to think my landlord should inform me when someone comes into my house?

[Pendu]

I am hopping mad, this is just the latest in a long line of problems with this house.

Running a bath this morning and no hot water. It had been flicked off (it's kept on always) and then I suddenly noticed a radiator had been replaced. This happened twice the other week - I came home and someone was fiddling with my boiler, they don't even tell me , let alone give me the option of being here when workmen are here. I hate it, in sick of it. I locked up carefully so they obviously have the key.!

Do you rent through a letting agent? This is outrageous and unacceptable. What are you going to do?

They have to tell you, that's horrific behaviour! They don't always have to get your permission, eg emergency repairs or required safety checks, but they must always tell you they plan to come in, usually in writing.

Thus happened to me once when I used to rent. They decided to have an inspection on my spring cleaning day when I was out!. I was so angry as we weren't even informed. After that I got one of those Yale lock things that you lock into the keyhole preventing anyone from being able to use just a key to get in. In factories in glad I did as I had a call for a repairman saying they can't get in when I was at work and again we weren't informed so I told them it's wasn't convenient and they need to come back when I'm there! Here's a pic of what I mean.

Lol my typos are hilariously bad. I'm still in bed half asleep

That's just awful. Honestly, how hard would it be for them just to call/text you?!

I rented through a terrible agency once. There was a knock on the door one evening which we didn't answer and eventually someone started letting themselves in. At which point I rushed to open the door and was met with the agent's DS standing there like a deer in the headlights who just uttered "uh... I thought you weren't in". So why let yourself in then!!!??

Do you have a tenancy agreement OP? It's pretty standard in my experience that landlords must give minimum of 24 hours notice for workmen coming round, inspections etc. Except in an emergency (house on fire etc)
It's absolutely not on that people are in the house without your knowledge - maybe call the CAB for some advice on your rights as a tenant?

It's not just standard - it's the law. Your landlord is not acting legally OP. Change the locks (keep the old barrels to replace when you move out.

Your tenancy agreement should have a clause in it about this.

Oh and in a different house: it was a Saturday morning and we were all asleep before being rudely awoken by a load of builders bringing scaffolding through the house to set up in the garden! They even went into my housemates bedroom and started passing poles down through her window while she just sat up in bed dumbfounded. It was beyond ridiculous.

We're with a much better landlord/agency now thank goodness! Good landlords do exist and you shouldn't have to put up with this OP.

Yep, totally unacceptable. Although if it makes you feel better, I once woke up to find a plumber in my bedroom.

I got the shock of my life and he just said "sorry, didnt think there was anyone home." Well obviously not otherwise he wouldnt have gone right past the bathroom, and up the stairs, would he?

I suppose at least the landlord is paying for problems to be fixed. I agree with you that workmen should give 24 hour notice. A landlord can insist that workman attends on a particular day and if the workman cannot get access then the landlord can take the call out fee out of the tenant's deposit. (Provided the landlord had informed the tenant in writing and given suitable notice.) Changing the locks is forbidden in most contacts and it's easy to evict a tenant at the end of the AST.

I have experienced a tenant being arsey about access but also threatening to sue me for not getting the problem fixed fast enough.

landlord can insist that workman attends on a particular day and if the workman cannot get access then the landlord can take the call out fee out of the tenant's deposit

No they can't! Please tell me you're not a landlord

That is completely untrue Reallytired. Utter rubbish.

Oh thats not right workmen cant just wander in and out your Ll needs to give you notice check your tenancy agreement its not usual for LL to do this.

You should be getting at least 24 hours notice and they should come when it's convenient for you - that doesn't mean you can put them off forever, but my landlord was fine with me asking for the roofer to come after I had done the exam I was at home on study leave for, as it was non-urgent, but even for urgent things, we've discussed and negotiated before the plumber (or whoever) turns up, and they need to come sooner than 24 hours if possible.

I'm a landlord, and the only time I (or an agent of mine, eg. a plumber) can access is in a dire emergency - ie. a pipe's burst and there's water spraying everywhere or similar.

Otherwise you are entitled to 'quiet enjoyment' and at a very minimum that means 24 hours notice of a visit - it never means letting yourself in because you think no-ones home.

It doesn't matter what it says in your contract, it doesn't matter if 24hrs notice is given. No one is allowed to enter your home without permission, if you say no, they can't enter. If the place is burning down, they might class that as an 'emergency' otherwise they need a court order if you say no. That includes safety checks too.

Absolutely untrue that money can be taken from your deposit for missed visits too. This is why the DPS etc was brought in, because landlords were running the show and fleecing tenants.

Fucking ignorant greedy fleecing landlords

You can change the locks too as long as it is returned to the original at the end of a tenancy.

I had a LL who never got his head around the house no longer being his home.

Am so glad I no longer rent. It's a savage practice.

I agree you need to change the locks. Does your insurance cover random peeps coming in. What if something goes missing?

As Jeremey says, it doesn't matter one jot what the contract says. The law overrides anything written into the contract. I said this on another thread and I'll say it again, people should be careful what they state as though its fact without educating themselves first.

The law is he has to give 24 hours notice. Doesn't matter 1 iota what the tenancy agreement says. I'd change the locks tbh. Then change them back at the end of the tenancy. The only exception to entering with no notice is an emergency and a different lock wouldn't stop them breaking in if it was an emergency eg a flood or something.

But renters are held to ransom. I'm due to move house in an area with very few suitable properties in my price range plus I'm a lone parent so only one income. I will sign a tenancy agreement no matter what insane clauses are in ther because I need a place to live. I'll keep my head down once I'm in so they don't think I'm a troublemaker. Renting is shit.

The law also says the tenant can refuse no matter what the notice period is

That's 'hobby' landlords for you
Sees you as a guest who kindly services the mortgage on his investment😒

Your landlord is entitled to "reasonable access". They are only entitled to enter without 24 hours notice in writing if it is an emergency, not to carry out routine maintenance or inspections, which they need to give notice for. If a tenant refuses when given this notice, it's a bit of a grey area legally, but the landlord should not just go in anyway. Improvements to the property or work on an adjoining property don't count under the law and you're not required to allow access, but some contracts make provision for this. Check your tenancy agreement. They still have to give you written notice though in all circumstances unless it's an emergency (fire, bad water leak etc).

They are open to allegations of harassment if they disregard this. You are entitled to quiet enjoyment of your property, as a tenant.