What else can I do to help in this situation?

jillyhilly

I rent out a flat which is managed by an agent.  People above my flat have just contacted me to say that the smoke alarm is beeping, keeping them awake and generally being incredibly disturbing. Tenant presumably not there. The agent is closed due to Corona virus but I’ve emailed their emergency email requesting that someone access the flat, and I have also emailed the tenant.  The contract states that the tenant is responsible for maintaining batteries in the smoke alarm.  I’m just thinking ahead as feel really bad for the people above me - is there anything else I can do?  The agent could be days getting back to me, and they hold the keys.   I don’t think I can legally authorise any kind of emergency locksmith without the permission of the tenant?  - is there anything else I can do?  Thank you! 

Comms69

It's not something you necessarily have to be involved with. This is a standard neighbour dispute. The tenant could be away, but really the best you can hope for is that the tenant either goes and replaces the battery or it dies fully before too long.

anselld

Do you not have keys?  Are you not local?

jillyhilly

Thank you very much for your responses.  No, I’m not local and the agent has the keys - under normal circumstances they’re so efficient that I’ve never needed to worry about having the keys.  So I was really trying to think through anything else that I could (legally) do.

Comms69

jillyhilly said:

Thank you very much for your responses.  No, I’m not local and the agent has the keys - under normal circumstances they’re so efficient that I’ve never needed to worry about having the keys.  So I was really trying to think through anything else that I could (legally) do.

Not really. Ultimately this is one of those minor issues that people deal with.

davidmcn

If all this has only just happened, why not give the tenant and/or agent a chance to reply to your emails first? 

LoveSauce

Comms69 said:

It's not something you necessarily have to be involved with. This is a standard neighbour dispute. The tenant could be away, but really the best you can hope for is that the tenant either goes and replaces the battery or it dies fully before too long.

If my experience with a dying smoke alarm is anything to go by, they last for like MONTHS! This was when I was younger and didnt know what the hell the sound was.

EssexGirl

Not being funny, but perhaps the tenant needs someone to check that they are ok? It may be that they can't get to the smoke alarm to stop it beeping. 

oldbikebloke

EssexGirl said:

Not being funny, but perhaps the tenant needs someone to check that they are ok? It may be that they can't get to the smoke alarm to stop it beeping. 

agreed, only 2 possibilities:
- tenant has gone away (Easter or other reason); or
- tenant is incapacitated

OP's options?
1. tell upstairs complainers to knock on door at several times during the day to confirm if unanswered, let OP know the outcome. 
2. repossess keys and go there yourself. Why you have not kept a set of keys to your own property is, frankly, amazing.

AdrianC

EssexGirl said:

Not being funny, but perhaps the tenant needs someone to check that they are ok? It may be that they can't get to the smoke alarm to stop it beeping. 

Or, like LoveSauce, are being driven mad by wondering what that beeping is.

Comms69

LoveSauce said:

Comms69 said:

It's not something you necessarily have to be involved with. This is a standard neighbour dispute. The tenant could be away, but really the best you can hope for is that the tenant either goes and replaces the battery or it dies fully before too long.

If my experience with a dying smoke alarm is anything to go by, they last for like MONTHS! This was when I was younger and didnt know what the hell the sound was.

indeed, but given lockdown will continue until atleast may bank holiday; and to some degree much much longer. I wouldn't be surprised if this issue wasnt resolved overnight