Landlord / Tenant : Am I wrong to be upset?

Absomalutely

Absomalutely

Absomalutely

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Joined
22 Aug 2004
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462
Location
East Sussex
Hi Guys,

Just before I moved into my new flat about two months ago, the letting agent asked their plumbers to install a new shower as the old unit and pipework was leaking water down the wall cavity into the flat below. The shower was installed the day I moved in and didnt really interrupt the moving process. The chap who installed it deliberately left part of the wall uncovered to allow any dampness to dry out over the course of a few weeks and said he would arrange a time to come and cover the hole when it had dried.

Fast forward to today:
I've just come home to see that my landlord / someone working for my landlord has entered the property without my knowledge and filled the hole. I'm a little bit embaressed as well as angry that I've had no notice of this happening. There were pants on the floor in the bathroom (sunny side up!) as well not as tidy as I'd normally like it.

Am I wrong to be extremly upset about this? Is this even legal? I would have liked to be around when he was in my premises as I hate the thought of anyone snooping through my things when I'm not there.
 
I think "extremely upset" may be a bit much, however I would be having strong words with my landlord.
 
99.9% sure they need to give you 3 days advanced notice before entry unless it is an emergency (real emergency). Sounds like you've got leverage.
 
Your letting agent should have let you know, but hardly something to get in a bit of a tizz about - I'd just mention to the letting agent that you'd appreciate being given some notice before people come round.

It's not like you're going to get anything out of it so don't really see the point in 'pursuing' it any further - the only thing that will achieve is deteriorating the relationship with the person you are relying on to fix any further problems you might encounter.

Consider it an incentive to keep things tidy all the time :p
 
I have a flat that I let out and my previous tenant and the fella that has just moved in are mates.

If I need a bit of work doing or need to test the CO and smoke detector I always give notice and don't just turn up and would never go in while they were out unless something was seriously amiss.

I am not sure how the law works on just turning up in all honesty but it is common courtesy and respect for privacy to give some notice in my book.
 
Yea, a light letter or phone call will stop it in future, and if it does happen in future, you will have written evidence you asked politely previously.

ags
 
Maybe 'extremely upset' was a bit strong I admit, but the thought of someone coming in when I'm not there is a little weird. A letter to the landlord / letting agent seems like the best bet.

It's not like you're going to get anything out of it so don't really see the point in 'pursuing' it any further - the only thing that will achieve is deteriorating the relationship with the person you are relying on to fix any further problems you might encounter.
Click to expand...

I'm not looking to get anything out of it, except my privacy in all honesty. Relationships also work both ways. The patch that's been boarded up still needs to be tiled, so I assume they'll be in again at some point...
 
Ask him if he can give you notice in the future.

My previous landlords were so.. odd. They forgot to tell me most of the time. Once they showed up on a Saturday morning with someone to survey the place because they were selling the house! I had been ill for 3 days and the place was a mess then so it was quite embarrassing :(
 
forgetting the legal requirements, he should have let you know someone would go in to the flat out of courtesy
 
Personally I'd be ****ing fuming if my landlord let himself into the house while I was out!

Don't forget you're paying him for the privilege of living in that property - once you've signed the tennancy agreement that property should be treated as 'yours' - I'm not sure if there's a legal perspective on this (probably is (there should be!)) but it's definately just plain disrespectful.

My landlord came round to dig up some of the earth along the foundation of our back wall (again, treating damp) and he turned up while we were out and just did his own thing - first thing we knew about it was when one of the kids who had been playing in the garden told us there was a big hole in the ground! If any of the kids (one is only 2 and is a proper Mr Bump as it is!) had hurt themselves in that I would've gone severly mental!

Anyway, I digress - basically, I say you're perfectly right to be 'extremely upset' about it and I'd definately be having quiet word about making sure it doesn't happen again

It wasn't anything that couldn't have waited so he should've let you know he was planning on coming and arranged a time when you could be in (and picked up your skiddy pants ;))
 
They are required to ask for your permission atleast 24 hours in advance of entering the property.

Source: The Landlord and Tenant Act and possibly your tenancy agreement/contract.
 
I would probably ask the landlord to give notice if anyone else is to be entering the property.

But it's done now, so the only thing you would gain by shouting and screaming is an angry landlord who wont let the tinyest thing go by.

So basically, be firm, polite but not aggressive.
 
24 hours notice required unless an absolute emergency!

Go for a month free of rent as compensation.
 
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