What are my rights regarding inspections?

chriz1000

I know the letting agents need to give notice when they wish to do an inspection, last year they just turned up at my front door and said they had sent a letter requesting entry to the property. This year pretty much the same thing has happened again. I rang up yesterday to report a problem, they said an inspection is due to take place today! Yet again I haven’t received a letter even though they claim that they have sent one. Now I don’t have a problem with them inspecting when I’m present, but obviously at such short notice I can’t get the time off. We
We have never had a problem with our mail in the past, but the letting agents letters always seem to go astray unless they are to there benefit such as to tell us about a renewal or rent increase. I honestly think they are trying it on. Anyone else had this problem and what is the best course of action to take?

DGJsaver

They have to give notice , at least 24 hours

http://www.stayingput.co.uk/haskc/Private+Tenants/Rights+of+access+by+landlord/

totalsolutions

go to the office and see a copy of the letter, and demand it at once. You could then call their bluff/complain to the management and see their red faces then make a lot of noise when the agency id full ? ? ?

chriz1000

See I know letting agents are meant to give notice to gain access to a property, but in reality there is no real way to prove they didn’t send the letter, so it seems like a pretty pointless law. I feel letting agents should have to send it recorded delivery.
I can see why they would prefer not to give notice, you are a lot more likely to catch tenants in breach of there contracts if you catch them off guard. E.g. pets in the house or smoking indoors etc…

clutton_2

you dont even have to let them into the house at all if you dont want to .... but if you get too stroppy on this one - they may well give you notice at the end of the agreement.

if you get no letter - then reply by letter saying "sorry its not convenient - please write to me another letter with another date"

rich68

The agency for the place I used to live at had a condition where they could assume a letter was delivered 24 hours after posting it. And of course they could let themselves in too. I think it's terrible really. They should be made to use recorded delivery.

This is one area where the sales staff will tell you one thing, and you find something else when you see the contract.

I think asking to see the letter, as suggested by totalsolutions, is a good one.

speedtwin

Agent or L/L hasto legally give at least 24 hrs notice. The tenant legally does not have to let them in. But that will not put you in their good books if you want to stay there

I believe a L/L letting in them self in without permission would be reguarded has harrasment and can have very serious penalties.

clutton_2

"quiet enjoyment" is what the landlord agrees to give the tenant - letting themselves in is utterly utterly illegal - unless there is a seroius emergency - gas leak or the like.

merlinormartin

Thats awful! ... our letting agent sends a letter around 2 weeks before, requesting that we call them to arrange a suitable time/date. If we do not reply to the letter they call the home phone followed by mobile phone.

lynzpower

I had this where the neighbours had told us that the LL was going to come in the next day. I called and asked the LA if this was true she said Oh its ok we wont stay long, i said no you need to give 24 hours and HAVE CONSENT from me, and she said oh we wont be there long etc. I said no the dogs there it will unsettle her, while we are at work, we dont give consent.

So we knew she would try to get in, so we bolted the front doors and chains etc from the front and then we left by the back door which we knew the LA didnt have a key for

Poor LL who had come down from scotland on a whim to see the place :rolleyes:

clutton_2

of course lynz - its your home - your call - your privacy - go girl go !!!!