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Original poster

Landlady let herself into my flat while I was in bed

103 replies

BaeHole · 25/05/2016 00:57

Hi just wondering how I should handle this. I was in bed this morning at about 10.30am, having worked until about 4am. I heard the door knock briefly (a few seconds, I was half asleep and ignored), and then someone let themselves into the flat. It was my landlady. I called out from my bed "hello?" and she replied that she had just come to clean the hallway and wanted to get some water from the sink. She said immediately - "Oh are you sleeping?" and I said, "Yes, sorry". She went straight back out. I assume she only let herself in as she assumed I wouldn't be there and it would do no harm filling her bucket up with some water. I am not really angry, but I am uncomfortable with this. I'm aware it's illegal, and also don't like the idea she might just wander into my flat whenever she feels like it, without notice and agreement. I want to say something, and really want it to never happen again, but also want to maintain the friendly rapport that we have and not spoil the good relationship between me, Landlady and Landlord. How do I broach it? WWYD?

OP posts:
Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 25/05/2016 06:54

Coyo are you in the UK?

You do not have the right here to enter your own property, whatever notice you have given the tenant, without their permission. By renting it out you have given them vacant possession, and should get that back at the end of the tenancy.

But if the tenant refuses access you must obtain a court order to enter, even in case of an emergency. You have no automatic right to enter a home you've rented out.

That is why people have suggested the op change locks. As long as they are changed back at the end of the tenancy she has a right to do so, particularly if her landlord doesn't obey the law.

Lighteningirll · 25/05/2016 06:58

I think you just need to be firm but polite this is a casual 'll who is probably mortified and unlikely to do it again. As a 'll I would be furious if locks were changed its an expensive job for us with all the regulations and spare keys needed. My understanding is that 24 hours is all that's needed though honestly we rarely need to go into a property.

TeradelFuego · 25/05/2016 07:08

I don't understand why she is cleaning the hallway either? That is quite unusual. Do you rent the whole property, OP, or just a room? Does your landlady live in the property as well?

On rereading your post, is it that she owns a building with several apartments, of which you rent one, and she was cleaning the communal hallway - not a hallway inside your flat? Which would make more sense for her to do that cleaning, but she still has no right to let herself into your flat, especially with no notice.

Goingtobeawesome · 25/05/2016 07:16

It is them that have changed the friendly relationship you have with her coming in illegally. Don't be worried about standing up for your rights.

bakeoffcake · 25/05/2016 07:27

Well done for staying calm op. I'd definitely get a chain or a bolt on the door so you know she can't get in again, when your in the flat.

20thcenturybitch · 25/05/2016 07:29

I understand the wanting to keep good relations going, but she did cross a line. Glad you've sent the text suggested as it was clear while still polite.

If this was me, I'd be buying and fitting a chain today. Her accessing property without permission is one thing, but coming in when you are sleeping is horrifying. I would never be able to sleep again until I'd got a chain.

As for the poster above who said you need permission to fit a chain, I would be saying fuck that, she negated her right to approval by breaching the rules on entering the property. Keep a note of the date and time of this happening for the unlikely event that you are questioned about why you fitted it.

bakeoffcake · 25/05/2016 07:29

It all very well standing up for your rights, but there's no need to be rude. The LL could ask the OP to move out if she feels she has been rude to her. There's a fine line between making it clear you would like 24hrs notice and being downright rude to her.

VioletBam · 25/05/2016 07:32

Bake she couldn't ask her to move out for being rude. She'd still need to honour the tenancy agreement.

However, I agree it's always best to be on good terms with your landlord...but if they make life difficult then it's not.

Goingtobeawesome · 25/05/2016 07:33

Hmm I never suggested the OP be rude but there are laws and they should be adhered to.

bakeoffcake · 25/05/2016 07:35

Violet well of course the LL isn't going to ask her to move out because the OP was rude.Hmm

The LL would lie and make up another reason, which any LL can do as long as they give 2 months notice.

GreenMarkerPen · 25/05/2016 07:37

change the locks.
without your permission no one is allowed to enter your home.
only exception is an emergency (as in blue lights)

Frogslegs24 · 25/05/2016 07:39

I would check the terms of your agreement re how much notice like has to give you for access 24 hours should be a minimum not standard.

When I used to work in this industry (many years ago) as ll we never kept keys as never wanted to be accused of this. If tenant wouldn't allow access we just got court order and turned up with locksmith. In a genuine emergency e.g. Fire the firebrigade would just break the door down. There is absolutely no need to the ll to have a key (unless it is in your agreement)

ReallyTired · 25/05/2016 07:41

I think that it would be better to speak to your landlady by phone rather than by text. It is not right for a landlady to enter your flat without permission. If she owns the building then maybe she needs to fit an outside tap. How often does she do the cleaning? Would you be happy to give her water if she had given you warning?

I think it's important to have a good relationship with your landlady. I disagree with those telling you to change the locks.

CoYoAddict · 25/05/2016 07:43

Brienne and coffee no I know that,sorry I wasn't very specific but what I mean is, I shouldn't be barred by someone changing the locks on me (or the managing agent/on call maintenance person) because in the case of any urgent need to gain access, like a leak if the tenant is on holiday or whatever.

NapQueen · 25/05/2016 07:44

I'd put a camera up facing the front door.

CoYoAddict · 25/05/2016 07:44

And I don't just give 24 hours notice and wander in without permission, ever. But then I've never had permission refused and tend not to go in until towards the end of the tenancy just to check on what needs doing ready for the next one.

Frogslegs24 · 25/05/2016 07:49

CoYo if the tenant was on holiday and there was a leak you would still contact them first to get permission to enter first though surely. You have no right to enter without this.

HidingUnderARock · 25/05/2016 07:52

I would be getting a nannycam pointing at the front door.
She has probs been doing this every time she cleans the hall.
It would make me feel extremely insecure.

flumpybear · 25/05/2016 07:54

I'd be really upset and it would make me
Anxious if I rented and a LL did this - you may be ignoring
The door and perhaps with a boyfriend, naked, frankly anything that we are able to do in our own private area - I take it you pay rent? If so she has no business going in your home.

I'd be
Inclined to say can you give at least 24 hours notice and please don't just let yourself in unless you've got agreeable text response from me first as I feel uneasy that people may enter my home Whilst I'm sleeping or perhaps in the shower - I realise you're doing it for good reasons but st the same
Time you made me
Feel uncomfortable (anxious or whatever) and I need to insist you follow legal protocol or at least text first and wait for a response - what does your contract say?
FWIW when I was a student our landlord used to let himself in to do the gardening and he would change his clothes
In our kitchen !!! I wouldn't put up with that these days being
Older and wiser lol but I have rented for many years - but with that in mind I wouldn't let my mortgage lender pop in like that lol!!

Greyponcho · 25/05/2016 07:59

Violet, I also rent, and my ll have a key, which they have never used. In case of genuine emergency, they can break the door down. (And pay for repairs)

^^If my tenant did this, and I needed access for emergency repairs, for flooding for example, I'd be charging them for the door repair because it's a ridiculous unnecessary thing for the LL to not have a key.

and

change the locks. Without your permission no one is allowed to enter your home

^^You may be using it, but it doesn't belong to you, it belongs to the landlord.

OP - your landlord has every right to inspect the property and expect you to uphold the clauses in the tenancy agreement, but it has to work both ways where she has to observe them too - she had absolutely no right to enter like that unannounced - she must give you 24 hrs notice or whatever is stated in your contract - and use your water without your permission (are you metered?).

Perhaps offer to leave a bucket of water outside your door on certain days, if that would help to maintain your relationship with her?

GreenMarkerPen · 25/05/2016 08:11

your landlord has every right to inspect the property
without permission from the tennant they don't.
I'm not saying they should not give permission at all, but they can say no and/or areange a better time.

VioletBam · 25/05/2016 08:12

grey many people are confused about landlord's rights in the UK but I'm not, having had bother with one in the past.

Actually...the LL has NO right at all to enter...even with notice...UNLESS there is evidence to show that the property is at risk for eg fire or flood in progress.

A tenant has right to peaceful enjoyment of the property. Unless there's a clause written in saying that inspections will take place and the tenant agrees....no rights at all for the LL.

TeradelFuego · 25/05/2016 08:14

It's the landlord's property, yes, but it is indeed the tenant's home. Permission has to be sought.

BrienneAndTormund · 25/05/2016 08:15

greyponcho the tenancy agreement confers entire rights of occupancy onto the tenant for the period of the agreement being enforced, and takes them away entirely from the landlord.
Ignoring the fact that actually most landlords own a notional fraction of the property, the rest being owned by the bank, the tenant is the legal occupant of the property and it is their home as much as a mortgaged property is someone's home.

Landlords do not have any right to enter without tenants permission unless it is an emergency.

TeradelFuego · 25/05/2016 08:16

It's a bit worrying that several landlords on here don't seem to accept that. They're wrong.

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