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Original poster

Are tenants legally obliged to allow work on house by landlord?

77 replies

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 17/09/2021 11:29

I know it's an odd question, but is a tenant legally obliged to allow the landlord to carry out work?
For example, fit a new kitchen or windows? Assuming the existing ones are fit for purpose, so work isn't urgent, and tenant hasn't asked for it. Can landlord just say tenants must allow surveys and workers in on a date set by the landlord/contractor
Do tenants have a right to decline?

OP posts:

billyt · 17/09/2021 12:26

I don't rent, but from what I've read over the years you do not have to allow any visits.

And it doesn't mater what he has written into your contract as that cannot over ride law.

You are entitled to quiet enjoyment of your home. It may be his house but your home.

ComtesseDeSpair · 17/09/2021 12:38

You’re obliged to allow your landlord to fulfil their legal obligation to keep the property in a good state of repair. Windows might fall into that if they were no longer watertight or double glazing had blown etc, but upgrades and improvements wouldn’t.

VanCleefArpels · 17/09/2021 12:43

Landlord can only enter without notice fir emergencies eg food, gas escape. Otherwise they have to give reasonable notice which the tenant can refuse. However tenants in this situation might run the risk of being filed under “awkward squad” and be on the receiving end of an eviction notice,

Interested in this thread?

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Property legal advice

VanCleefArpels · 17/09/2021 12:43

FLOOD not food!

Original poster

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 17/09/2021 13:55

It's a secure tenancy (HA social housing) @VanCleefArpels, so not much danger of eviction I don't think. (I hope!)
Definitely not emergency work in any way.

OP posts:

Postdatedpandemic · 17/09/2021 13:58

An HA won't offer you windows or a kitchen again for 15-20 years. Think carefully before you reject the offer.

MrsRobbieHart · 17/09/2021 14:02

You posted about this very recently, they want to fit a new kitchen. I don’t know why you would refuse tbh.

TheQueef · 17/09/2021 14:06

If it's HA in most cases you don't have to have the improvement (unless it's repair) but if you refuse you can't just ask for one when it's more convenient.
You'd have to wait until the next tranche of kitchen upgrades.

SpittinKitten · 17/09/2021 14:07

@Postdatedpandemic

An HA won't offer you windows or a kitchen again for 15-20 years. Think carefully before you reject the offer.

Ours are about to replace the windows for the third time in ten years... I'd rather have a new kitchen.

Ariela · 17/09/2021 14:08

Windows will be to latest standards so could bring added benefit of lower fuel bills.

SpittinKitten · 17/09/2021 14:08

^ oh, and half our block decline the windows every time.

LBOCS2 · 17/09/2021 14:13

@Postdatedpandemic

An HA won't offer you windows or a kitchen again for 15-20 years. Think carefully before you reject the offer.

Literally this. You won't get another chance until they deem it necessary.

Given the state of a lot of HA properties, I'd be bloody pleased they were being proactive with their maintenance and cyclical upgrade works tbh. Sounds like they're taking their responsibilities to their tenants seriously.

stripedbananas · 17/09/2021 14:23

But weird that you wouldn't be allowing it. It bring up huge red flags and alarm bells with the HA

MeAndDebbieMcGee · 17/09/2021 14:31

It's very inconvenient though isn't it. We had our boiler replaced and it was a massive fucking hassle. Windows would be too. Time off work, time spent moving everything around etc.

I agreed to the boiler because I figured I didn't know when they'd get around to it next but actually the old one worked fine so it was unnecessary at that point in time.

Plus some of the contractors are ... less than careful, shall we say. They'll get their money regardless and they don't see you as a paying customer even though your rent is literally paying for them.

Eg the boiler bloke left a rucking great hole in my ceiling clear up to the loft, plus loads of mess and shit everywhere and he'd set the pressure wrong. I got it sorted eventually but it was a load of fucking annoying nonsense really the whole thing. I can see why OP is reluctant.

Maybe talk to the ha and say you don't see the need and ask what their repair/replacement schedule is. I wish that I'd done that rather than taking three days off work, fucking around moving everything in and out of my kitchen and ending up with a fucking hole through to the roof and a boiler that was set all wrong really I do.

Mariell · 17/09/2021 14:34

Why don’t you want a new kitchen at their expense?

Are you harbouring a forbidden pet?

MeAndDebbieMcGee · 17/09/2021 14:40

Lol she's already paid for the fucking kitchen via rent.

TheQueef · 17/09/2021 14:42

Fgs the whole council/social free house shtick Mariell really?

Wegobshite · 17/09/2021 14:44

My neighbour would let the council in to do any work
Since he was evicted the council have had to do a shit load of work including a whole new staircase
New bathroom suite
New kitchen
Loads of work on the roof
My other neighbour HA offer her a new kitchen she didn’t want it as she liked what she had so every 3 years they just ask her if she wants it done

Wegobshite · 17/09/2021 14:46

The only stuff you cant refuse is gas and electric checks
Just email them and say you are happy with what you have
They won’t want to do any more work then they have to 😂

bloodywhitecat · 17/09/2021 14:47

I had a kitchen replaced by my HA, it was desperately needed but never ever again. The whole experience drove me to the edge of a breakdown.

Clocktopus · 17/09/2021 14:50

It bring up huge red flags and alarm bells with the HA

No it won't. All that will happen is they'll ask OP if she is sure, remind her that this means no new kitchen until the next time they work on the upgrades list, and then they'll leave it there.

MeAndDebbieMcGee · 17/09/2021 14:50

Lol the only way I'd agree to a new kitchen is if they'd give me an island 🙂 don't get me wrong what we've got isn't perfect but I've put shelves and a pulley and etc etc in myself and got it kind of working how I like it. The structure and doors of the units and everything are all fine and with my wee additions I've made it work for me. I've learnt my lesson after the boiler fiasco lol.

trappedsincesundaymorn · 17/09/2021 14:51

When my HA did mine they reformatted the layout and I was able to choose the style of cupboard handles, the colour of the worktops and flooring and what colour I wanted the walls to be. The workman did a fantastic job on it.

Original poster

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 17/09/2021 14:52

@MrsRobbieHart

You posted about this very recently, they want to fit a new kitchen. I don’t know why you would refuse tbh.

I can't possibly have posted about this before as the letter about the work only arrived with the tenant (who I also never said was me) this morning.

OP posts:

ImFree2doasiwant · 17/09/2021 14:52

I don't know why you wouldn't want to have a new kitchen but you don't have to allow it. You may them be stuck with the current kitchen for another 15 years.

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