AIBU to refuse access to knobhead gas engineer

[streetface]

Hi, long time lurker, new poster.

We rent. Have done our entire working lives. Never had any problems. Rented long term in London, had super relationship with previous landlords, even got card and flowers when we left and told if we ever need to go back to the area to give them a call.
Moved out of London to cheaper, nicer area. Landlady sends round gas engineer who for reasons unbeknown to me behaves like an arrogant fucking cockwomble. Parks on my drive without asking so I couldn't get my car on when I came home. Husband was already home and let him in thinking I was expecting him (I wasn't) I walk in to my living room and he's there and doesn't even acknowledge me when i ask what he's there for. (landlady forgot to tell me) I ask him to please take his shoes off. "I can't" he says then without asking telling me what he's doing he walks upstairs, boots on, starts opening all my cupboards, I call up asking what he's looking for (boiler obvs), I tell him where it is. Doesn't say a word to me, just opens it. I go down stairs, in the kitchen telling husband what a rude twat he is when he barges in the kitchen, in between my husband and I having a chat, not an excuse me, no, "I just need to check the oven" or similar....no, nothing, not a word. He turns my oven off with the kids dinner in it. I say, 'erm excuse me could you wait until I take that out' I get (with back turned to me) "No I haven't finished" He then TAKES MY TEA TOWEL AND CHUCKS IT ON THE FUCKING FLOOR" Now this would be bad anyway but I suffer from chronic OCD and general anxiety disorder. I threw him out there and then. I felt so invaded. My home is my orderly 'safe space' and it was such a horrible experience. My husband told letting agent to tell landlady never let him back. Letting agent was witness as she rolled up halfway profusely apologising that she forgot to tell me. She was standing in kitchen with us when I chucked him out.

Now I must say, we are a landlords dream even if I say it myself. Professionals, rent paid early each month, house immaculate, new quality carpet laid at our expense, long term renters. Our previous landlords have always appreciated this and never made us feel like second class citizens or 'just renters'
Despite knowing I have OCD (I let landlord know before I moved in as it seriously affects my life and home access, always need shoes removed, funny about strangers using my loo etc) she was happy to go ahead. Now the gas certificate is due again. I'm being told it HAS to be the same guy, he's the ONLY person qualified and it leaves all previous guarantees void if anyone else does it. Is this true? I can't find anything online about this. Now I know I need to allow access for maintenance but I also know I am entitled to live without harassment and live in peace. Do I really need let the man who i had to chuck out round my bloody home again? I have never had a single problem in the 20 years I've rented so I don't feel I'm being unreasonable asking the landlady to give a bit more consideration to really good tenants who i am told are a rarity. The letting agent has explained how damn rude he was. If it was her home I'm sure she wouldn't allow someone who had offended her in her own home back, why is it acceptable for her to force this arsehole on us again? AIBU to refuse access?

To clarify many installers offer warrenty beyond the basic cover from the manufacturer however this often comes with the stipulation that they carry out any inspections and services on the install during that period.

Husband was only privvy to the kitchen incident, was holding 8 week old baby at the time and didn't really take much notice until I said "right, get out my home NOW" He did say sorry and that no way would he let him get away with it had he been more aware. I had only just walked in the kitchen, turned oven on, put dinner in and was chatting to him and letting agent agent about the bloke when engineer came in. He wouldn't have him behaving like that again but its too late. i don't want him back being well behaved. I don't want him AT ALL.
Thanks Patchouli 666 that's what I thought. It's just her thinking I'm a soft touch. Have just called letting agent and said 'I can't do this, I can't accept it I'm sorry but I don't wan to be forced out the home' She promised me that would not happen. She is going to call landlady and tell her. i told her I had double checked, used the 'what if he died, it wouldn't make the certificate invalid' argument and she went....'ok yes I understand' I have offered to find, book and pay for my own certificate. I'm standing firm but will not outright refuse if she insists. From the replies I think that seems like the best option.

YABU. Where else should he have parked when he was working at your property.Your landlady was at fault and you took it out on the engineer. It's no wonder he reacted the way he did you sound rude.

You can't expect workmen to remove their shoes, if they are using tools it is dangerous to have their feet unprotected. If you are so worried about it then provide foot covers. Try your local pound shop.

(I had a delivery of furniture the other week and the delivery instructions said in big letters that their workers had been instructed that they were not to remove their shoes and that the items would be taken back if the householder refused them entry! I didn't care as the house was covered in plaster dust anyway and their feet were probably dirtier on the way out.)

24 hours written notice as a minimum is required to have access to home surely you could have said "I haven't been given notice" and told him to leave?

Well can op find out of the engineer is self employed and the only employee of his company or if he is employed by a larger company. If larger company then OP can complain directly to his superior and demand another engineer. If self employed I'd request a copy of the terms of the warranty from the landlord.

No no baconandeggies I am simply trying to explain why I allowed it. Otherwise I have to admit I've been a mug and a doormat. And I'm on mumsnet in AIBU. Not the best place to show weakness ;)

paying the council tax was extremely generous, and you're a great tenant so you do deserve some consideration.

i don't think you'd be out of order to say this guy can't come round.

you can also insist he wears shoe covers and makes sure your dh follow him around. i would make sure i was out of the house.

Your reaction is unbelievably extreme in relation to what happened, you do realise this don't you?
YABU and petty for the parking on your drive
YABU about asking him to take his shoes off. He has a job to do, you must see that there is a health and safety issue in dealing with gas installations in bare feet.
Your landlady should have warned you that he was coming though. Maybe just let your DH deal with him next time and make sure you are out of the house when he is there.
Ps I imagine he heard you calling him a rude twat hence why he wasn't particularly nice to you in the kitchen

Op we all do silly things that makes us feel like a mug or a doormat! Don't worry about it. But that's why I think you do right to stick to your guns now as the landlord will only continue to take advantage of your good nature

Also he should have said "I need to switch oven off to test/ can you show me where boiler is please/ I can't take my shoes off due to X/ can I use this towel please". I think the fact that didn't happen is really inconsiderate and rude and unprofessional which makes the parking thing feel worse.

The Gas Safe register shows the number of engineers.

Glastonbury I didn't mention the parking to him. So I wasn't rude at all. I was extremely polite until he chucked my towel.
Re the parking. I would happily allow workmen to park on my drive. What has happened before is they have knocked first, asked if its ok and left space for the person that lives there. It was his basic attitude. Secondly, shoes. Been renting two decades. Workmen have always asked or had shoe covers. Standard. It's the walking round without any acknowledgement, any response to my questions, showing any respect at all. If I ask, "excuse me can you remove your shoes when you go upstairs" I would expect, "sorry I can't" or "I'll get shoecovers" or something. Not getting blanked and mud traipsed through, especially as I had newborn mats and stuff on the floor. The letting agent said it was standard practice to ask if he could use the drive or remove shoes. She thought he was very rude so it wasn't just me.

Are you on the wirral? I have had an almost identical experience with a gas fitter used by our landlord. If you are I'll PM you the person to see if it's the same one.

Also he should have said "I need to switch oven off to test/ can you show me where boiler is please/ I can't take my shoes off due to X/ can I use this towel please". I think the fact that didn't happen is really inconsiderate and rude and unprofessional which makes the parking thing feel worse.

This. Thanks. That is exactly my point,. It's not the shoes or the drive or the going round my house. Its the lack of basic manners while doing so. He treated me like scum.

No way did he hear me calling him a name. He was upstairs. I could hear him coming down the stairs and had called him rude way before he came in the kitchen. He was rude the second he came in.

No I'm not in the Wirral. Shame its happened to someone else though.

Well done for taking a stand streetface - don't back down though, even if the LL 'insists'. She sounds like a bully.

Thanks Baconandeggies.

Just to say, I have had gas safety inspections every year. They are not installing stuff, just turning stuff on and off. Nobody has ever refused to take their shoes off. Even some of you think IWBU for asking him, surely he could have just replied?! Or is a response too much to ask for? I asked nicely!

My husband is a gas engineer. As long as they have a gas safe registration they can do it.

He has those blue cover things for his shoes as they are proper steel toe capped shoes and he has to wear them for health and safety.

He was recently flung out of a house by a tennant with mental health issues. He told his bosses he would refuse to attend that address in future as she was violent to him for no reason.

But I would say the LL has an affiliation with him and probably gets it cheaper through him! But I'm not sure what you can do as it appears no one is listening to you.

Reaction extreme or not. I warned landlady I have doctor diagnosed OCD and G.A.D. Regardless of how different people react to things, that is how I feel when my home, where I feel safe and have things ordered, turns into a place where I feel uncomfortable or upset. That's the nature of GAD. Managed to get along fine with work, previous landlords etc before. I just wanted to know if AIBU for refusing to let someone in the home who I don't feel comfortable with. Most of you think AINBU so have put my foot down. Thanks for supportive replies.

What a horrible rude man. He may consider himself to be an engineer or whatnot but in that job he is also dealing with people too. He needs to take a course in people skills - I'm not surprised you threw him out. I'd get on the phone and complain to his employer if you know which firm he, ahem, represented.

YANBU to not want him back in your home. Have you considered moving somewhere else?

His own company. Shame.

His attitude was vile. I'm glad he won't be getting more work from your landlady. And good on you for chucking him out.

I have horidhenryrules. The thing is we have just uprooted the children 100 miles away and they have just settled. I could stay in the same area and move as letting agent is lovely and said I would not need to find another deposit or get references again and if I like something on her books just say and I can go (don't think she likes landlady either) but to live here less than two years and move again doesn't feel like the best interests of the kids. Plus if I find the inspection stressful you can imagine how I find moving! However, I am seriously considering it as an option if me taking a stand goes tits up.