Do I have the right to know a contractor's name and credentials?

strongeyecontact

Hi there

I think (hope!) my question is quite simple. When a landlord has been failing to complete different repair problems for a long while, and has visited in the past (last year) but done nothing. They have recently obtained two new quotes from contractors of their choice. They now want to come round again with a further contractor but will not give that person's name and credentials. Do I as a tenant not have the right to know about anyone entering my home?

I have already received help with what to do about the repairs, so it is just this one question about having the right to know who is entering my home I need to find out now please. I believe it will be just some Joe Bloggs mate of the landlord with no proper experience/qualifications who will just bodge the fixes as they've done for years. Thanks in advance.

theartfullodger

Is this private landlords, council, housing association, co-op, crown etc etc please?

You can refuse entry to anyone you like, or to impose such conditions as you like.  Likely however that landlord/agent may retaliate.

Suggest you write to landlord, copy agent, keep copies using draft letter on Shelter's website on reporting repair issues for private landlords and the rest of that page on what to do if not sorted (eg involving council).

comeandgo

No, you do not have the right to know the contractors history or credentials.  If you don’t think they are any good either refuse entry or ask them to leave.

strongeyecontact

theartfullodger said:

Is this private landlords, council, housing association, co-op, crown etc etc please?

You can refuse entry to anyone you like, or to impose such conditions as you like.  Likely however that landlord/agent may retaliate.

Suggest you write to landlord, copy agent, keep copies using draft letter on Shelter's website on reporting repair issues for private landlords and the rest of that page on what to do if not sorted (eg involving council).

Thanks for this, it's a private ll. They were asked for the contractor's details when they requested this visit a couple of weeks ago, but wouldn't give them so their request to visit was rejected, they already had other quotes and have been round multiple times, it's always just a waste of time. 

Thanks comeandgo, we said no appointment would be agreed without the contractor's details and now the ll's solicitor has written a letter giving a time for them to visit next week and said they'll get a court order which we'll have to pay for if we refuse entry.

theartfullodger

Does it say they definitely will get a court order or just hint that they might?

Would take about as long as evicting you...(s21, no reason required at all..)

doodling

Hi,

It would not be unreasonable for you to know the names of people who visit your home.

You don't really have any reasonable right to know their credentials or to reject someone once you know their name (unless there is a good reason like "the last time that person was here they assaulted me").

I would write back to the solicitor asking for the name of the person who will be attending and pointing out that if they are seeking a court order for a person to be allowed access then the court might want to know their name also so that it can appear on the order.

I do wonder whether your reasonable desire to know the name of the person who will attend is getting mixed up with a potentially unreasonable desire to tell the landlord which tradesmen he can employ.

theartfullodger

doodling said:

Hi,
..................

You don't really have any reasonable right to know their credentials or to ................

Since to be a landlord or agent in England (is this England) requires no qualifications, no training, no criminal records check (bonkers! Come on Engerland, catch up!) wanting to know credentials of whoever comes as landlord or agent may lead to disappointment and/or tears... 

Artful: Landlord since 2000, some qualifications & other credentials, twice criminal record checked (not to do with being a landlord).. But when I started I knew f**** all.... 

turnitround

Is this your property or the one your niece lives in  (your other thread). It does seem odd to say these things need doing urgently but then refuse entry because you don't know the workman's name. It wont help you in a complaint regarding the work not being done if you or your niece have been obstructing the process.
When I rented the agent sent several workers round and never did I get to know their names or credentials. Surely it would be better to get the jobs done.

anselld

Is this your own place or it it your Niece's place as per the other thread?

Being "difficult" may be your right in your own place but if you are doing so on behalf of your Niece then it is her who will suffer any adverse consequences, not you.  So proceed with caution.

Obtaining three quotes is not unreasonable for major work.  Given that your Niece has no say in the selection of Contractor, and you have even less, it would seem unreasonable to deny access if the said Contractor is accompanied by the Landlord anyway.

Loza2016

When I worked for a letting agent we had an ongoing damp problem in a property that had been going on for over a year. 

We had numerous contractors go out but no one ever got back to us with a quote despite chasing. 

We eventually found out why when I sent my husband over to look at a window. The tenant was so nasty & spoke to my husband like a peace of dirt no wonder the other tradesmen didn’t want the job. 

Not saying you have been impolite in this case but tenants attitudes to workman can effect getting work done. 

strongeyecontact

Wow, lots to reply to. Thanks for all comments.

theartfullodger, the letter says the ll intends to make an application for an injunction. I don't see her paying for that either, she didn't do so after serving S21 notice earlier this year so it lapsed.

Hi doodling, we've done that now, and explained how their client hasn't given them anything like the full facts. Their representative from the estate agent attended with the last two contractors on 22/6, ll didn't even ask about going along, so hardly denying entry. The reason for asking about credentials is just because their standard of work over last four years has been so utterly poop, ll literally does things as cheaply as possible only when forced to do so.

turnitround, see above comment to doodling, and yes it's for my niece but my question about having the right to know someone's name entering my property was a hypothetical one. My niece is definitely not hampering anything, she's just utterly fed up with giving dozens of people access and nothing ever getting done. Yesterday the letting agent emailed to say they'd been chasing the ll to find out when work was starting but they'd been ignored. One of our questions was about the ll getting a free grant to replace the current 25mm loft insulation, which is just a joke, but of course they won't do that either.

anselld, I'm just helping my niece get the correct action, not being difficult. The ll saw water pouring through the conservatory roof in January LAST year and said we'll have to get that fixed first, but has done absolutely nothing. It's all bs words, never any action, so my niece would be glad for this to get to court. Not that it will, all she's asked for is a name of the contractor.

Loza2016, my niece is the loveliest girl ever. One of the contractors who came out last month told me they had been round to quote for the bathroom issues last January, he sent a quote in and never heard anything back. I'm surprised he went back this time, I hope he charged for the callout. LL ignored his advice on the quote, did a bodge job yet again and my niece is left with the consequences. 

I just hope she gets her council property soon but with needing a disabled one, there are so few.