, the company - c/o co secretary - get his name & address from Companies House) a calm & polite letter asking on what legal or contractual basis do they have the right to act like this, please.

stator

Change the locks anyway. As long as you put the locks back when you move out they can't charge you for it.

Lord_Baltimore

Read the meters yourself and send the readings to the management company. Sorted

G_M

Isolt wrote: »

Changing the locks would break the tenancy agreement

Since they have clearly breached your agreement themselves, you are justified in protecting your privacy and enforcing your right to 'quiet enjoyment'.

As others have said, write a letter too. Make it very clear, again, that you are happy to cooperate with access, in your presence, at mutually agreed times, but that you note that the management or their contractors have ignored this in the past so you wish to re-iterate your position.

Do not mention changing the locks. They won't know. Unless, of course, they try to use their keys again which they should not be doing!!!!

Keep the old locks you remove, and replace them when your tenancy ends (or you could be charged at that point).

Changing locks just needs a screwdriver and is very easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXAo7zSN-9o

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=+utube+change+mortice+lock&view=detail&mid=E025828571DFCF0E6C58E025828571DFCF0E6C58&FORM=VIRE

http://www.lockandkeyshop.co.uk/acatalog/Technical_Help.html

Isolt

There must be a reason why they don't implement that already as it would save them time and presumably money as well. Maybe they don't trust the tenants to send accurate readings?

Lord_Baltimore wrote: »

Read the meters yourself and send the readings to the management company. Sorted

Isolt

The head of the company has emailed me this morning to apologise and to say it won't happen again and that he is looking into a solution so they won't even have to take physical meter readings.

AdrianC

Isolt wrote: »

The head of the company has emailed me this morning to apologise and to say it won't happen again and that he is looking into a solution so they won't even have to take physical meter readings.

Cue the smart meter tin-foil hat brigade...