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

AIBU to be really angry that my landlord's agent came into my flat without warning, while my son was in bed asleep?

263 replies

Solopower · 08/08/2012 23:46

Well, he did send an email, two days ago, but I didn't see it, as there was something wrong with the server.

According to my son (aged 17) he knocked on the door and called out, but when he got no reply, he just let himself in. Clearly he had come prepared with the keys.

My son, half asleep and thinking that I was in the flat and dealing with it, didn't get up (it was 9.30 am and he was on holiday) until a woman half pushed open his door. When she saw there was someone in the room, she didn't open it fully. She must have told the factor, who then called to my son to get up and get dressed so that they could come into the room. Which my son did, very quickly, and only just before the door opened fully to admit 3 strangers. No one apologised to him.

The agent was there because they were surveying the cracks in the walls, btw.

I am livid!

But aibu?? And what should I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Solopower · 08/08/2012 23:48

I thought we had a good relationship with the agent, btw. We must be ideal tenants, as we don't cause any trouble and pay the rent on time. But I feel so angry and humiliated by this man, who thinks he can just barge in on us whenever he likes! Is it even legal?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 08/08/2012 23:49

YANBU at all!

What's fucking wrong with people that they no longer see a telephone conversation as a viable option?

There's no way they should have entered without your permission/agreement.

It makes me wonder if they've done it when no-one has been home?

Sorry, I'm not quite sure who you should complain to but you should definitely complain.

CrispyCod · 08/08/2012 23:49

Does he normally correspond with you via email?

Subarashii · 08/08/2012 23:51

YANBU at all. I would hate that, so intrusive.

Rubirosa · 08/08/2012 23:52

It's not legal, they can only enter your home with your permission.

I would change the locks.

TellyBug · 08/08/2012 23:53

Depends on your lease. What does it say?

Usually though they should give 24 hours notice. You could argue he did, but with no receipt of email, should he have come in? I don't know.

I'd be livid too.

CrispyCod · 08/08/2012 23:53

They only have to give you 24/48hrs notice and if you normally accept email correspondence from him then he would have been within his rights.

WorraLiberty · 08/08/2012 23:53

You can't change the locks to someone else's property...it's criminal damage.

Equally a Landlord can not come and go as they please when they've rented their property to someone else.

GhostShip · 08/08/2012 23:54

YANBU!!!

My friend (I'm always talking about my mates on here ha) recently had murder because his pregnant girlfriend went into the flat to find the landlady moving things!
She got aggressive with the pregnant girl and ended up pinning her against the wall

Thing is my mate had said things in the past like 'I'm sure those curtains were closed before' or 'I thought I'd left that cup on the side'.

Makes me shudder, such an invasion of privacy.

Rubirosa · 08/08/2012 23:58

You still have a legal right to quiet enjoyment (I think that is the term) of your home - that trumps anything about the landlord giving notice. They need your permission to enter your home, unless in an emergency.

Changing locks isn't criminal damage so long as your return the locks to their original state at the end of your tenancy.

Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 00:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 09/08/2012 00:00

Seriously Rubirosa?

So she can change the locks to someone else's property and not give them a key so they can't enter their own house if they need to with permission?

I can't see how that's true...given that a lot of tenants aren't even allowed to hang pictures on the walls without permission? Confused

CrispyCod · 09/08/2012 00:01

Actually Rubirosa that's incorrect. A landlord can't waltz in as and when he pleases but if he requires access for the purpose of maintenance/repairs etc he only needs to give 24/48 hrs notice.

coppertop · 09/08/2012 00:02

The LL needs your actual permission.

It's not enough to just tell you that they are coming round. They need you to give your agreement to this.

CrispyCod · 09/08/2012 00:03

Depending on the lease you can't change the locks either without written consent.

TellyBug · 09/08/2012 00:03

You can change the locks as long as you tell the landlord.

Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 00:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 09/08/2012 00:06

Well cover me in chip fat and bugger me sideways...I've just Googled and Rubirosa is right Shock

Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 00:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PenisVanLesbian · 09/08/2012 00:07

There is a thread running in chat detailing just how illegal it is. There are some excellent posts by me telling you what laws they have broken even. Might be worth a look.

They can't do it, you CAN change the locks, and you should go apeshit mental at them.

CrispyCod · 09/08/2012 00:07

The tenancy agreement is a LEGAL AND BINDING agreement. If it states you can't change the locks then you can't change the locks.

Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 00:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PenisVanLesbian · 09/08/2012 00:08

it is definitely not criminal damage to change the locks on your rented home. Tis bullshit.
It is criminal harrasment for them to enter without permission though.

Toughasoldboots · 09/08/2012 00:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PenisVanLesbian · 09/08/2012 00:09

Wrong CrispyCod. Laws supercede tenancy agreements. You can sign what you like, if the law is different law wins.