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Landlord / agents want to take photographs

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  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 18,273 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    P-J-D_2 said:

    FOR February, when the inspection was due. If they had stuck to that they would see the property "in all its glory." After 10+ years tenant I expect ANNUAL inspections to be performed ANNUALLY. Wouldn't that be fair?

    In fact I had no "inspections" until a couple of years ago when the agents changed.
    If you have a good LL, the inspection is there for the benefit of the Tenant.

    I know that we often see things (reported back by the LA) that we then instruct to be resolved from the inspections.  This is a two-way benefit.  The tenant has a good standard of property to live in.  The property is prevented against deterioration.  The T is happy and likely to remain a customer for longer.
    In fact, I am always rather surprised at the hesitation of some tenants to report things that need addressing - I suppose they've had negative experiences in the past.
  • _Penny_Dreadful
    _Penny_Dreadful Posts: 1,465 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 8 December 2023 at 10:03AM
    P-J-D_2 said:
    P-J-D_2 said:
    P-J-D_2 said:
    Living a tiny bedsit style lodge.. big name landlord estate and letting agent.. 

    Got notice on an annual inspection for next week (was due in Feb..)

    You can't say no can you... (it's necessary "for compliance" according to their "system") They really did pick the stupidest time to take a snapshot, I'm really stressed. The place is a tip and unkempt as I'm just recovering from months of lethargy with long covid and was just getting things back in order.. in the midst of prepping to decorate in advance of Feb  :/

    They say it's "nothing personal" but they'll be taking photographs. No consent was asked. On the contrary I find it extremely invasive. I don't like my personal stuff or the way I'm living being photographed and documented on their systems, especially when I'm having a hard time of it!

    Do I have to let them take photographs?

    PS they say there are no current plans to sell the property but the last time I experienced photographs being taken as a tenant, the estate was assessing their stock and I was evicted shortly after

    You can say no.  It can be a bit risky though as it's not difficult to issue a Section 21 and with the rental market as it is now you could easily be replaced in a heartbeat.  If I were your landlord and you asked to postpone because you are unwell then I probably would.
    So you would selectively evict tenants because they are unwell? That's nice. Actually that would be a false economy in this case as the LL would need to invest thousands to re-let as the 40 year old kitchen is rank.

    Also they would have to fix the problems they've left unattended for years to charge a premium. There are problems within the property but all are due to their inattention. I'm just a bit untidy.

    Why are you in the midst of preparing to decorate in February?

    FOR February, when the inspection was due. If they had stuck to that they would see the property "in all its glory." After 10+ years tenant I expect ANNUAL inspections to be performed ANNUALLY. Wouldn't that be fair?

    In fact I had no "inspections" until a couple of years ago when the agents changed.
    Where did I say that I would selectively evicts tenants for being unwell? That’s right, I didn’t. 
    Think they've read your "I probably would" as would evict, not would postpone.
    Correct. Sorry if I misunderstood.
    It’s still unclear why you are planning to decorate the rental property at all. That’s not your responsibility as the tenant unless you’re trying to make good damages you’ve caused to the existing decoration.
    Property decoration is, as per 99% of ASTs, the tenants "responsibility". Indeed I decorated the main room saving the landlords a fortune when I moved in over a decade ago, but that counts for nothing now.

    I've not damaged anything (the landlords agents have!) but after many years a rural property will naturally look run down and sadly I will get judged on that. Hence my intention to decorate before the inspection.

    They've ruined my plans and they are ruining my life it's causing me serious mental health issues.
    I was saying that if a tenant asked to postpone an inspection because they are unwell I would probably postpone instead of pushing ahead. I’d postpone for almost any reason if that was what the tenant requested. 

    Decoration is not the tenant’s responsibility. I don’t know where you’re getting the made up statistic of 99% of AST make it the tenant’s responsibility. It’s much more likely for an AST to have a clause saying that the tenant cannot decorate without the landlord’s permission.  At the end of the tenancy all you need to do is leave the property in the same condition, minus any fair wear and tear, as it was in at the start of the tenancy.  You’ve lived there for 10+ years so the decoration that was there now has the residual value of zero meaning that the landlord could not claim anything from your deposit or take you to court over the cost of redecoration. 

    https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/what_can_your_landlord_deduct_from_your_deposit/cleaning_gardening_decorating

    Have you communicated with the landlord/letting agent that you’d prefer to reschedule the inspection? I wonder if you’re making this worse in your head by assuming the answer will be no and thinking you need to decorate when you do not. 
  • If, as you say, the inspection is due in feb (end of fixed term? anniversary of last inspection?) why not write a polite letter saying it's due in Feb, you'll be happy to facilitate the inspection then, but that because of Long Covid it is not convenient now.

    Most LLs would agree, What are the LL/agent like? helpful or dogmatic? As a last resort, having written as above, if you fear they might simply turn up anyway then change the locks.
  • Murphybear
    Murphybear Posts: 7,982 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    My view is the following having worked in the lettings business for years.  Redecoration is the landlord’s responsibility and I have never seen an AST that suggests otherwise.  Don’t worry about being untidy.  I’ve seen thousands of tenanted properties over the years and more of these were untidy than tidy  :D.  I’ve had a few apologies about untidiness but I always told them “how you live is your business”.  You can’t put a clause in an AST that says “tenants must keep the property tidy at all times”.

    My experience of the human race is that most people don’t live in a 100% tidy home 


  • P-J-D_2 said:

    They've ruined my plans and they are ruining my life it's causing me serious mental health issues.
    They're ruining your life because they want to inspect? Try reframing it like this: the inspection will give you an opportunity to point out any repairs and maintenance that need doing; this is a GOOD thing.
    "The problem with Internet quotes is that you can't always depend on their accuracy" - Abraham Lincoln, 1864
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 26,234 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    You are not looking at this very rationally, and you sound pretty depressed. Maybe, that's the effect of long covid, or maybe it's the time of year, but you perhaps should have a chat with your GP about your low mood? 

    In the meantime, do your best to clear the place up over the weekend. If it's still a tip on Monday, have a word with the agents on Monday, and explain the issues you have been having. 

    Can I ask what the place looked like at previous inspections? If there's been a sudden once-off decline, they really ought to be able to understand.


    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
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