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something daft already!!

something daft already!!

something daft already!!

Soldato
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I was relaxing at home the other evening, listening to music around 9pm. Suddenly I hear a noise from within my flat. I get up to investigate and I found a short fat man had let himself into my flat (without knocking) and was busy taking stuff out of my hallway. I recognised him, he was an electrician who had visited before. I asked him to leave and he refused. He said he needed access to an electrical cupboard which is in my flat, which my stuff was blocking.

I see this as a major breach of contract and have written a letter of complaint to the letting agency. They tried to call me but I was at work and I will not answer a call from them. They can put everything in writing as far as I am concerned. I want an audit trail.

What do you think? Am I within in my rights here?
 
As above.

They have to give you 24 hours notice unless it's an emergency - i.e. water/gas leak.

Edit: Is it a communal block? Was he there on behalf of the landlord, or whomever owns/manages the building?
 
Semple said:
They have to give you 24 hours notice unless it's an emergency - i.e. water/gas leak.
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Landlord here.

Assuming your renting the whole property and not just a room in an HMO, in which case LL and LL agents can access common areas as needed.

As above, minimum of 24 hours notice unless its an emergency.
REGARDLESS of notice, if you ask them to leave then they have to leave. If you refuse entry they cannot force entry without a court order.
If it is an emergency let them in (obvious really)!!

Its called the right of quiet enjoyment.
Give shelter a call if needed, they will clarify the situation. Free, but expect a long-ish wait on the phone as they are busy.

Duty to allow you to enjoy your home
Landlords must let you live in your home without unnecessary interference.

Your landlord (or anyone employed by them) should not let themselves into your home without your permission.
Your landlord (or anyone employed by them) should not harass you in your home or make it difficult for you to stay there.
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Check your contract, it should be in there.
Have a word with the agent, explain that this is unacceptable and you require a minimum of 24 hours notice in writing as required by law.

You are entitled to change the locks, if its a euro cylinder lock this is easy and cheap (look on youtube for how to). Keep the original and replace it before/when you move out. Prevents access without permission/when your not there.
 
something daft already!! said:
What do you think? Am I within in my rights here?
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[keyboard warrior mode]

Well for a start you could have removed him anyway, it is your flat, you can use reasonable force* to remove someone if they refuse to leave.

[/keyboard warrior mode]

*(That doesn't mean you can take a swing at him, but you can put your hands on him and direct him to the door and that can turn into pushing/shoving if resisted and of course escalate from there... realistically he's likely to go as soon as you make it quite clear that you're not asking but telling him and stick a hand on his shoulder to direct him to the door.)


Secondly you can just change your locks, then they're forced to give you 24 hours notice, why bother with getting into a protracted argument with a letting agency, just change the locks and let them know by e-mail and perhaps mention the reason why, job done.
 
dowie said:
Secondly you can just change your locks, then they're forced to give you 24 hours notice, why bother with getting into a protracted argument with a letting agency, just change the locks and let them know by e-mail and perhaps mention the reason why, job done.
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You can't change the locks of a property you don't own.
 
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