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AIBU?

To be annoyed at my landlord?

21 replies

SunshineBelle · 07/06/2017 16:51

I moved in to a one bed flat in December. The landlord comes to inspect every 3 months.
He has insisted we keep many of his belongings in the flat which includes boxes of old crockery/ books/ a sofa which we didn't want and were told by the agent could be removed. He since changed his mind. When I say one bed it's more a studio, absolutely tiny so we can't just chuck the stuff in a cupboard.

He's now coming round on Friday to collect his post (some of which is still delivered here) and he is sending a gardener round next Monday who will be there all day and he also wants to be present.

Also when the agent emails regarding anyone coming round (landlord, agent, plumber, gardener, anyone it feels like) we are told that we do not need to be present as they will give whoever it is the spare keys.

Aibu to find this a bit much? I feel like I have no privacy as every 2 minutes someone needs to have access :(

OP posts:

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honeysucklejasmine · 07/06/2017 16:52

Can you complain to agent? If they are going along with it, you might need to move. Legally, you are entitled to quiet enjoyment and this doesn't sound like it.

PeaFaceMcgee · 07/06/2017 16:55

You can insist that you don't want anyone coming in when you're not there. You can also write on any post for the LL 'return to sender - not at this address' - but even this is annoying... Sorting out his post ffs, you're not his PA!

SunshineBelle · 07/06/2017 16:57

The agent seem to be going along with everything the landlord wants without much concern for us.

I meant to say in my OP there was even an occasion last month with a plumber coming round to fix the bath, he knocked the front door while I was in the bathroom. Then proceeded to let himself in when I didn't answer after about 30 seconds!

OP posts:

SunshineBelle · 07/06/2017 16:58

pea I know - we've even got his bloody polling card - he'll probably just turn up to get it tomorrow.

OP posts:

Hissy · 07/06/2017 17:04

Give the stuff, and the post to the agent. Insist on 24 hours notice and also NOT to give trades a key UNLESS AGREED BY YOU.

He doesn't need his polling card to vote.

Hissy · 07/06/2017 17:06

Look up Tenants rights to quiet enjoyment. You don't have to let a soul in.

I'd also suggest that a 1bed does not need inspections every 3m.

Make him change it to a max of every 6months. Otherwise it's just too intrusive

PeaFaceMcgee · 07/06/2017 17:07

he sounds like an amateur. I'd be getting assertive and putting complaints in bullet points in writing, followed by the solution that you require for each. If not resolved by X date then you will not be renewing your agreement etc.

Theoriginalfretter · 07/06/2017 17:31

Does he get any letters that look to be from banks? He may not have changed his address. Watch out for that. Also, if he has not told his mortgage company (if he has one) that he has let the flat out then he would be in breach of his mortgage conditions (mortgage fraud) and I'm not sure of your rights as a tenant if they find out. Something to be mindful of. How long is the tenancy? 6 months? 12? You have a rolling one month contract after that and you can give a month's notice to move out.

Allthebestnamesareused · 07/06/2017 17:31

If it is rented to you furnished then of course he won't remove a sofa and other household items that form part of the tenancy agreement as he'd have the expense of moving it and storing it.

On the plus side he is getting plumbers to fix things and a gardener for you rather than you having to do the garden as is usual in tenancy agreements. You will find some tenants would rather have a landlord who does these things than ignores the need for repairs. So yes you have the right to quiet enjoyment but then don't ask for repairs to be done if you don't want people in to fix them.

The agent acts for the LL not the tenant as that is who is paying him.

DeadGood · 07/06/2017 17:32

Sounds like he is intentionally keeping his address there, for tax purposes etc

SunshineBelle · 07/06/2017 18:00

Yes there are some official looking letters. I actually never thought that he could be keeping his address here as there aren't too many but you never know.

I am totally grateful that he sent the plumber round etc. However I just don't like to be told "oh don't worry if you're not in, we're giving them keys." They didn't even ask.

Maybe it's just me but I don't like the thought of random people letting themselves into my home when I'm not there.

Also don't mind the gardener coming but why does he have to be there too? And if he's staying for the duration it's going to be so awkward as there's not really anywhere I can go to get away from him apart from the bathroom!

OP posts:

DeadGood · 07/06/2017 18:36

He is being a bit U, but you also need to start speaking up for yourself. You're allowed to do that, you know.

"Oh don't worry if you're not in, we'll give them keys" - "no, I'd rather you didn't"

"I'll be there all day" - "I'll be working from home that day, so it would mean being outside with the gardener, just to let you know"

3 monthly inspections is too frequent, let them know it needs to come down to 6 monthly

And re the address - he will have changed his details with most of his contacts, but key things like mortgage lender and/or Council Tax (depending on what he's up to) may remain, and always remain at your address

AdalindSchade · 07/06/2017 18:40

Start being assertive
Tell him you can't accommodate him in the flat on Friday so if he wants to be there he will be in the garden. Tell them you need tradespeople to come when you are home and do not give permission for them to enter with a key. Tell them to remove the bloody furniture!

Theoriginalfretter · 07/06/2017 18:44

If the mortgage is a buy to let mortgage the correspondence address will be where the mortgagee is living. Resi mortgages correspondence obviously get sent to property address. Council tax should be in tenant's name and ll should be at a different address. I'd be suspicious, op.

BarbarianMum · 07/06/2017 18:54

If the flat was let furnished and the things the OP describes are part of the furnishings, then he's being perfectly reasonable not to move them. For the rest of it, yes assert yourself.

SunshineBelle · 07/06/2017 20:01

Thanks guys, seems I need to assert myself a bit more.

I'm not really clued up on all this stuff which is why I posted, wasn't sure if this was normal or not!

And no barbarian the flat wasn't let furnished. He had left a huge pile of items in the front room/ which doubles as a kitchen and asked if we wanted to keep anything. We asked to keep the Tv Stand and the ironing board only. But he left everything including a huge foldaway table which is currently next to my bed.

No idea why he even bothered asking as he clearly had no intention of moving any of it.

OP posts:

Pardalis · 07/06/2017 20:21

All that sounds like it is definitely breaching the terms of quiet enjoyment. Head over to landlord zone forums for advice on how to put a stop to it.

Hissy · 07/06/2017 20:23

Get it taken to the letting agent office and all the post too.

Also insist that no visits are arranged without your express agreement and that under no circumstances is a key to be issued unless you agree.

At the end of the day, if they won't respect your front door, you can change the locks and change them back when you leave.

Extreme perhaps, but you do need to know to what extent you can protect your peace of mind.

Your LL is taking the piss withbhis belongings

Please tell me you have a proper inventory?

BarbarianMum · 07/06/2017 21:03

In that case OP you really need to get tough with this guy/his agent. He needs to shift his crap and start resecting your rights (you do have some). Suggest you email the agent to get everything in writing.

SunshineBelle · 07/06/2017 21:40

hissy yes I have an inventory, I also took pictures of everything when I moved in. I've read the contract and there's nothing in there about changing the locks, so not sure if I'm allowed to do this.

barbarian I will try to! I'm drafting up an email now, thank you.

OP posts:

Hissy · 07/06/2017 23:13

Trust me.. you are - even if there is something in the contract that says you're not allowed to change them.

You are entitled to quiet enjoyment and if you're not allowed to enjoy your space without being hassled, you can take control over who comes into your home and when.

Obviously you don't want to antagonise, this is a last resort, but I would put it in writing to the landlord and the agent that you won't allow anyone to be given a key and that all appointments need to be by arranged with you.

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