Landlord entering room without permission...

Van Hellseek

Van Hellseek

Van Hellseek

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2 Jun 2004
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Got an email from the landlord/landlady (they are a couple) aprox 14 hours before they intended to enter the property to install a new washing machine (I ignored the fact that this was not legal*, since we badly need a new washing machine).

On the afternoon in question I went out with friends, and didnt get home until after 12am. At which point I found that they had unlocked and entered my bedroom. Their excuse will no doubt be that they needed to turn on the outside light (the motion detection light which most houses have these days), for which the switch is in my room. But the reason I turned it off is that it was on constantly during daylight.

I don't even care about this, but what irritates, and slightly scares me is that various things of mine had obviously been touched/opened. A few of my draws were a few centimeters open, and my halogen heater had been turned on (fire hazard!) and that is only what I noticed. There is a fair chance that they fudged around with things I havn't even noticed yet.

One of my housemates confirmed that they had been in my room.

The point is, that as far as I'm aware this is completely illegal. I don't want to be evicted, but at the same time I'm so close to calling/emailing them and saying W TF F???

Bang out of order, or am I over-reacting? How would you feel if someone had illegaly entered your room and gone through your things without permission? :confused:


* 24 hours notice in writing is required before entering the property as far as I know.
 
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The law does not stipulate a set time - i.e. 24 hours or 48 hours. It does say however, that the Landlord should give reasonable time notice to the tenant or the conditions states in the contract. Also, that unless you do have a lease, and not a licence, the landlord can enter without notice. The requirement for a lease is not the name or its label - ie, that it is called a lease. It is the requirement of 3 elements.

- a grant of exclusive possession (You have the right to refuse entry to the landlord)
- a fixed term
- reservation of a rent

Only if you have all 3 you have a lease, if not then your right is severely limited and does not cover under the many legislations such as the Landland and Tenant Act...etc.

Saying that, was there anything missing? If not then I don't know what kind of compensation you are after, if you want and I can fully understand that he went through your stuff, then ask for a letter for an apology might be a better solultion if that makes you feel better. However, why try to make things worst when there is absolutely nothing to gain by bringing this up further.
 
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I'm not looking for any financial gain here at all... I'm just extremely creeped out that people have entered my bedroom and been through my personal things without my permission. I find it very difficult indeed to believe that there are no laws against such actions. :confused:
 
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Raymond Lin said:
The law does not stipulate a set time - i.e. 24 hours or 48 hours.
Click to expand...

http://www.salford.gov.uk/housing-harassment
You are entitled to refuse entry until the landlord gives you 'reasonable' notice, that is, 24 hours, that he intends to visit the property. It may also help to arrange for a friend to be with you in the property during the visit. A landlord who enters a property without permission is trespassing.
Click to expand...

Once you have had notice, he can go anywhere in the house, but he can't look through your personal stuff.

Yet another case of not much you can do. If you can, hand your notice in and move elsewhere.

Are you being harassed by your landlord?

It is both a civil and criminal offence for your landlord to commit acts likely to interfere with your peace and comfort, to act in such a way that you are likely to leave, or to stop you exercising your rights.

This applies irrespective of whether such a 'quiet enjoyment' clause is in your agreement, as it is implied to be there by law.

Examples of harassment include

* cutting off your water, gas, or electricity
* threatening you with eviction
* interfering with your possessions
* insisting you hand over a key to your home

If your landlord is attempting to evict you, is harassing you or otherwise disturbing your peaceful and comfortable occupation, the following steps may be taken

Tell your landlord, in person or preferably in writing, that their actions are disturbing your peaceful occupation of the property. This will usually be enough to end petty harassment.

You are entitled to refuse entry until the landlord gives you 'reasonable' notice, that is, 24 hours, that he intends to visit the property. It may also help to arrange for a friend to be with you in the property during the visit. A landlord who enters a property without permission is trespassing.
Click to expand...
 
I'd be a bit peed off if someone came into my flat and rifled
around in my stuff.

The attic for the house is in my flat, so sometimes the landlady has to get in there to find something/put something in, but she would always ask me first.

On a completely different topic....the sensor on the light needs cleaning, thats why its on all the time, cos theres dirt on it, so it thinks its dark.
 
When my landlord was fleeing the country he used to come round and just knock on the door and ask to pick up items from the attic. I just let him in. Is that enough notice? :D
 
your landlord is bang out of order by routing through your things. I would put it in a polite email, that in no uncertain terms is he to enter your room without you being present.
 
Copy the quote above, print it out, and post it through his letter box.
And just sign it with regards number whatever.
 
what if it was your mates takin the chance to go in your room while it was unlocked to look for funny things.
***** hunt anyone?
 
When I was in halls in uni I woke up at 9am one morning (:eek:) to find some guy replacing the door of my room! There was nothing wrong with my door! anyway, when I went to complain there was something in the contract that said they could basically come in whenever they want and do what they want.
 
Are you certain the landlord didn't just open the door and ask the washing machine bloke to shut it when he'd finished? Your landlord might be almost as annoyed as you are that his tenant's privacy was invaded... and he certainly needs to know what happened. Maybe this is the approach/assumption you should take when communicating with the landlord. It's certainly less confrontational.
 
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