Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think letting agent shouldn't have entered the house when dsd's were the only ones up.

134 replies

FontOfAllEvil · 01/11/2011 18:54

Agent called in at about 9am to inspect house (we have no idea if we forgot this appt. or if they forget to tell us) DH was still asleep after working a late night. Eldest dd (12) answered the door and agent asked to come in to do house inspection. Dd said dad was asleep and she didn't want to wake him. The agent asked to come in anyway. So did.

I feel very uncomfortable with the fact he did this. I don't prescribe to the pedophile on every corner train of thought but I am pissed off he came in anyway knowing the adult in the house was unavaliable.

I also think he was very stupid to put himself in the position of being alone with two young girls, as a teacher I am aware of the possibility of false allegations. This being why you are advised not to be in a closed classroom with a student.

I'm also pissed off that when dh rang to tell him that we weren't comfortable with what happened he didn't take it seriously at all.

We will discuss with dsds about not letting anyone into the house they don't know. I can't imagine that they haven't been told it before but may need reminding.

Would I be unreasonable to follow up the phone call with an email as dh was left feeling dismissed or am I over thinking this?

OP posts:
AnonWasAWoman · 01/11/2011 19:15

font - if you didn't receive it I think it'd have been fair to refuse them entry. But your DD should really not answer the door if she's not ok to either deal with people there or wake her dad.

auntiepicklebottom2 · 01/11/2011 19:15

are you all serious that the father should of been woken up, there would be no way would i wake DH 9am when he has come off nights.....he does 5-6 shifts back to back and not having a full strech of sleep could cost lives....it's a driving job.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 01/11/2011 19:15

who says they are alllowed to enter a home anon without permission from an adult?? They are not!

Original poster
FontOfAllEvil · 01/11/2011 19:15

I am quite calm about the whole thing, just think that He should not have come in and that they should change their policy to protect themselves. He could have been accused of something he didn't do and have his life ruined. Why put yourself in that position?

OP posts:
AnonWasAWoman · 01/11/2011 19:16

Must they have permission from an adult? How come they're allowed in if they provide notice, you don't contest it, and you're not in then?

I don't believe you.

MenopausalHaze · 01/11/2011 19:17

Do you have specialist knowledge in this field mumbling or are you just being a know it all?

AnonWasAWoman · 01/11/2011 19:17

font - well, no harm saying that I would think. And that maybe they'd be better emailing with a read receipt so they'd know you got the thing!

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 01/11/2011 19:18

Even with notice he could not enter withoutan adult present! The DSD is a minor....the same in law as my three year old....are you telling me that if my 3 year old answered the door while I was in the back garden and let the agent in...then that is all legal and correct? No. It's not and only a fool would do as this agent has done.

Original poster
FontOfAllEvil · 01/11/2011 19:19

Anon, would you enter a house with only two children awake or would you reschedual?

OP posts:
AnonWasAWoman · 01/11/2011 19:19

Why is it illegal? You've only mentioned the (false) analogy to teachers.

If you know this is the law, prove it. Then we will all know. It's just easy to doubt you when you don't back it up.

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 01/11/2011 19:20

Oh dear oh dear what a load of absolute sillyness on this thread! The letting agent did not have evil intentions, he just wanted to get his job done. You or your dh or the dsd's Mum need to talk to the dsd's about not allowing unknown strangers into the house. Letting agent has done absolutely nothing wrong whatsoever.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 01/11/2011 19:21

I would have thought that a 12 year old was capable of letting a house agent in without incident, to be honest. Even the 10 year old... let the house agent in, go and do something else out of the way and preferably wake their father up.

I think the e-mail is overkill really.

Original poster
FontOfAllEvil · 01/11/2011 19:22

What is a false analogy to teachers? I am a teacher, I have been advised to make sure the door is open I you are alone with a student. Common sense really.

OP posts:
MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 01/11/2011 19:22

Nobody is acusing the agent of having evil intentions Bibbity....just questioning his sense or lack of it and also the OPs right to privacy...AND the safety of her DSD...the agent HAS done something very silly.

AnonWasAWoman · 01/11/2011 19:22

font - personally, I wouldn't be a lettings agent!

But I would try to come back if I could, or I'd insist the dad be woken. I don't think the child protection issue would occur to me though. And I'd do what our lettings agency does, which is instead of providing notice in writing, they also ring us to check the date - that's good because then we all know where we stand.

I am fairly down on lettings agents usually and would not be surprised if they failed to send the letter. It's just if you did miss an appointment, I see why he would feel it was your problem if your children weren't being supervised.

AnonWasAWoman · 01/11/2011 19:23

It's a false analogy to teachers because a lettings agent is not a teacher, and does not have a duty of care to your children.

Original poster
FontOfAllEvil · 01/11/2011 19:24

An I just point out, I do not think that the letting agent had bad intentions. I have said that we will talk to dsd. I still think he put himself in a silly position.

OP posts:
ChippingInAutumnLover · 01/11/2011 19:25

The girls are 10 & 12, not 2 & 4.

The letting agent had an appointment, he knocked the door, the kids said Dad was asleep, he asked if he could come in, they let him in. He did the inspection.

If I went to a house, to do an inspection (after making an appointment) and two kids of 10 & 12 let me in while the parent was sleeping I'd just assume the parent was a lazy arse who couldn't be bothered to get out of bed for the inspection & was fine with the kids letting me in - I'd have no reason to think otherwise.

Original poster
FontOfAllEvil · 01/11/2011 19:26

What if he did it again in another house and was falsely accused of something?

OP posts:
AnonWasAWoman · 01/11/2011 19:28

I'd assume he'd get off if he was falsely accused.

Honestly, I think it would not look great to say 'well, we did have an appointment, but we prefer to leave our children unsupervised ... and we have taught them it's perfectly ok to let whoever they like in the door'. And it would be awfully easy for the lettings agent to feel that was what you were saying.

squeakytoy · 01/11/2011 19:30

Would you be emailing a complaint if the lettings agent had been a woman?

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 01/11/2011 19:31

He needed permission from the RESIDENT of the property....the person who RENTS it....unless the 12 year old is renting and respponsible then he had NO right to enter as he did not have permission!

NinkyNonker · 01/11/2011 19:32

I'm with Chipping.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 01/11/2011 19:32

I would see it the same squeaky and woman or man I would be complaining. Even if they DID send a letter, they needed to be allowed in by the adult responsible for the property and they did not have that did they?

ChippingInAutumnLover · 01/11/2011 19:33

No he didn't put himself in a silly postion. You, your DH & your DH's Ex put them in a 'silly position' if that's what you want to call it.

How much longer exactly are you going to deem them incapable of dealing with situations like this?

10 & 12 - not 2 & 4.