Eek - surprise landlord visit!!!!!

[Theresadogonyourballs]

We have rented a house for a year, which was all arranged through an agency. Never met the landlord, just communicated via email, (he now manages the property). No problems so far, so have had no need to contact him. Rent always paid on time.
So, he's just texted to say he's in the area tomorrow, and would like to pop round and meet us. I don't think this is an inspection as such, I think he genuinely just wants to say hi. However, obviously he's going to be looking at the condition of the house etc. So, if you are a landlord, what would you be looking at? And any tenants who have had inspections, what would you make sure was done? DH says I'm panicking over nothing, but I don't want to make a bad impression. We are not dirty, the place is clean, but DH is a bloody hoarder of clutter, so it's hard to keep it tidy. Any suggestions gratefully received!

[SweetAdeline]

If it was me I really would just be saying hi. At worst I'd ask if there was anything that needed repairing because I know from experience it's better to keep on top of things.
I'm also a tenant at the moment (living abroad) and I'll tidy up if the landlords coming but he's great and really avoids going in any parts of the house that he doesn't need to so I don't worry too much.

[Rupster]

Nothing to worry about I'm sure.

If you're concerned about your husband's clutter, you should tackle this with your husband. Clutter should not encroach into rooms and should be thrown out or stored in specific areas such as cupboards, garage or attic. It should not be in the way and needing to be tidied. If he doesn't need it, he should throw it out!

[specialsubject]

I would also be saying hi, if convenient. It is good to meet tenants to put a face to a voice on the phone.

I'd be looking for water leaks, gutter issues, damp, mould, washing draped over radiators when it should be outside/in the dryer and asking you if anything isn't working properly so I can fix it. I'd be checking you had the right contact details for me/the agent. If maintaining the garden was in your contract I'd be glancing at that although at this time of year there isn't much to do.

I would already have checked that you'd had all the right paperwork, copies of any manuals would have been in the property when you arrived and your smoke alarms would also have been checked on arrival. Unless I see the smoke alarm cover hanging down with no battery (not unknown...) I will assume all is well there.

as long as the clutter wasn't stacked up the stairs and/or preventing ventilation, I wouldn't care about that - your business.

despite what you read from the bleaters on here, most landlords are actually not evil bastards.

[Theresadogonyourballs]

Thank you both, I'm feeling a bit better now! Have blitzed the kitchen which is now sparkling and clutter free. Will Hoover rest of house, tidy and dust and that will have to do!
Couldn't agree more about the clutter - unfortunately it's a battle I've been fighting for nearly 20 years now. What's really pissing me off now is the amount of tat he constantly buys DD. Cheap tat as well, Kinder egg toys, zomblings, that sort of shite. She's now getting just like him when it comes to accumulating rubbish - I'm really trying to nip it in the bud, but for every bag of junk I chuck away, more materialises.

[Theresadogonyourballs]

Cross posted with you special subject - thank you, that's really useful. I'm going to add giving the garden a quick tidy up to the list, (he's a really keen gardener).

[Maturecheddarcheese]

I empathise about the plastic tat that just seems to occur by osmosis round kids. I'm the only one that ever chucks anything. I have to be quite strict about not keeping broken stuff (I don't want DD to end up as bad as DH).

I'm sure your visit will be fine but it's not nice somebody inspecting your home is it?

[specialsubject]

the object is to inspect the PROPERTY. The OP's clutterbug husband is not the landlord's business - and (happily) also not their problem!

landlords have a lot of explicit and implicit responsibilities to tenants. Or in nice simple landlord-hater-speak, you can get your arse sued off/jailed if there's something unsafe. That's the reason to check all is well because some tenants will ignore all faults - but you are still responsible if they get hurt as a result.

for the avoidance of doubt and MN oversensitivity - there is no reason to believe any of this applies to the OP.

[Theresadogonyourballs]

No, all ok with the property, the back door's on it's last legs though, so I'll get him to have a quick look at it while he's here. I always panic when someone comes round, even my mother! It's just magnified 100x knowing it's his property and he hasn't been inside it for a year .
Thank you to all that have replied - and I love the term 'clutterbug', that's DH's new name!

[specialsubject]

the door is just the kind of thing that the landlord needs to know about. It's called 'wear and tear' and happens!