To think the estate agents are out of order here?

[WeAreEternal]

I rent through an estate agents, last week they wrote to me informing me that they would be coming round today at 9.10 for a routine inspection.

I re aranged appointments so that I could be here.
They didn't turn up.
At 9.30 I called the office, but there was no answer.
I called again at 10 but there was still no answer.
By 10.30 I assumed that he wasn't comming so I went out.

I just got home to fine that the man has let himself in and was wandering around upstairs.
I was really cross as the EA know that I don't allow them to let themselves in (I had problems with them in the past). The man said he was doing the inspection organised and that if I didn't like it I should have arranged a more convenient time last week when I got the letter.

AIBU to think if he is not going to turn up on time he doesn't have a right to just let himself in when he does decide to turn up?

Have a look at this page -The Association of Residential Letting Agents, at www.arla.co.uk
They have a step-by-step guide on how to complain, plus loads of other helpful information such as:

A landlord, or his agent, or someone authorised to act on his behalf has a right to view the property to assess its condition and to carry out necessary repairs or maintenance at reasonable times of the day. The law says that a landlord or agent must give a tenant at least 24 hours prior notice in writing (except in an emergency) of such a visit. Naturally, if the tenant agrees, on specific or odd occasions to allow access without the 24 hours prior written notice, that is acceptable. [A clause in the tenancy agreement which tries to diminish or over-ride a tenant's rights in this respect would be void and unenforceable.]

Surely if your 'approximate appointment' is at 9:10am, you must have been the first or second appointment of the day? It's diffficult to see how you could the inspector could have managed to get delayed by 2 hours after the appointed time.

Also, presumably the Estate Agent have a contact phone number for you? If so, the man should have phoned to advise you of the delay. Did they give you an explanation for his failure to do that?

Given the unsatisfactory phone conversation, I would still write to the estate agent and landlord to complain.

Second sentance went awry there. Should read - "It's diffficult to see how you could expect the inspector to have managed to get delayed by 2 hours after the appointed time"

Put a complaint in writing ASAP and CC the landlord.

Definately write to the Landlord explaining what has happened and what response you got from the letting agent.

Totally unacceptable. Ridiculous response from agent. You do need to put this in writing to both the letting agent and your landlord and I would be wholly unrepentent about spreading it on Twitter etc.

If this had happened in my house I'd be calling the police, if only to cover my own back as the stupid twunt would hopefully have a dog hanging off each limb.

Ask them if a complaint to the ombudsman and whoever licences them is a "little over dramatic". Don't let them away with it, thats why they do it!

Put your complaint in writing and make an appointment to see them on a particular day at 5PM.

Turn up at 7PM and break into their office.

When the keyholder turns up to find out what the hell is going on with their alarm, tell them there's no harm done, you're satisfied that the appointment was fine and they won't need to contact you to make another. :)