Page 4 | Anyone else’s Landlord do this? AIBU to be irritated?

Specksofwhiteallaround · 2026-05-27T09:26:05+00:00

For context we’ve been renting this house from our Landlady for just over ten years now and she’s hands down the most intrusive landlord I’ve ever had. Can be very free with her opinions on how we live and has form for dropping in unannounced as she’s passing by, if she does let us know she’s coming it’s with as little notice as possible. So fairly or not I find her very irritating generally but what’s really annoying me is the last couple of years she's developed a habit of scheduling in visits to the house every single time my son is off school. My son has autism and attends a special school, he really doesn’t like having strangers in our home which she is aware of. As my husband frequently travels for work at short notice I don’t work so she could come anytime during term time but she repeatedly turns up during the holidays, usually with one days notice and disrupts our plans. I just don’t understand why she herself wouldn’t rather come when my sons at school, everything is tidied away etc. The last straw is her texting me at 6:30am on bank holiday Monday to say she wanted to call in at some point that afternoon to drop in some paperwork to us. She wasn’t too happy at being told we weren’t available that short notice but agreed to reschedule so now she’s coming today at some point between late morning and early afternoon so we’re wasting a day just hanging around waiting for her and I spent the hottest day of the year deep cleaning downstairs to circumvent comments on my not having hoovered over the bank holiday weekend and how my son really doesn’t need that many toys out… Is anyone else’s landlord like this? Am I unreasonable to find this annoying and wish she’d try to schedule this in outside of the holidays?

Summermullet · 28/05/2026 15:39

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KebabShame · 28/05/2026 08:57

CherryRipe1 · 28/05/2026 08:30

Not rtft but if you've not been served with the new renters rights act info , your l/l can be fined for quite a bit of money.

The deadline is 31 May 2026. Potential fine £7,500.

CherryRipe1 · 28/05/2026 08:30

Not rtft but if you've not been served with the new renters rights act info , your l/l can be fined for quite a bit of money.

caringcarer · 28/05/2026 07:20

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:07

It’s below market rate yes but it’s steadily increasing now, gone up every 6 months. It’ll probably meet the average for the area by next year.

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From May 1st she can only increase rent once each year.

Ifihadlegs · 28/05/2026 06:16

Steeleydan · 27/05/2026 22:15

They're probably worried in the past she'll kick them out, if they stand up to her 🤷

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So? Ultimately they are two full time working adults with full capacity. And this is a pretty run down poorly maintained property. There is no way that no other suitable home has not come up on the past decade!

This landlady has been disrespecting them, laughing at them, speaking to them like children, criticising them and even their son hides from her….for ten years? No, that indicates a couple that seriously lack self confidence.

Steeleydan · 27/05/2026 22:15

Meridas · 27/05/2026 21:21

Absolutely this - just be firm with her!

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They're probably worried in the past she'll kick them out, if they stand up to her 🤷

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 27/05/2026 21:40

I'm sure the gas engineer can manage without her supervising. What could she possibly add to the situation?!

Tell her to give them your number and you'll arrange it with them directly.

Meridas · 27/05/2026 21:21

Ifihadlegs · 27/05/2026 20:26

I am speechless about how utterly passive you and your husband have been in the face of years and years of appalling and unfair behaviour from her. This would indicate a serious lack of confidence in both you and your husband. I think you need to address this. No wonder your son hides from her, he knows that no one is going to do anything to stop her

Absolutely this - just be firm with her!

Ifihadlegs · 27/05/2026 20:26

I am speechless about how utterly passive you and your husband have been in the face of years and years of appalling and unfair behaviour from her. This would indicate a serious lack of confidence in both you and your husband. I think you need to address this. No wonder your son hides from her, he knows that no one is going to do anything to stop her

Original poster

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 19:23

MsSquiz · 27/05/2026 19:00

She has no need to be present when the gas engineer (not plumber) comes. Ask her to give you the engineers number and you will schedule a convenient time between yourselves.

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We’ve been doing that for the past few years as it was the same guy and he’d just organise it between us but apparently he’s given up his business so these are new plumbers, not sure why that means she needs to be here or what she thinks they might do in her absence.

OP posts:

Original poster

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 19:20

Datafan55 · 27/05/2026 18:53

Maybe just leave this thread open on a laptop...

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Tempting… maybe I can include it in our notice when it’s time 😅 I definitely won’t be considering any viewings if she tries to insist on any when we’ve served notice after this weeks shenanigans.

OP posts:

MsSquiz · 27/05/2026 19:00

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 18:15

Ugh just got another email from her saying our gas cert is due the first week of June so she wants to come around this Friday at 3pm with the plumbers. I messaged back saying we had actually planned to be out that day and she’s just answered saying it’s the only day she’s free so obviously expecting me to back down. I’ve left DH to deal with it as he’s working from home that day. If I have to hear her comment on the house being messy again after she’s interrupted half term twice at relatively short notice I might finally loose my shit with her.

She has no need to be present when the gas engineer (not plumber) comes. Ask her to give you the engineers number and you will schedule a convenient time between yourselves.

Datafan55 · 27/05/2026 18:53

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 18:15

Ugh just got another email from her saying our gas cert is due the first week of June so she wants to come around this Friday at 3pm with the plumbers. I messaged back saying we had actually planned to be out that day and she’s just answered saying it’s the only day she’s free so obviously expecting me to back down. I’ve left DH to deal with it as he’s working from home that day. If I have to hear her comment on the house being messy again after she’s interrupted half term twice at relatively short notice I might finally loose my shit with her.

Maybe just leave this thread open on a laptop...

MikeRafone · 27/05/2026 18:37

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 13:17

Yeah she was very not happy with these new regulations. She asked us for a meeting to discuss the new legislation, again in the evening knowing my son would be home and be a distraction, then skimmed over that then she started talking about how much money it was going to cost her, next thing we know she’s telling us our rent was going to increase next month but she’d be keeping it below market rate as we’re such good tenants and she and her DH believe in helping out young people. DH was furious she'd lied and said it was just talk about the new rules then increased our rent with no notice. Suddenly became obvious she’d increased the rent as much as she legally could before she could only do it once a year.

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Have you checked that LL raising rent today? Is legal and have you had an electric certificate in the last 5 years? Or an EPC as they are every 10 years?

id get in contact with private housing at your local council, they will liaise between you and help sort out your problem LL

slso check your deposit is in a scheme? If not then that will be an interesting predicament she is in…

MikeRafone · 27/05/2026 18:19

No need for her to be at the house for gas certificate to be done

added to which it is the same date every year it needs doing by - so she should be more prepared

Original poster

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 18:15

Ugh just got another email from her saying our gas cert is due the first week of June so she wants to come around this Friday at 3pm with the plumbers. I messaged back saying we had actually planned to be out that day and she’s just answered saying it’s the only day she’s free so obviously expecting me to back down. I’ve left DH to deal with it as he’s working from home that day. If I have to hear her comment on the house being messy again after she’s interrupted half term twice at relatively short notice I might finally loose my shit with her.

OP posts:

Steeleydan · 27/05/2026 16:58

drspouse · 27/05/2026 11:52

We are landlords and we get no end of work done to our flat without ever seeing what it's like. If she wants to inspect the work, she can come when you are out or when YOU say it's convenient. If she is late or vague, she'll miss you.

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I would not have her there when I was out letting herself in! The nosey cow will be looking through drawers the lot

SpaceRaccoon · 27/05/2026 16:36

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 13:06

We’ve already written off the deposit, we suspect she’ll be difficult and I just don’t want the hassle of fighting her. I wouldn’t even know where to start over who’s responsible for the laminate issues or the peeling paint and other stuff.

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Don't do that - if it's in the deposit protection scheme, you get it back through them. If it isn't, she'll owe you several multiples of it.
You're going to be home owners AND the law change gives you a lot more protection - stand up to her.

Agapornis · 27/05/2026 16:35

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 27/05/2026 15:29

Even before the new bill came into action rent increases had to be notified 8 weeks in advance and in writing. Which means a formal letter not a text.

Please tell me you have proof your deposit is held in a secure and legal deposit scheme @Specksofwhiteallaround and that you have current gas and electrical safety certs

Your landlord is an utter cowboy

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I thought it used to be whatever was in the tenancy agreement if rolling, with a minimum of a month? But yes, formal letter in line with Section 13.

On the upside, if the deposit is not actually in a scheme OP could go to court and get 1-3x the deposit amount.

OP you're allowed to change the locks, a basic barrel one from Screwfix is about a tenner. You just have to change the lock back at the end of the tenancy. She has no right to your keys.

She's exactly the type of person who shouldn't be a landlord.

Original poster

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 15:42

MyPurpleHeart · 27/05/2026 15:30

OP you've been given some great advice by posters who know their stuff and youre not listening to any of it. Your post is AIBU to be irritated - yes, but you're also sitting back and letting it happen

To be fair I was wondering if my irritation was justified and if anyone else was having similar with their landlord. I appreciate the advice on how to deal with her but wasn’t posting on how to stop her gaining entry at this stage. I'm hoping it won’t be too many months until we give notice and I never need to think about her again. It’s nice to know her behaviour is not normal.

OP posts:

MyPurpleHeart · 27/05/2026 15:30

OP you've been given some great advice by posters who know their stuff and youre not listening to any of it. Your post is AIBU to be irritated - yes, but you're also sitting back and letting it happen

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 27/05/2026 15:29

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 15:26

Ah no the increase was for the next months rent, it just came completely out of the blue as she used to give us notice in a text at that she would be speaking to us about rent. That occasion she just dropped it on us with no previous mention. But no she didn’t specifically quote any specific sections just said that as her costs had increased and it had been x amount of time since the last increase it would be going up by x amount, was that ok. Didn’t seem much point asking to discuss it as we weren’t in a position to be giving notice or anything. It was legal, just a bit crappy to drop it on us like that I thought, if it wasn’t for the new renters rules I’d be wondering every time she’d ask to see us if she was dropping another increase.

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Even before the new bill came into action rent increases had to be notified 8 weeks in advance and in writing. Which means a formal letter not a text.

Please tell me you have proof your deposit is held in a secure and legal deposit scheme @Specksofwhiteallaround and that you have current gas and electrical safety certs

Your landlord is an utter cowboy

WildLeader · 27/05/2026 15:28

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:13

She wants me to sign to show I’ve received it. She hasn’t mentioned it but I assume she’ll also want to check out painting and new carpet that has been done recently.

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You’re out, if she wants proof you have it, she can take a photo of her posting it through your door

am i correct in thinking that only ONE rent rise allowed per year as of the new renters law?

Push back. “Can I come round tomorrow?” No, sorry, that’s not possible. Come <insert day> at 2pm (or whatever)

you hold the cards here love.

if she comes unannounced - make sure she can’t get in with a key - then don’t answer the door, get a ring door bell or something and tell her “not possible now, come next <insert day> in the afternoon

tell her, “no, my son is off this week, it’s not convenient at all, come next week instead, text me when you’re free and we can arrange something

please look up Quiet Enjoyment and Tenants rights. Your landlord has absolutely ZERO RIGHT to enter the home without your express consent. No matter what it says in the contract. You can refuse to allow her access for any reason

Original poster

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 15:26

Agapornis · 27/05/2026 15:12

Do you mean that you had to pay the increased rent from that same/next day? (illegal) Or did she make you sign it on 1 April and then you had to pay more from 1 May? (legal if your notice period was 1 month)

She cannot insist you signed it there and then, you're allowed to take time to think about it without her presence. A rent increase has to mutually agreed. It also has to be done through a Section 13 form 4. If she didn't use that form, it's an illegal rent increase.

Please try to be a bit more savvy. As a homeowner you have to be aware of scams like door to door roofing/windows people.

Edited

Ah no the increase was for the next months rent, it just came completely out of the blue as she used to give us notice in a text at that she would be speaking to us about rent. That occasion she just dropped it on us with no previous mention. But no she didn’t specifically quote any specific sections just said that as her costs had increased and it had been x amount of time since the last increase it would be going up by x amount, was that ok. Didn’t seem much point asking to discuss it as we weren’t in a position to be giving notice or anything. It was legal, just a bit crappy to drop it on us like that I thought, if it wasn’t for the new renters rules I’d be wondering every time she’d ask to see us if she was dropping another increase.

OP posts:

fartotheleftside · 27/05/2026 15:21

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 15:18

My son literally hid behind his desk when she walked in so not sure how more obvious it can be that her coming when he’s home disrupts him 😬
Weirdly I think that because she’s known him since he was a toddler and he’s always reacted that way to her it just doesn’t translate to her that he does it because he finds people he’s not familiar with in the house hard, I think she just views it as something he does? She gives the impression of being very busy so it feels awkward trying to insist on alternative dates for short things like today’s paperwork. Only us physically not being here seems to be acceptable for us saying no. She tried a couple of times in the earlier years to suggest she could come and let in gas engineers as we were away, after being told no several times she did at least drop that, although it does remind me she has keys and worry one day she’ll use them.

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Yeah she's not going to just pick up on it herself... just tell her in writing! And don't answer the door to her if she comes unannounced or at a time you've already said doesn't work for you.