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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Flat inspection

69 replies

Ilovewheelychairs · 07/05/2015 16:24

Hi all,

I live in a small rented two bed flat. Been there 18 months or so, no problems so far, letting agent has been good etc. anyway today I had a flat inspection. As usual, made my flat look as tidy and clean as possible. However, have just had an email from the letting agent to say they looked in my cupboards and they didn't think what I had in there was appropriate!! It was stuff that is bagged up to go to the tip and which I didn't feel should be on display for an inspection. They also said my spare room had too much stuff in and I needed to get rid of some things.

I don't feel that a letting agent should be snooping through my cupboards or telling me I should get rid of my possessions? AIBU? As I say, I've lived there for 18 months and had several previous inspections and it's never been a problem.

Many thanks! Perfectly prepared to be told I'm unreasonable!

OP posts:

CallMeNancy · 07/05/2015 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fudgeface123 · 07/05/2015 16:29

I cant believe they went through your cupboards and commented on how much stuff you have, massive invasion of privacy

WhoNickedMyName · 07/05/2015 16:30

when you say stuff bagged up to go to the tip, what stuff? if it was bags of household waste then I can see where they're coming from.

Original poster

Ilovewheelychairs · 07/05/2015 16:32

WhoNicked, it wasn't loads of kitchen waste or anything. Just old broken stuff I was cleaning out. Nothing that would smell or be offensive. There was an old slow cooker in there which seemed to cause the most offence as apparently that shouldn't the be in a hall cupboard!

OP posts:

Doobigetta · 07/05/2015 16:34

I'm pretty sure that inspecting and commenting on things that are not specified in the terms of your lease would be classed as interfering with your right to quiet enjoyment of the property. Have you got so much stuff piled up in the spare room that it's a fire hazard? If not, I'd be tempted to reply to them very politely and humbly saying that you didn't realise you had breached your lease, and could they kindly point out which specific condition you have fallen foul of?
Of course in real life tenants have fuck all rights in this country, so even if you're in the right and they are wrong they can decide you are too difficult to have around and not renew your tenancy when it is up. So you're probably best off just ignoring them, adding them to your list of people to kill when you're in charge, and letting it go.

expatinscotland · 07/05/2015 16:34

I'm eternally astounded by the humiliating nature of inspections in privately rented accommodation. Can't think of anywhere else in the world where is accepted.

paxtecum · 07/05/2015 16:35

I arrange house inspections very early in the morning before I go to work.
No way would I want them snooping around, though in fact a very polite bloke turns up, we stand in the kitchen and chat for five minutes about holidays and the weather, he asks if everything is good with the house, then he leaves.

As long as the house is cleanish, then they should be happy.

If I was you I would be outraged.
Ask them if they looked in your knicker drawer too?

chipshop · 07/05/2015 16:36

That is absolutely outrageous. I lived in quite a few rentals in London in my 20s and never had anything like that. I'd reply saying looking in your cupboards was a gross invasion of your privacy. How dare they?

paxtecum · 07/05/2015 16:37

Next time arrange the inspection for when you are at home.
My agent starts at 6.00am!

JeanneDeMontbaston · 07/05/2015 16:40

It's none of their business.

Mind you, I once lived in a place where my landlady took it upon herself to go through my cupboards and throw away equipment she didn't feel I needed, including something that had belonged to my great-grandmother. Luckily I picked it up from beside the outside rubbish bin where it was lying in the rain!

She was utterly shocked to learn that I didn't consider her actions to be ok, and I learned a lot about tenancy law in a very short time!

DisappointedOne · 07/05/2015 16:41

That is OUTRAGEOUS. They have no right to tell you how to live. Fuck tidying up in future. Refuse all future inspections. There's fuck all they can do about it.

Doobigetta · 07/05/2015 16:42

It's a horrible feeling, having an inspection. Really rubs it in that you don't have any control and makes you feel small and second-rate. I sympathise.

MollyMaDurga · 07/05/2015 16:43

Another expat here, also in Scotland coincidentally, and likewise shocked at what people put up with here. Last year we were looking into selling or renting out our house. I was amazed that the agents make a point of literally looking under rugs and carpets, going through kitchen cabinets. . No way. I do not want to live like that and am not going to put anyone through that. This would be so unacceptable where i come from, you don't even have to let the agents in unless there's some crucial business or repairs. . Of course, checking my privilege, I am very lucky husband already had a house. I've never rented here but did so where i loved before.

Original poster

Ilovewheelychairs · 07/05/2015 16:46

I'm so relieved I'm not being totally unreasonable! I work 6 days a week and my agents only work 9-5 Monday to Friday so I'm never able to be there. I might arrange for my Mum or somebody to be in though in future!

Have sent an email back asking which laws they think I'm violating as per the suggestion above. The personnel have changed recently and they've also increase the inspections from once every 6 months to once every 3 so I wonder if it's just a case of different standards? I don't feel they can tell me how to keep my flat as long as I'm not damaging it in any way or not causing a hazard.

Ugh I hate renting. Can't wait to be able to scrape my a deposit together for a place of my own!

OP posts:

HirplesWithHaggis · 07/05/2015 16:46

I'm in Scotland, renting the same property for over a decade and never had an inspection. It's not compulsory.

DisappointedOne · 07/05/2015 16:47

I lived in a flat in London for 6 years and never had a single inspection. The landlady used to come in around 3 times a year on a weekend and we'd meet at the pub for lunch and wine (her treat). She didn't step foot in the flat until I'd given notice and she offered to buy some of mu furniture.

PanGalaticGargleBlaster · 07/05/2015 16:48

Speaking as previous letting agent flat inspections are there to check the condition of the fabric of the building, fixtures and fittings. Agents dont really care if there are clothes on the bedroom floor or some unwashed pans in the sink. They do care about fag burns in the carpets, a meth lab in the basement, holes in the plasterboard, rips in the sofa and will make note of any other items that go beyond normal general wear and tear.

Sifting through your personel possessions is not professional and an invasion of privacy, a letter of complaint would be appropiate, or even better a visit to their office, agents hate it when their is an upset tenant in full view of other customers!

DisappointedOne · 07/05/2015 16:48

Seriously, refuse these inspections. Once a year is reasonable, not once a quarter. Tell them to fuck off.

Fudgeface123 · 07/05/2015 16:50

Definitely arrange for someone to be there. Our agents don't have a key so someone has to be here. They come in, stick their head in each room and leave...takes about 2 mins max. I've never heard of any agents going into cupboards, totally outrageous

sparechange · 07/05/2015 16:54

That is outrageous! What do they mean by 'too much stuff' in your spare room?
Without wanting to be a MN cliche and leap to the defense of the landlord, it might be the agents who are being this picky and not the LL.
The one and only time I've rented somewhere via an agency, they sent me an inspection report which said that they had told off the tenants for moving furniture into different rooms, and for not cutting the grass in the winter.
I had to tell them that it wasn't their place to tell the tenants off and I had no issue with them rearranging furniture and nor would I expect a bowling green lawn in November.

Lavenderice · 07/05/2015 16:55

No, no, no. Inspections are there to check that the fabric of the building is ok and that there is no DAMAGE to the property. Also, you have a right to be present and they have to work around you. I second going into the office Nd creating a stink, preferably on a Saturday morning when they are most busy with prospective tenants.

You might find this useful to take with you

www.privaterentedservice.co.uk/ll_hanbook/during-a-tenancy/

aintnothinbutagstring · 07/05/2015 16:59

I don't think they'd do that if someone was there supervising, I'd never let a letting agent enter with nobody here. Ours have always been reasonable though one asked to look in the oven once! Theres no need to look in cupboards unless a door is hanging off perhaps. I know how you feel though, I hate inspections, makes you feel beholden to them.

londonrach · 07/05/2015 16:59

Thats a new one to me. We have regular flat inspections every 6 months but its to check the fabric of the building. They never looked in cupboards. Talk to cab on this one!

glittertits · 07/05/2015 17:01

Email back asking where in the tenancy agreement does it say how much stuff you can have.

Original poster

Ilovewheelychairs · 07/05/2015 17:03

Thanks all. Had a reply to my email, the lady who looked round said that because there are a couple of unpacked boxes and three spare dining chairs in the spare room that it is a fire hazard. But they now want to do another inspection tomorrow with two agents to see if it's a problem or not?!

OP posts:

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