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Original poster

In thinking our landlord is being completely out of order?

94 replies

LlamaFace19 · 23/05/2023 17:27

Hi all. Wanted to know if I'm BU or not. Accidentally posted this in chat but meant to post here. So, our landlord was round today to fix the shower. He fixed it, but he then went around the other rooms, essentially doing an inspection even though he wasn't here to do an inspection! At least I assume he did (my partner and I were both at work), as I then got a text saying he wants a 'serious talk' with us when we got home.

I got home first, he turned up 5 minutes later and started berating me about how untidy the house was. His complaints were:

  • There was an empty cardboard box next to the stairs
  • The washing up hadn't been done
  • The kitchen was a bit cluttered
  • There were empty toilet rolls in the bathroom
  • The kitchen bin was full
  • The washing basket was overflowing
  • The WARDROBE was untidy? (yes he looked in the wardrobe)
  • There were three plastic tubs of clothes piled up in the corner of one bedroom. I was sorting my son's clothes ready to take them to a charity shop

Yes our house isn't spotless, but we have two young children (4 and 1) and both work full time. There is some clutter but he made out like it was a complete pigsty and it genuinely isn't. There are things like piles of washing (not on the floor but in baskets) He also made some nasty personal comments, one of them being "I know you have kids but maybe you shouldn't have had them if you can't cope" 😡 Basically talking to me like a naughty schoolchild. He also said "I don't want to evict you, but...". He cannot evict us for it being a bit cluttered, surely? I was in tears when he left. He has given us a week to tidy up. There is no damage or alterations to the property, it's not dirty. It is simply that it's a bit cluttered (mainly due to lack of storage as we aren't allowed to use the loft).

I should say we've been here for four years, always paid rent on time, never been any bother, always reported any issues etc. He has inspected before and never had a problem. He rarely gives any notice when he inspects, just turns up and then says 'I'm within my rights to inspect my own house'.

Is he being totally out of line or am I being too sensitive? Considering complaining to letting agent.

OP posts:
Original poster
LlamaFace19 · 23/05/2023 23:40

@Toddlerteaplease if he'd said he was going to inspect (actually given notice like he's supposed to BY LAW), I'd have had no problem with it. But he didn't. And he looked in my wardrobe? What's in my wardrobe/how it looks is absolutely none of his business.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 23/05/2023 23:36

I really don't get why Mumsnetters are so obstructive to landlords. Reasonable requests are always met with refusals.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 23/05/2023 23:33

Toddlerteaplease · 23/05/2023 22:30

I really wouldn't have had an issue with that. It's his property so he might as well inspect while he's there.

…if he’d asked the permission of the tenants.

He didn’t. He was out of order.

And there is no excuse for “inspecting” inside the wardrobe - that shows his level of disrespect

jackstini · 23/05/2023 23:04

I'm a landlord and think he's out of order

If an inspection was due around this time I may have said 'I will plan on doing the inspection at the same time I fix the shower' as long as it gave you fair notice

I would not have done it without asking and would not have batted an eyelid at pots in the sink or clothes in a basket!

Good luck with your viewing tomorrow

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 23/05/2023 22:56

There's nothing wrong with your kitchen! Landlord being cunt, out of order. Just try and move ASAP. He's probably already thinking of selling and just looking for excuses.

DillyDallyingAllDay · 23/05/2023 22:51

If you pay the rent on time and keep the place in good order, your landlord is going to be in for a shock when you move out (which you should do if you can- and till then, don't accept your landlords nonsense; don't allow them in without the letting agent present, and certainly not if he's not made an appointment with you at least 24 hours before!)
I digress, LL will be shocked beyond belief when his new tenants don't pay rent on time, and actually cause damage etc.
used to be a landlord and if my tenant paid rent on time, I'd have been happy.

Terrribletwos · 23/05/2023 22:38

No, he didn't have the right to inspect whilst he was there.

Toddlerteaplease · 23/05/2023 22:30

I really wouldn't have had an issue with that. It's his property so he might as well inspect while he's there.

Terrribletwos · 23/05/2023 22:27

Yes, he needs to give notice for inspection, that is the law. And yes he is bang out of order criticising and making personal comments. Untidy is fine and not a matter for inspection.
You have contacted your letting agent and they should be dealing with this very seriously, not just saying yeah "he's difficult".

SgtBilko · 23/05/2023 22:27

supersonicginandtonic · 23/05/2023 19:37

@LlamaFace19 that was out of order, definitely but he'll have been able to see the state of the kitchen and the untidiness in the bathroom.

State of the kitchen? It was a bit of washing up and a full bin. That would be anyone’s kitchen at some point of the day. You can’t be evicted because you haven’t done the washing up.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 23/05/2023 22:21

ChopperC110P · 23/05/2023 22:18

Besides, all a LL needs to say in court to have the eviction upheld is “I cannot afford the repairs and intend to sell the property” and the eviction is 100% always upheld. Which is what they usually say. They don’t usually sell the property either…a week or two on the market…offers rejected…bit if tarting up and it gets re-let to another unsuspecting mug.

Show quote history

And even with the new proposals they’ll still be able to just not rent it out for a short time (think 3 months is the current plan) and then do so again.

it’s not remotely the fix it’s being touted as.

Treacletoots · 23/05/2023 22:20

Landlord here. Your landlord is not only a massive dick head, but a stupid one too.

Threatening tenants with eviction who have paid their rent on time for years. Utter moron.

If your mess was causing issues to the house I.e. piles of stuff causing poor ventilation and damp (I had this once) then fair enough. But a quick chat about the issue should be enough.

I don't blame you for moving on. He doesn't deserve good tenants.

ChopperC110P · 23/05/2023 22:18

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 23/05/2023 22:15

Only if the poster had involved the council and the LL had notices served about the repairs.

Otherwise they can do it. Shelter even warn about it when discussing reporting LLs to environmental health about repairs - But if the council take no action, or only serve a hazard awareness notice, your landlord can still give you a section 21 notice.

I ditched my last agents because they openly suggested it!

Show quote history

Besides, all a LL needs to say in court to have the eviction upheld is “I cannot afford the repairs and intend to sell the property” and the eviction is 100% always upheld. Which is what they usually say. They don’t usually sell the property either…a week or two on the market…offers rejected…bit if tarting up and it gets re-let to another unsuspecting mug.

Thoughtful2355 · 23/05/2023 22:16

cleaner than my kitchen jeesus, he would have a heart attack

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 23/05/2023 22:15

Shhhquirrel · 23/05/2023 21:55

As a LL I can assure you that if you had gone to court a retaliatory eviction should not have been upheld.

Show quote history

Only if the poster had involved the council and the LL had notices served about the repairs.

Otherwise they can do it. Shelter even warn about it when discussing reporting LLs to environmental health about repairs - But if the council take no action, or only serve a hazard awareness notice, your landlord can still give you a section 21 notice.

I ditched my last agents because they openly suggested it!

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 23/05/2023 22:07

Look for somewhere else to live, seriously.
From bitter experience, I know thehuge difference having a decent, respectful landlord can make to your mental health instead of a cunty one.
It's landlords like him that are the reason section 21 (no fault evictions) are hopefully coming to an end. I wouldn't be surprised to find one on your doorstep before that though.

AfraidToRun · 23/05/2023 22:03

Change the locks, save the barrells and fit the old ones when you move out.

Ridiculous landlord.

Shhhquirrel · 23/05/2023 21:55

justgettingthroughtheday · 23/05/2023 20:19

@Shhhquirrel landlords can chuck people out at any point for any ridiculous reason (or indeed no reason) of their choosing!
Suggesting that retaliatory evictions done happen is ridiculous and just ignorant!

I myself have been on the sharp end of two landlords that have acted in such a manner. They happen everyday!

As a LL I can assure you that if you had gone to court a retaliatory eviction should not have been upheld.

JenniferBooth · 23/05/2023 21:48

@supersonicginandtonic he looked in the bloody wardrobe. Thats not too far away from going through the knicker drawer. Would you approve of that too.

ChopperC110P · 23/05/2023 21:34

Shhhquirrel · 23/05/2023 19:55

the landlord still can legally revenge evict you

This is ridiculous ‘advice’. ‘Retaliatory’ evictions are illegal and would be thrown out of court. Don’t pander to his bullying nonsense and speak to the housing dept at the council, or Citizens advice.

Show quote history

😂🤣 No revenge evictions are not illegal yet. The Tories “promised” to make them illegal back in 2019. A bill to do this only started in Parliament six days ago.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/councils-failing-to-protect-renters-from-vengeful-landlords

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/homes-property/renters-reform-bill-single-mother-living-in-mouldy-home-fears-eviction-if-she-complains/ar-AA1bo0yA

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/22/care-homes-in-england-using-revenge-evictions-to-stifle-complaints-from-residents

MSN

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/homes-property/renters-reform-bill-single-mother-living-in-mouldy-home-fears-eviction-if-she-complains/ar-AA1bo0yA

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 23/05/2023 20:42

Shhhquirrel · 23/05/2023 19:55

the landlord still can legally revenge evict you

This is ridiculous ‘advice’. ‘Retaliatory’ evictions are illegal and would be thrown out of court. Don’t pander to his bullying nonsense and speak to the housing dept at the council, or Citizens advice.

Show quote history

No fault evictions, or a retaliatory one dressed up as no fault, are absolutely still possible as the changes in the rent reform bill are not through yet.

You are only protected from a revenge eviction if you have a council notice obliging your landlord to do repairs. Otherwise you are absolutely still at risk of it.

Mummyoflittledragon · 23/05/2023 20:34

Aslanplustwo · 23/05/2023 20:27

He is completely out of order. None of those things mentioned have any effect on the state of the property and he can't evict you for them. I would have told him, in no uncertain terms, that he shouldn't have been snooping around the property as he hadn't given you intention to do so. I hope you find a new property soon. There really are some shit landlords (and some wonderful ones - I've been in my flat over a year and haven't had one inspection, and I'm pretty sure there won't be any until I leave).

As a landlord myself, I want my properties to be inspected as much for the tenants as for me. Not everyone alerts the agent of maintenance issues so these are often discovered during inspection and can then be put eight. As for tidiness, I have no issue with clutter. The only things I’m concerned about on top of these maintenance issues are basic cleanliness (I’m talking real filth rather than your kitchen op, which looks absolutely fine and clean) and any damage to the property.

You sound like a good tenant op. Please don’t let him in anymore unless there’s and emergency. He can pay someone to do the maintenance if this is how he treats you.

Aslanplustwo · 23/05/2023 20:27

He is completely out of order. None of those things mentioned have any effect on the state of the property and he can't evict you for them. I would have told him, in no uncertain terms, that he shouldn't have been snooping around the property as he hadn't given you intention to do so. I hope you find a new property soon. There really are some shit landlords (and some wonderful ones - I've been in my flat over a year and haven't had one inspection, and I'm pretty sure there won't be any until I leave).

brokenbics · 23/05/2023 20:27

Sounds like a normal family home to me!

BeeCucumber · 23/05/2023 20:23

Check for hidden cameras!

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