Weirdness in new flat I've just started renting

JustBee

My new flat has a block management team and the letting agent I'm dealing with is part of the same group. One of the contractors walked into my flat whilst I was here using a fob as though it was the norm and a regular thing.

There's also a camera in the hall that belongs to the block management so they can see when you go in and out.

I'm having things move around in my flat that I don't move and have always felt like I'm being watched. There are 3 smoke alarms in my flat, non of them have any lights blinking, flashing or staying on and only one of them goes off when the fire alarm goes off. One in my bedroom, lounge and hall.

One of the flats next door is always setting the fire alarm off so mine goes off in the hall when hers goes off and that's the only time any lights go off on it

I can't find any smoke alarms that look like the one in my hall but I took a photo of it. Could it possibly be a spy smoke alarm? Anyone know what kind of model it is?

elsien

JustBee said:

My new flat has a block management team and the letting agent I'm dealing with is part of the same group. One of the contractors walked into my flat whilst I was here using a fob as though it was the norm and a regular thing.

There's also a camera in the hall that belongs to the block management so they can see when you go in and out.

I'm having things move around in my flat that I don't move and have always felt like I'm being watched. There are 3 smoke alarms in my flat, non of them have any lights blinking, flashing or staying on and only one of them goes off when the fire alarm goes off. One in my bedroom, lounge and hall.

One of the flats next door is always setting the fire alarm off so mine goes off in the hall when hers goes off and that's the only time any lights go off on it

I can't find any smoke alarms that look like the one in my hall but I took a photo of it. Could it possibly be a spy smoke alarm? Anyone know what kind of model it is?

So what did you do about it?

Although I know very little about smoke detectors  I think it’s extremely unlikely that anyone would want to be filming you or anyone else in your own flat.
Could that be a heat detector instead of a smoke detector? Some of those are that sort of shape and there’s an Apollo one online with a yellow bit in the middle that looks very similar. 

https://www.apollo-fire.co.uk/products/xp95/fixed-temperature-detectors/55000-400apo---xp95-heat-detector-a2s/

If you think people are coming in, then just change the lock. And tell them it’s not okay. As long as you keep the lock and change it back when you leave, it shouldn’t be a problem. 

JustBee

I gave him a piece of my mind and reported it to the letting agents who said 'oh'

I can't change the locks because its a fob.

elsien

Edited to add image link in case you didn’t see it. 

propertyrental

Put your concern about the unauthorised access by the contractor in writing, addressed to both the landlord and cc'd to the agent.

lookbook

Give your experience in writing to management company and letting agents so you have proof if this happens again. 

cymruchris

Do you have the budget for a basic movement sensing camera to set it up in your hallway/lounge or somewhere that watches the front door?

Something like this? (Although there are many, many options available)

https://amzn.eu/d/6GmQ1N1

You could then see at least whether anyone comes in when you're not there - and would have the evidence to challenge the management with.

Lobby/communal area cameras are not usually there to see who comes and goes - more as a general security precaution. 

The image you've provided does look like a standard heat detector, and doesn't have the hallmarks of being a hidden camera. 

Alderbank

JustBee said:

My new flat has a block management team and the letting agent I'm dealing with is part of the same group. One of the contractors walked into my flat whilst I was here using a fob as though it was the norm and a regular thing.

There's also a camera in the hall that belongs to the block management so they can see when you go in and out.

I'm having things move around in my flat that I don't move and have always felt like I'm being watched. There are 3 smoke alarms in my flat, non of them have any lights blinking, flashing or staying on and only one of them goes off when the fire alarm goes off. One in my bedroom, lounge and hall.

One of the flats next door is always setting the fire alarm off so mine goes off in the hall when hers goes off and that's the only time any lights go off on it

I can't find any smoke alarms that look like the one in my hall but I took a photo of it. Could it possibly be a spy smoke alarm? Anyone know what kind of model it is?

Yes, as @elsien says it's an Apollo 95 heat detector. Not appropriate for your hallway. It should be in your kitchen or cooking area.

Or that's what they might want you to think it is...

JustBee

Thanks guys, my anxiety is through the roof. I asked the letting agent for the name and address of the landlord because a letter they sent me recently referred to it being a 'he' whilst on my contract it states a 'she'

I was asked, what to I intend to use the name and address for so I told them it was a query from my contract and a recent letter they sent. They asked for a copy of the letter but I haven't given them a copy for them to wiggle out of something that could potentially be nothing. They haven't been the best letting agent. Missing a washing machine/dryer off an inventory then not doing anything to correct it, it's in built in the cupboards. That's another story.

Grumpy_chap

JustBee said:

My new flat has a block management team and the letting agent I'm dealing with is part of the same group. One of the contractors walked into my flat whilst I was here using a fob as though it was the norm and a regular thing.

There's also a camera in the hall that belongs to the block management so they can see when you go in and out.

I'm having things move around in my flat that I don't move and have always felt like I'm being watched. There are 3 smoke alarms in my flat, non of them have any lights blinking, flashing or staying on and only one of them goes off when the fire alarm goes off. One in my bedroom, lounge and hall.

One of the flats next door is always setting the fire alarm off so mine goes off in the hall when hers goes off and that's the only time any lights go off on it

I can't find any smoke alarms that look like the one in my hall but I took a photo of it. Could it possibly be a spy smoke alarm? Anyone know what kind of model it is?

Just to confirm, is this a regular normal type of flat on standard AST?

Is the camera in the hall in the communal corridor?

Is the fob lock the only lock on the main door to your flat?  What type is it?  Some of the fob locks are a retrofit to standard locks so could be switched back.  Failing that, can you reprogram the fob so it "forgets" any fobs you do not have yourself?

JustBee

It's an AST yes. The camera's outside in the communal hall. The fob can't be changed to a standard lock and I wouldn't know where to start reprogramming.

The door to the flat is the only access and exit and some strange guy built like a brick .... house has put me off being here. Could I ask the landlord if I can leave the tenancy on this basis?