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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
JeanneDeMontbaston · 07/05/2015 17:07

'Spare chairs'? Confused

How on earth can they tell how many people you like to have round for dinner?

I think they're bluffing.

londonrach · 07/05/2015 17:10

I have some folding chair hidden in a cupboard which are spare chairs! Wow.. Very strange.

DisappointedOne · 07/05/2015 17:11

Tell them no to an additional inspection. Then put a complaint IN WRITING that their behaviour is unprofessional and unacceptable, they will no longer be allowed into your flat without you being present and that you'll agree only to 6 monthly inspections. Beyond that any issues will be communicated with them in writing for rectifications.

chrome100 · 07/05/2015 17:13

I rent and don't mind the odd inspection as at the end of the day it's tit for tat - they fix stuff, you don't trash the place. But I once failed one because my place was too messy.

I thought this was out of order. Nothing was broken, everything was clean, there was just a lot of stuff everywhere as I was working long hours.

HelenF350 · 07/05/2015 17:14

I wouldn't have thought looking in cupboards would be that unusual, damp tends to show in cupboards so that may be the reason. I think commenting on the amount of stuff you have etc is completely unnecessary though, non of their business imho. I am a landlord and would never tell my tenants they had too much stuff (unless the house looked like something from the hoarder next door!). Certainly none of their concern how much stuff is in cupboards, very odd!

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 07/05/2015 17:15

As pangalactic and others say - it's tje fabric of the building!

Cancel their second inspection- I suspect this could be harassment?
I rented on and off for 15 years, inspected regularly - not once did these inspections last for more than 90 secs!

You are entitled to quiet enjoyment of tje property!

They have done and reported on their inspections it is utterly improper that they should expect you to be subject to this again...

Have you told them it is just 3 chairs...

We have 6 in our apartment... I'll await our eviction notice!

cailindana · 07/05/2015 17:19

They're setting you up so that they have things to point out when they try to take away part of your deposit at a later stage. Agree to the inspection then come armed with a camera and take photos of everything they're complaining about. Ask them to send a detailed email of everything they have a problem with along with how it will affect your deposit if it is still an issue when you are asked to move (is your LL making noises about selling?). Tell them you are aware of what they are up to and will set up an email trail detailing what they are doing for future reference.

ihavenonameonhere · 07/05/2015 17:21

Once every 3 months is bloody crazy too.

I rent out a property and I have driven past once in the 3 months they have been there to make sure it was still standing.

I might ask to pop in after 6 months but probably cant be bothered!

ConceptionZilla · 07/05/2015 17:22

As a landlord I'd be horrified of such things happened to my tennants.

Original poster
Ilovewheelychairs · 07/05/2015 17:36

My landlord lives abroad and hasn't ever seen the flat. Is just a form of income for him. It's all down to the lettings agents. It seems to be an issue with these new employees- one has owned an estate agency in the past apparently so seems to have been brought in to 'show them how do it'.

OP posts:
GetMeFlamed · 07/05/2015 17:36

OP they can't come back tomorrow as they've not given you 24 hours notice this time. Tell them Monday.

Somanyvipers · 07/05/2015 17:38

Direct them to the ARLA Codes of Conduct, if they are members, it makes it clear that these inspections should be superficial and brief. I have had overly nosey inspections and had to remind the agents of this, they backed off.

HighwayDragon · 07/05/2015 17:41

We had an inspection, I hadn't cleaned up forgot he was coming apologised for the mess, his response was "how you live is none of my business" he's a good man Grin

MissyMistress402 · 07/05/2015 17:46

Tell them to fuck off, who made them in charge of who has what in their home. It's not dangerous objects, so tell them to stuff off.

meercat23 · 07/05/2015 17:48

As someone up thread has said you are legally entitled to "quiet enjoyment" of the property you are renting. Inspections are supposed to be to check that you are not living in the property in a way that would infringe the lease, i.e. keeping animals if the lease says you cant, subletting if the lease says you can't or doing things that are very likely to cause damage to the property or its fixtures, fittings etc. eg leaving piles of rubbish in the kitchen, dismantling your car engine on the lounge carpet, drying washing on the radiators,

What you own and how you store it in the property is non of their business. If you were stockpiling old newspapers like the people on those hoarder programmes they might have a point but a couple of spare dining chairs is not exactly in that league

Asking for a second inspection with two agents sounds like bullying.

Are they members of NALS or ARLA? You could complain to them or to the Property Service Ombudsman. You might not want the bother but it should make them think about their approach if you mention the possibility that you might.

Signlake · 07/05/2015 17:56

And this is why there needs to be a governing body for letting agents. After going through similar a few years ago, there is no way I would ever, ever rent again

MehsMum · 07/05/2015 18:00

YANBU. Absolutely. An inspection is about the fabric, and to make sure the place is being kept reasonably clean, lawn mown etc. Not to see how you put your mugs away and if you dust down behind the radiators once a week.

Redglitter · 07/05/2015 18:06

That's outrageous. Thankfully I've never had any inspection in the 6 years I've lived here. I'd definitely be making a complaint about their behaviour.

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 07/05/2015 18:11

We're currently living in staff accommodation so are renting our house out.

We do six monthly inspections but this is as it is a Victorian house and needs regular maintenance - we'd rather pick it up before it becomes a problem for the tenant.

Our current tenants have essay more stuff than we ever did but I dont care. They look after the house and however much stuff is in it, it's always clean. That's all I really care about. I also don't let day to day mess bother me, people need to live for crying out loud!

Your landlord/agent has seriously overstepped the mark.

Nanny0gg · 07/05/2015 18:18

They have no right to any of that, and you could refuse future inspections.

Tomorrow is definitely No and if you do agree to future ones someone must be there.

What is in your cupboards is your private property and they have no business inspecting it.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 07/05/2015 18:26

I hope you have refused them coming in tomorrow?

ChopOrNot · 07/05/2015 18:39

I would re-post this in legal or property tbh - this is outrageous!

RB68 · 07/05/2015 18:45

I would be tempted to ask if they wanted to check your knicker draw and where ou keep any sex toys to make sure its appropriate...

Seriously its over the top refer to the regulations, ask if there was anything in the previous inspections that made them up the inspections, ask them to keep any references to the fabric of the building and condition not personal way of life, I would probably give them the spare room and tidy it so nothing covering heat sources or electric outlets - but explain that it was used for storage and wouldn't pose a risk in the case of fire as no one was living in there.

I have had my fair share of overzealous agents including one lady who wanted it marching out clean, was moaning about how "filthy " some tiles were and I shut her up by running a finger down them and letting it squeak with cleanliness!!! She just didn't like rustic tiles!!!

wowfudge · 07/05/2015 18:49

No way should they be re inspecting. Ask them to explain how these things in the spare room are a fire hazard.

catgirl1976 · 07/05/2015 18:52

That's disgusting.

We rent and every property inspection I have had involved the Estate Agents doing a very quick walk round, asking if we had any issues with anything, checking the smoke alarms and sticking their heads out into the garden.

10 minute job and they have never opened a cupboard or drawer. I would feel that would be hugely invasive and inappropriate.