Tenants Rights

[CurlywurlyGirl]

I currently live in a private rented house. I was contacted by the Lettings Agent in October regarding them gaining access to measure the windows and doors as the Landlord wanted to upgrade the double glazing.

I gave permission for this to be done then again in October I was contacted late one afternoon by the Lettings Agent to say he had arranged for the Landlord to visit my property with him to discuss what was being done regarding work - he was due to arrive around an hour later. Although I was a bit miffed about the lack of notice about this, I agreed to the visit and met with the Landlord. He said I would be informed when the work was due to take place.

Cut to this morning when my doorbell rang and I opened the door to three workmen all ready to do my windows. I was shocked as I hadn't received any notice about this. I informed them that today wasn't convenient for me as I was due to be going out today and I wasn't happy to leave them alone to do the work. I spoke with the Lettings Agent who said he had tried to call me on my old mobile number without success (I have given the Letting Agents my new mobile number and they have my landline number) so he had arranged the work to be done regardless.

I said I wasn't happy that I hadn't been given 24 hours notice that this work was to be done as I wasn't happy to leave the workmen unattended in my home but the Letting Agent then started to quote their policy that I don't have to be present.

I re-arranged my day so I am now here to oversee the work (being done as I type) but AIBU in feeling very angry about the Lettings Agent's attitude to this? Surely if they hadn't been able to get in touch with me by phone, they should have at least sent me a letter so I could arrange a convenient time for the work to be done?

YANBU. We are landlords and have never found a lettings agency that are any use. At all.
Look on the bright side, you'll be draught free and cozy for winter.

Thanks kreecher

I am pleased that I should be toasty warm from this evening but I do feel a bit worried as I was a little short with the Lettings Agent on the phone. He kept saying that the Landlord wasn't happy the work hadn't been done so I felt under duress to allow the work to be done today.

You have a legal right to peaceful enjoyment of your home, and no letting agency's "policy" can over-ride this. You should also always be given at least 24 hours notice before agent or landlord (or window fitters!) turn up.

YANBU

Landlords/Letting Agents have to give 24 hours notice by law. If you choose to waive that, that is just a courtesy on your part and certainly not a requirement.

A bit too late now I know, but if it was me, I would have refused to allow them entry to the property and politely insisted they contact the Letting Agent to properly arrange access in accordance with your tenancy agreement.

You should perhaps contact the Agent by email/letter giving your updated contact details (even though I'm sure you already did and they just didn't update their own records), so that if this happened again they wouldn't have any excuse to not have given you adequate notice.

Thanks OldLadyKnowsNothing

To be fair, most of the staff I deal with at the Lettings Agents are lovely - I always get at least two weeks' written notice of inspections.

However this one particular person (dealing with the windows issue) has repeatedly arranged things with other people before confirming that it is convenient with me.

Thank StawberryDawn

I have sent an email to the Lettings Agents this morning so hopefully my contact details will be updated this time.

Look on the bright side CurlyWurly - at least you have a valid excuse for spending a lazy day at home on MN.

That is another bonus StawberryDawn