to allow a phone call from an estate agent to ruin my day?

[Organa]

AIBU to allow a phone call from an estate agent to ruin my day when they didn't even say anything rude or bad this time? They just wanted to come round to inspect my (rented) home on Saturday. I am on edge from the minute the phone rings and they introduce themselves. It is not normal, is it?

Why does an estate agent want to come?

I am a tenant. How often do they come and inspect?

It is your home and you have a right by law to what is called 'Quiet Enjoyment' which means people like agents are not allowed to demand to walk in your home whenever they like and as often as they like.

Are they harrassing you?

to do a routine inspection on the house. We rent and the landlord has the right to check that I am keeping the place clean and not damaging his property. i think this is standard in all rented properties.

we moved house a few months ago and stayed with the same agents. I had some trouble getting my deposit back, the agents were horrible to me, but in the end I won and got my deposit back in full. The thing is I had almost daily communication with them for three months and I only got my life back a few weeks ago.

oooo i know how you feel. I am tenant and hate inspections they feel like a violation with a complete stranger poking and prodding all your things. BUT you had to grin and bear it ... i am never in as i find this easier.

They have to give you 24 hours notice to come which clearly they have.
YANBU to feel uncomfortable but then the landlord is NBU to inspect unless they are doing this very frequently. When was the last time this happened?

YANBU.

I HATED this when I was a tenant; it made me feel constantly on edge as I felt they were judging my housekeeping against some impossible, Homes and Gardens style standard.

It's particularly mean if you work all week and your weekend is now spoilt as you feel you have to spend Saturday morning getting the house "ready" for the inspection.

My only advice fwiw is to tell them it's not convenient as they can only do the inspections out of office hours if you agree.

Don't worry. They don't mean you have to make it beautiful and tidy - they are just checking for damage to the place. Ours was in and out in under five minutes yesterday. They won't care if you've got dirty washing in the sink or whatever - only if you've done something like scribbled all over the ceiling or broken the windows.

I know what you mean though, it feels so intrusive and lettings agents make me panic.

Well, if it's not convenient, then it's not convenient. FWIW my house tends to be at its tidiest after I've spent the weekend tidying it, so it would look its best on a Monday after work.

On the other hand, who really cares? (As long as it's reasonably OK.)

You can also use the inspection as a chance to talk about any gripes or issues you have with the property, so it's not all bad.

Just make sure you pick a time that suits you for the inspection, and it won't be so bad.

Last week they called me and asked me to let some carpet company come in and measure up. The landlord is in dispute with the ex-tenant about some damage and the tenant has agreed to replace on and new-for-old basis. Then the carpet company decided to do a British Gas and give me a 3-hour slot so i had to wait in all morning for them.
It was v. irritating. Now, just two days later, the agents are in touch again... I just want them to leave me alone.

tell them they can come in when they have a court order.

they can request to come around but you can refuse again and again and again. and they can't just let themselves in if you refuse, that would be trespassing, whatever is written in the contract about inspections isn't enforcable.

it is your home and they have no right to enter without your permission.