Landlord spot checks on a rental property. Is this normal?

[FrenchandSaunders]

DD graduated last year and stayed in her uni city.

She’s obv not in student accommodation any more and is renting a house with two friends. They were aware that the landlord is allowed to give them notice to come round and inspect the property three times a year.

The first check was last week and the landlord moaned that they were untidy. There were clothes on bedroom floors and boxes that hadn’t been unpacked etc.

Surely this check should only involve checking that there is no damage to the property or fixtures. Not an assessment of their housekeeping skills. The place was clean but untidy.

They all feel as though it was a bit intrusive and doesn’t feel like their home now.

Different property. Just a normal rental found through a local agent.

This is normal. With boxes stacked against the wall there's a particular issue that it can cause damp

Did the LL give notice of the inspection? We rent a property to students. I would only comment on the cleanliness if it was going to cause issues such as mould/damage etc. Despite prior notice, 99% of the time, there is mess. Unwashed plates, clutter in the kitchen, clothes all over their rooms- none of which I'd comment on.

1 group had taped black bin bags to the bathroom window- despite it being privacy glass! They never opened the window and it was getting mouldy. They'd also let bin bags pile up in the garden which attracted rats. These things were commented on- not the unwashed plates etc.

They don't have to allow these intrusive inspections. They are entitled to quiet enjoyment of the property that they pay rent for.

Like said above if he commented on the boxes not being opened causing a damp risk. Or the clothes dropped in hallway being a fire risk he is entitled to do so.

If he was complaining it was messy and he didn't like the mess but not showing and risks for it. He is a busy body.

However I would say if you know you have an inspection coming up. Tidy up and clean the dishes. Run the hover around.

I can see both sides to be honest.

It's very rarely the case that people who can't pick clothes up off the floor when they know an inspection is happening, are really keeping the place clean.

But equally, they should be able to leave clothes on the floor in their home.

Yeah, this really. If you're given notice of an inspection, make sure you tidy up first.

Tenants do need to allow inspections. It's law and will be in their contract.

Tenants have rights but also responsibilities.

From Gov.Uk.

"You should give your landlord access to the property to inspect it or carry out repairs. Your landlord has to give you at least 24 hours’ notice and visit at a reasonable time of day, unless it’s an emergency and they need immediate access.

You must also:

take good care of the property, for example turn off the water at the mains if you’re away in cold weather
pay the agreed rent, even if repairs are needed or you’re in dispute with your landlord
pay other charges as agreed with the landlord, for example Council Tax or utility bills
repair or pay for any damage caused by you, your family or friends
only sublet a property if the tenancy agreement or your landlord allows it
Your landlord has the right to take legal action to evict you if you do not meet your responsibilities"

We used to get a check every three months in one property I rented, but was always given a weeks notice. They checked everything from tidiness to cleanliness. And were fairly thorough. It was a bit annoying at the time but looking back on it, I am grateful for it. I think it meant we were taking time to do deep cleans and stay organised, something I need to do more off my own back now I’m a homeowner 😬

some LL are utter p*icks. they will have to expect this from now on as it's only gotten worse over the decades. LL are mostly corrupt and think they're entitled to all your money inc deposit.

also, i wouldn't ever take a rental where the LL comes to inspect is 3 times in a year.. that sounds like a bad LL already.

your dd and friends need to start documenting how neat and tidy the place is and how unreasonable the LL is (politely) and preferably in written form. for example, send texts and emails back saying how often you clean it and take photos and keep them to themselves. that way, come deposit time, their deposit is unaffected. they need to make sure they video and photograph the property before leaving, at the end of the contract. you also have to ensure you request the deposit back in writing on the day you leave. the request has to be made.

a lot of LLs just try it to keep the deposit, especially if they are young and naive tenants. sounds like the LL is working on that already.

when i finished uni, my friend and me moved into a proper private rental. one vacating, she left a couple of hairclips in a draw that we didn't see, they got stuck under a gap in the panel and almost hidden. otherwise, it was immaculate, we are/were clean freaks! the EA emailed us saying the flat was not clean to standards they expected and tried to withhold some of our deposit.

i was so annoyed and because i had collected all the evidence - videos etc - and threatened to take the EA to redress scheme (since they were representing the LL and had done the inspection themselves and were arguing for this ridiculous notion), we got our deposit back the same day.

sorry, but what are you talking about? tenants don't have to be "tidy" and it's subjective.

untidiness? it's their home. so long as they are not causing damage, a LL cannot tell you how to live in your own home.

OP, LL should only be checking for damage, not commenting on clothes lying around. your gut says it's ridiculous because it IS ridiculous.

btw a lot of landlords are on MN.

It sounds like he's going beyond his remit - either through not understanding it or deliberately - which I would worry will make him tricksy at checkout time.

It doesn't matter a damn how untidy someone is unless it's at a level that will cause damage to a property. Which a few boxes unpacked boxes of domestic items/clothes on the floor will not.

She'd be within her rights to request that he focus only on matters that concern his property but if he's a twat (and he's certainly behaving like one) that could mean he'll make life difficult for her. At least keep a record of his demands/comments so that if he tries to retain the deposit she can point to a history of him going beyond the actions set out in their contract.

What a pain for your daughter. Some landlords do have unrealistic ideas of what a tenancy agreement allows them to do. Sounds like he's one of them.

The tenants don't have to be tidy and it is subjective but presumably, that's why the LL is mentioning it now early in the tenancy.

Tenants who can’t pick clothes up off the floor for a notified early in the tenancy inspection are likely to become even more untidy and unclean as time goes on. Resulting in them having a massive amount to deal with once they move out, which often results in them feeling overwhelmed and not being able to deal with it and or/ just leaving the place in a state that the LL then has to go through a stressful deposit protection process to evidence that.

Which is lengthy and stressful.

It makes sense for a LL to mention it now.

For every shitty landlord there are shitty tenants who want to live in squalor and fight their 'rights' to do so.

And I'm not a LL I'm a long-term tenant and always will be and when I was being evicted from my last home because my LL was selling, was given some brilliant advice by MNetters and also some crappy advice by MNetters who thought I had more rights than the owners. Which I didn't and wouldn't think was appropriate anyway.

And posters who thought we should all hate private LLs. And I agree with the issues around private LLs profiteering and some do overstep the mark but without private landlords I would be homeless. As would many. So I don’t think it's too much to ask to look after their properties and at least make the effort to look like I'm not lively to leave the place in a state.

Every tenancy I've had (3 in 18 years), the landlord has checked a bit more at the beginning. Once they realised I was not only paying the only rent, but also a very tidy and clean person who respected my environment and also wasn't creating problems for neighbours with noise, dumping inappropriate rubbish etc, they didn't inspect as much.

Thanks all. They aren’t unclean just a bit untidy and I was interested to see if he’s overstepping

Boxes aren’t against walls and there’s no damp or anything.

They should just tidy up for the inspections? They’re not teenagers!? Are they embarrassed?

He should be looking at the condition of the property, not whether there are clothes on the floor or unpacked boxes. He’s overstepping.

no it doesn't. "messiness" has nothing to do with damage to the property lol.