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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:
Rubirosa · 09/08/2012 16:03

Tenants who want to quietly enjoy their home that they pay for within their legal entitlement Confused

Why on earth do you think Angel owes these strangers any favours?

Rubirosa · 09/08/2012 16:06

rockinhippy why are you being so nasty? Angel isn't doing anything wrong, she's paid her rent up front and just doesn't want to let strangers into her home for no good reason!

OwlLady · 09/08/2012 16:08

I started a thread about this a couple of days ago as i had a letter saying they would come at x day and let themselves in if I wasn't there and I was ghast they could even do this (I also have a teenager who is home alone occasionally, younger than yours)

I spoke my LA yesterday and they agreed they wouldn't let themselves in and alays needed to be accompanied, so that's that. Butno they are not allowed to just let themselvesin. is your son okay? it's a bit of a shock, no?

LRDtheFeministDragon · 09/08/2012 16:10

rockin, did you miss the posts where she explained she's still within her tenancy term? Confused

MrsBucketxx · 09/08/2012 16:11

rockin did i say that she deserved to be on the streets no i didn't, just that she will have to move in the end anyway so refusing access is pointless.

maybenow · 09/08/2012 16:13

Most agents/landlords will let themselves in with their keys with prior permission because they believe that most people prefer this to taking time off work to meet maintenance workers. When I rented I certainly would ask the agent to let the maintenance man in rather than me taking time off work.

As a landlord, which I was when I first married and moved in with DH and couldn't sell my flat immediately, I would always ask whether a tenant wanted to stay home to let a maintenance person or gas safety check person in or whether then wanted me to do it.

In this case I think the agent was just a bit lazy/blaze about the email and made the mistake of assuming an email sent is equal to an email recieved and agreed to. He should have phoned, but I don't think it amounts to harassment.

OptimisticPessimist · 09/08/2012 16:13

She's not refusing access to avoid having to move, she's refusing access for the new owners to "look around and measure up", which she is perfectly entitled to do under her right to quiet enjoyment of the property. Think I'd do the same tbh.

OwlLady · 09/08/2012 16:14

surely if her tenancy term isn't up until december they cannot start viewings until then anyway? that's quite normal, no?

Rubirosa · 09/08/2012 16:14

In what way is is refusing access now pointless because you are moving out in 4 months? That makes no sense at all.

The point of refusing access is that you don't want strangers poking about your home. In 4 months time, once Angel has moved out, they can have as much access as they want.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 09/08/2012 16:15

It's usual to have viewings in the last couple of months of tenancy, and she's being deliberately awkward not to let them in, but there's nothing to force her to do so.

Original poster
Solopower · 09/08/2012 16:42

OwlLady, he's fine, thank you. Smile But yes, it was a big shock to be woken up like that by three strangers! I can see the funny side of it now, but I am still very angry with the agent.

I am trying to screw up courage to send the email I have written. Still swithering, tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
Solopower · 09/08/2012 16:43

Owl Lady I didn't see your thread. Will go and look.

OP posts:
Original poster
Solopower · 09/08/2012 17:11

This is a link to OwlLady's thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1535261-Do-you-rent-and-if-so-are-letting-agents-actually-allowed-to-do-this?watched=1

OP posts:
OwlLady · 09/08/2012 17:54

I think you should send an email. I have no problem with letting the agent into MY home but I don't want them letting themselves in unaccompanied especially when there are minors unaccompanied in the property (and in my case dogs)

I am glad your son wasn't too shaken. I did write on my thread though, surely letting agents could get into allsorts of trouble for this. A male letting himself into a flat with a teenage girl alone etc. I am not sure if I ran a business I would like to leave myself open to such issues tbh.

rockinhippy · 09/08/2012 18:14

rockin, did you miss the posts where she explained she's still within her tenancy term

ApologiesBlush - I obviously did - I completely misread/understood & read it as basically squatting in a home she previously rented

Note to self - don't post reply when fighting migraineBlush

OwlLady · 09/08/2012 18:24

well i forgive you even if no-one else does :)

ravenAK · 09/08/2012 22:41

londonone

"raven said
'I am perfectly happy to allow all reasonable access. Please telephone in future or wait for a response to emails, as otherwise I am afraid that I will be unable to provide access to the property.'

I read that as a threat to not allow access in future. That's all. "

Re-reading it, I suppose I can see you might read it like that - but no, if, hypothetically I was the one sending an email to an 'oh I'll just barge in' landlord, what I would've meant was 'if you turn up without having spoken to me on the phone, OR having received a reply to your email, expect to be told to come back at a more convenient time'.

not 'I will take my bat home & never let you set foot in the property again'!

Sorry if you misinterpreted & it came across as unduly arsey. Having said that, I've rented from landlords who thought & operated like you in the past. It's the main reason I'm very glad I no longer rent. You're a fascinating blast from my long distant student past! Grin

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 08:07

stupid thing is it could have all been sorted by a phonecall and not relying on an email. comes down to manners really.

and those renters who think that LL want to look round your stuff your sorely mistaken.

And those busy changing locks. if a LL or agent did steal anything its traceable. pretty stupid crime don't ya think Hmm

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 08:36

Agree its manners, but think your niaeve to think that LL's dont snoop and that the crime is 'tracable', unless you have cctv its still your word agaisnt thiers that £100 has gone from your draw or a ring missing from your bedside table etc. The weirdness of landlords is evieident on sites like MSE.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/08/2012 09:02

raspberry, did you manage to skim through the whole thread and notice it's not 'manners' Hmm, it's the law? She's not being naive, she's being perfectly normal.

I don't think stealing is a big concern, but it does seem there just might be other reasons why you don't want a stranger in your house without permission ... like, you know, your child asleep in bed?

Obviously mrsbucket, the LL do want to look around our stuff. It's called an inspection. That's what this whole thread is about, you know. What did you imagine we were talking about?

MrsBucketxx · 10/08/2012 09:31

i do know im a LL, i meant im not going to rummage around in your draws, cupboards etc.

i also know its the law to notify in writing, hence the email from op's LL. i would have called too btw to make sure.

inspections i do look at the walls carpets that sort of thing. im sure most LL dont steal, maybe the people the tennants hang around with might, and its all to easy to point the finger at a stranger. LL are business people and they dont want to lose income it harm their business.

we aren't evil

LRDtheFeministDragon · 10/08/2012 09:38

Well, some LL would check draws and cupboards to see if there's any damp damage at the back. I make sure the LA here does because we've had problems and I want them to know about it. So, obviously, it is much better if I am there because - daft though it may be - I just feel more comfortable if I'm moving my own knickers out of the draw rather than someone else.

I don't know why you're still going on about LL stealing?

Nice dig at tenants. The people I 'hang around with' are precisely the same sort of people as my LL. I know, because my supervisor is one of their family friends, and one of them is supervising several of my friends.

So you really are being very rude and nasty, aren't you?

PenisVanLesbian · 10/08/2012 09:38

Some of them do though MrsBucket, don't make the very daft mistake of assuming everyone is the same.
I've caught a landlord red handed going through my drawers. He thought I was at work and let himself in, I was asleep in bed. Creepy bastard had his hand in the unmentionable drawer.

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 09:43

LRD - my reply was to Mrs Bucket - I am very aware of the law as a LL and knew before reading this thread as unfortunatly may were not. I ment Mrs Bucket was naive to say that LL do not want to look through your stuff or steal anything - there are lots of strange LL/agents about and they are not regulated by law or vetted in any way at all - most of them have no idea of the law at all, I have been very surpised by honestly the stupidity of people renting out thier house without knowing exactly what thier obligations are.

And Mrs Bucket once again I'm afraid to say you come across as incrediable niave - ''I'm sure most LL dont steal' - yes, most probably dont - but what about the ones that do ??? They i would think are the one most likerly to be the ones to flout the law and tennants right to quite enjoyment arn't they ?? They are the ones that would would waltz in any time. A 3rd party having keys can also invalidate many house insurances - and what if they let a valuable/vunerable pet out? Or leave a window or door open ? or give the key to a dodgy builder /handyman

As a tennanant I would change the lock barrel ( about £5) and keep the original to replace when I leave - this is actually the advice I give my tennants when they move in !

raspberryroop · 10/08/2012 09:47

And so agree with another poster earlier in the thread that its the 'incidental' landlords - mostly people who cannot sell who are the worse in gerneral. No idea of the law - too many personal feelings and not enough buisness senseblities