to not let this man in?

[BadPoet]

Someone just rung the door - it was a man from building control at the council in response to a completion certificate we submitted just a couple of days ago. He wanted to inspect the building work.

Not only had I no idea he was coming, I didn't know that anyone would come out at all to inspect (although with hindsight I should probably have realised that but it didn't say so on any of the paperwork). I said that it wasn't a good time and I hadn't had any word that he was coming. He replied 'that's not how it works'. I said that I was surprised at that, I would expect notice and I'd be happy to let him in at a mutually convenient time but now wasn't good. He got very huffy and snippy 'in 30years no-one has spoken to me like this'. I should stress I wasn't rude at all. He finally gave me his office contact details and left, after making a big show of finding a pen and saying things like 'sorry to inconvenience you' but in a manner I took to be sarcastic.

It's a school holiday, I have both children at home killing each other, the kitchen (OK whole house) is a bombsite because I am frantically baking for a party later, I am packing to go away tomorrow too. My dd has ASD and gets nervy about things like this, IF someone like this was coming I'd normally thoroughly prepare her for it.

I actually don't think that's relevant though, I think that I am within my rights to refuse entry to my home anyway, particularly when they haven't told me they are coming.

Thoughts?

Agree with you.

Not unreasonable. Did he have ID with him?

If its the council then it is council property and they dont have to let you know in advance they will be calling.

I think personally YANBU - your home, your personal space. If you were not hapy about that, then you were right to say so.

Think of it this way - if you had gone out to the shops or wherever because you didn't know he was coming round then he would have to come back, wouldn't he?

So you just have to lump it then LilQueenie? Is that standard practise?

Thank you - tbh, I didn't ask for ID although I would have if I had let him in - he made no move to show me any though.

LilQueenie, the house belongs to us - it's not a council house, but we had to apply to their Building Control for permission to build a conservatory.

YANBU - and I'm surprised that he hasn't experienced it in 30 years. I wouldn't let anyone in if you're not expecting them. And I'm surprised the council don't give people notice. Where I am, there has been a lot of safety notices, advising people not to let people in if they're not expecting them because there have been a lot of distraction burglaries. Although this is normally aimed at the elderly and the vulnerable, it makes sense for everyone to take the same advice. At least, that's what I reckon.

No, LilQueenie, if you have had building work done on a private propery the council wants to make sure you have stuck to the building control rules (permitted development etc) or stayed within the planning permission you got. They cam round when we had our loft conversion done. I am pretty sure they let us know they were coming - surely they would be wasting loads of time knocking on doors when nobody is in otherwise?

YANBU

Of course yanbu
You don't know who he is and they should tell you!

On a tangent - it does seem people like meter readers just expect you to let them in, then stand back while you move the pile of crap from the badly placed meter prepare things for them.

I would have thought it common courtesy to have made an appointment, not just turn up.

I would also have thought that if that is policy just to arrive unannounced then he would find most people out to work during the day anyway, and find himself having to make appointments.

No, I don't think you were being unreasonable. It's also understandable you may have wanted your partner present to discuss the works or ask questions too. Definitely needs an appointment.

Also if you live in a council home your landlord has to give you notice of workmen attending the property, or anyone they need to have access, and if they don't you can refuse access. The only exception is if there is an emergency, e.g. Gas leak in your home or water leak into someone else's proprty stemming from yours

yanbu

It is a service you pay for too so stupid for them to turn up without prior arrangement.

yanbu

i wouldn't have let him in either in your circumstances.

In my limited experience, they usually turn up while the builders are still there and I always got the impression it was unannounced so the builders didn't get the chance to hide any dodgy practices they might be doing.

Hmm, meter readers! Where we lived before there was one who would always turn up before 8 a.m. when I was invariably in some state of undress trying to get dc ready for school, me for work etc. I think his round started in our street! But if you don't let them read it you might get some terribly inaccurate estimate, so I always did let him in.

YANBU - I would have done the same and his reaction is just downright rude.

WRT meter readings, anytime i have been unable to allow access, the man has given me a card to fill in the reading and then there is a number on the card to ring with it. i thought this was common practise?

If you don't allow them in they assume that something is wrong, if they don't sign off on your conservatory they could theoretically ask you to remove it.

I'd have said the house is a mess I've two kids home and let him in.

I think you should have just asked for his ID then let him in.
I would hate to think (from what you say of his reaction/attitude) that he would nit-pick and be overly "critical" of any work that you had done