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:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/08/2012 09:48

Oh, I'm so sorry, rapsberry, I misread that completely.

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 10:03

No problem - I suspect my post wasn't as clear as it could have been - i have dyslexia ( like you hadnt guessed :P) - I usually use chrome which has spell check and makes it easier for me to read back but its plauying up at the moment

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:04

most LL as stated above by others and on other threads would be looking to get rid if you did change locks without permission, myself included.

i could sell my rental easily but i kept it as an investment for my dc's. maybe incedental as you put it, but i want it to be kept as i would.

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 10:08

If you know I've change the locks MrsB its because you have tried to get in illegally so if I were your tennant I would be giving you notice - you really have no idea do you - an inveastment is a buisness transaction and should be treadyted as such - you really do need to get yourself educated

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:14

which i never would i call my tennant (who is lovely BTW) first.

i am not a theif.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/08/2012 10:15

Snap, raspberry, me too. And thanks for being understanding.

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 10:20

No one has called you a thief - just not very up on what your obligations and rights are as a Ll - If you would never do it and would always call, why are you getting upset about it and why would changing the lock barrel bother you, as you would never know unless the tennat told you?
If you had to gain entry because of an emergancy - is the only time you would find out and the cost of the door being broken in would be an incidental expendse unfortunatly. Why would you wan a tennant to have any less security or privacy than you would afford yourself??
Who know who has keys to a house if you just rent it ?? One family I know had a man in thier lounge one Sunday morning asleep on thier couch as he had come 'honme' drunk and gone tp his old house, to which he had a key still on his key chain, 6 mths afrer moving out ! ( they were owners as well! )

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:29

its an arts and crafts house, with a beautifull solid oak door, not some crappy number from b&q. as i said earlier i had to get a specialist to repair it after the last tennant thought it was acceptable to put a knocker on leaving bloody great big holes in it. its not a yale lock its an original one to the house.

i would not renew any tennancy that damaged MY property again.

lurkerspeaks · 10/08/2012 10:31

I had an unhappy rental experience which started badly and rapidly deteriorated - the flat was in terrible condition when we moved in and despite a 3 week void no attempt had been made to do any maintenance.

Then we developed a damp problem which necessitated hundreds of tradesmen coming to survey, quote, drill holes for samples, investigate all the other walls, lift the carpet etc. We allowed access with no problems apart from a couple of occasions when work schedules (mostly nightshifts so needing to sleep during the day) made it really inconvenient. On those days we got masses of hassle from the letting agent for refusing access which we weren't really doing just postponing access.

They also gave the handyman a key one day without our permission and my OH woke up to find him walking into the bedroom (nightshift again). To be fair they did apologise and were meticulous after that to ensure they had permission.

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:31

i do all the maintenace/management too. the agent only finds the tennants for me.

i am the only other person with a key.

MousyMouse · 10/08/2012 10:33

mrsbucket
I am glad I'm not your tennant.
let it go, it is not your home. if you let out a property you 1) need to know the law and 2) have to expect some damage because life, well, happens

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:33

i know this due to the age if lock you cant just get one from timpsons.

PenisVanLesbian · 10/08/2012 10:39

Would you be happy for other people to have keys to your home?

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:40

intentionally damaging something is not just life.

and i know the law.

its entitled tennants i have an issue with

PenisVanLesbian · 10/08/2012 10:41

Tenants are entitled by law to certain rights. You have a problem with them exercising them legally.
No matter what you think, you are in the wrong.

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 10:42

Tough basically - so its an Arts and craft door - the law really doesnt give a damm. Why do you need an agent to find tennants? Thats actually the main bit you should do yourself really as if you get the right tennnants it reduces your worries as a LL by 99% and personally I trust my insitcts about people way more than some suit .

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:42

if i rented it would be a given.

my neighbours have a key, as do my parents. so yes. obviously LL who feel the need to steel dont deserve to be in business.

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 10:44

change locks i give notice, i am in my rights to do this also.

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 10:48

Would you like a spade to go with your bucket?

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 11:02

yes please i could do do with a trip to the sea side ;)

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 11:06

:) - I'll come to0, the weather is lovely and I could do with some sand between my toes

MousyMouse · 10/08/2012 11:13

ok, so your tennants could remove the whole fucking arts and crafts door, store it savely, and put it back when they move out.

Original poster
Solopower · 10/08/2012 11:29

Talking about landlords stealing things - reminds me of when this very same agent's son came in to redecorate (all arranged properly, although I wasn't in).

When my son came home he found that whoever had been in the flat had been on his playstation! No wonder it took so long for him to finish the job ...
He had also made himself a cup of tea, because I hadn't left anything out so he must have gone into the cupboard to find the tea. Oh and what he left unflushed in the toilet was quite unmentionable!

I didn't complain because we had no proof and it was the agent's son. If I had been there I would have offered him a drink anyway - but that's not the point, is it?

OP posts:
MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 11:51

i do drive by occasionally. if noticed the door had changed, notice given.

what do you people not understand. its my property.

change anything without my permission ill get rid.

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 11:54

oh and take any cost of damage from your deposit too.