Entering rented property (just because you have a key)

Myci85

Out of interest, what was the outcome if it was last Friday they wanted to come?

I do think it is so easy to misinterpret meaning/intention in text messages, especially as some people are brief in texts so may not communicate as well as face to face. But it's usually sorted easily by clarifying meaning with them, rather than jumping to the worst case scenario and spending ages dwelling on it and getting wound up on an Internet forum, when there's just as likely nothing to worry about. 

ReadySteadyPop

_Penny_Dreadful said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

_Penny_Dreadful said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

Kittenplump_2 said:

ReadySteadyPop said:

Kittenplump_2 said:

housebuyer143 said:

I think you are being a bit sensitive. Lots of landlords just let themselves in and most people don't care.. If you do, then that's completely fine just reply with something along the lines of "thanks for letting me know, I would prefer someone be at the property rather than you just coming in with the key, so my son will be there to meet you".

Hopefully this also gives them pause for next time they are thinking of just using the key.

A bit sensitive? We have a contract signed and as tenants should not expect landlords to just turn up and let themselves in. It may be their property but it’s courtesy to actually ask if someone is around and just not express they have a key so will come in anyway. We have possession of the property under the contract we have signed. Landlords should just not be letting themselves in! Not just dropping a message informing just to let us know etc. 

They are fitting smoke alarms which could save your life, and also oiling a garage door which they probably don`t need to do, and it is probably illegal for you to be in the flat/house without compliant smoke detectors anyway? I would let this one go TBH.

At what point did I have an issue then doing the smoke alarms?! In fact the alarms were out of date as of Jan 2025 this was highlighted in the inventory check in.. My point is the communication that it was were are coming round and when i asked what time in told and then they stated they have a key anyway. It’s not an issue them doing what they need! It’s the fact we are renting and key or not they can’t just think it’s ok to enter regardless! 

Yes, there is the hint of "we will just come in when we like", maybe, you would need other examples though I think to claim a pattern. All landlords will retain a key for their property in case of emergency, what works is politely telling them that you will move out if they access when not invited, most landlords will get focussed at that point as voids can be so expensive nowadays.

The OP has been in the property for a week so that would be an empty threat. Also, the landlord isn’t a vampire, they don’t need to be invited into the property. 

Demand is outstripping supply in many parts of the UK just now so most landlords aren’t worried about voids. 

https://thenegotiator.co.uk/news/rental-market/rental-market-showing-clear-signs-of-softening/

"void periods are at their highest since 2021 and confirmed rents are meaningfully undercutting advertised prices."

If a landlord is annoying  you can give a month`s notice, do you think the landlord wants an empty flat after two months just because they can`t accept tenancy rules? I can`t remember the last time I saw so many To Let signs actually, must be a couple of decades at least, something is definitely shifting, the landlord doesn`t hold the cards you would like to have us think they hold.

Also remember that a lot of fixed rates are coming to an end, lot`s of landlords are going to be struggling, not wise to lose a good tenant over needing to be in the flat even although it is let out.

"the average rent per property during the last quarter of 2024 could be up to 24% lower than advertised in London and 20% lower outside it."

Lies, damn lies and statistics.  The article says the average void has increased from 21 day to 24 days which is nothing in the years you'll end up letting the property.  I can tell you from personal experience that I was inundated with applications for one of my rentals that became available in May.  I wasn't worried about the void period at all.  Voids are an opportune time to go in to the property to get any maintenance sorted and to freshen up the décor between tenancies.

Overall rents are up.  The rate at which rents are increasing might be slowing down but the upward trajectory continues.  Not every landlord is mortgaged up to the hilt you know.  

If the landlord is annoying you can't give a month's notice to move out especially if you're right at the start of a fixed term AST.  I'm assuming that as the OP only moved in the other week they've got the best part of at least 6 months still to go on that fixed term.

The people writing these articles are getting feedback from a much wider portion of the market than you can see as an individual landlord, my individual take is that there are more To Let signs up now than in many years, the OP isn`t getting off on the right footing at all with this landlord, in their shoes I would use the next few months to check out alternative rentals.