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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to find it extraordinarily intrusive for a LA to take photos of the interior of my home?

67 replies

CotesDeGroan · 04/04/2017 19:44

Apparently this is a thing. I Googled and it appears to be legal and fairly commonplace Shock

I've been renting my current home for a couple of years now. I keep it clean and tidy enough, but not show home pristine. Previous inspections have been quite cursory, no problems.

This time however, and without warning, the agent explained that they are now taking photos of every room in every rental to accompany the report they send to the LL. I refused to allow them to take any of the bedrooms.

AIBU to find the thought of strangers zooming in on mine and my DCs stuff unnerving? I get this happens all the time on Rightmove but at least then you get to double check you've hidden anything embarrassing before photos are published! Confused

OP posts:
previously1474etc · 04/04/2017 19:58

Would there be anything about this in the rental agreement?

I wouldn't be happy with it at all.I hated being scrutinised when we rented, it was a big house and the inspections took ages, it really made me feel uncomfortable.

bonfireheart · 04/04/2017 19:58

I doubt they're zooming in on your personal stuff but if they can only take a pic of the room with your stuff in it then so be it.

Original poster
CotesDeGroan · 04/04/2017 20:05

There's nothing in the rental agreement beyond that I will facilitate regular inspections.

It really freaked me out tbh. Even the thought of a stranger analysing the contents of my bookcase without my knowledge or consent. It just seems a bit much.

OP posts:
AntagonyAunt · 04/04/2017 20:08

What are the embarrassing things?

Sorry, my nosiness overwhelms me.

bonfireheart · 04/04/2017 20:10

What do you think they'll do with the pics?

AntagonyAunt · 04/04/2017 20:13

I don't think the photos are necessary really other than saving them the trouble of writing a descriptive report. Not sure if you refusing them would be a breach of your tenancy agreement or not. I wouldn't have thought so but might not go down well with the landlord.

Original poster
CotesDeGroan · 04/04/2017 20:15

Medication, fetishwear, my copy of Mein Kampf maybe. None of which would stand out if someone was just looking round, but might be spotted by someone studying a photo (fictitious examples btw!).

OP posts:
soapboxqueen · 04/04/2017 20:15

As a LL the agent had only sent me pictures when there has been damage not just for no reason.

wowfudge · 04/04/2017 20:16

It's to keep a record of the condition. If they were opening cupboards and so on, then I think you would be right to complain.

Original poster
CotesDeGroan · 04/04/2017 20:18

There has honestly been no damage, soapbox.

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 04/04/2017 20:20

Bloody ridiculous Ask them if they are having an exhibition Hmm

AntagonyAunt · 04/04/2017 20:21

Ask them what the key things are that they need to check. Then perhaps they can take photos of those key things....condition stuff. I don't see why they need to just take general photos of all rooms. I would also find that invasive.

DedicationToSparkleMotion · 04/04/2017 20:24

Seems sensible, if there's a disagreement between you and the LL when you part ways, i.e. you say that big graffiti penis was on the living room wall when you got there and LL says no it wasn't, you refer back to the photos. It's usually more accurate than the written list they give you at the start of the tenancy. Wouldn't be a problem for me and I think I'd insist on it if I were letting my property.

AntagonyAunt · 04/04/2017 20:24

I work somewhere that has lots of photos of tenants properties. My colleagues and I do have a good gander. Don't mean to make you feel worst about it but yes, I'm not the only nosey one.

helterskelter99 · 04/04/2017 20:27

No doubt the agent is charging for the i soection, often tenants do damage stuff and then there are questions as to when it happened. If you take pictures during periodic inspections then it shows the place is still in a decent state

HelenaDove · 04/04/2017 20:31

Will you be getting copies of the photos OP As its to help you as well.

HighwayDragon1 · 04/04/2017 20:35

No-one is taking pictures of the inside of my home and storing them good knows where for good knows who to look through. And if an EA insisted, that'd be the end of any and all inspections.

previously1474etc · 04/04/2017 20:35

When we moved into our rental the photos on the inventory were poor resolution. After five years they took new ones when we had left, very high res. and showing every little scratch and mark simply so that they could rip us off and make us pay for things that were wear and tear.

It has advantages either way, but if I ever rent again I would be taking my own photos too. Every time they took them.

soapboxqueen · 04/04/2017 20:35

cotes I didn't mean to imply there was damage. It's just if something is broken and needs fixing, the agent sends me pictures to show what needs to be done.

Nanny0gg · 04/04/2017 20:35

I agree with the OP.

This is supposed to be her home. Just because she pays a landlord rather than a mortgage lender, why should she be treated this way?

Would any of you like it?

ShesAStar · 04/04/2017 20:36

It's very intrusive, I'm a LL and would never agree to this - my tenant deserves privacy as do all tenants. If there's something so pressing that the LL must see it why can't an appointment be made? We have had photos given to us by the letting agency after the tennant has moved out but never with a tennant in situ.

goodpiemissedthechips · 04/04/2017 20:42

Exactly shesastar. The landlord is welcome to attend the inspection, or to send someone else as a representative. I'd be happy with that. Taking a permanent electronic record of all the tenant's property as well as my own - not so much.

goodpiemissedthechips · 04/04/2017 20:43

cotes tell them they are welcome to take photos of the house but they don't have permission to photograph any of your possessions. Grin

TreeTop7 · 04/04/2017 20:47

They should seek consent first so that items like medication can be shoved in drawers, photos can be placed face down, dirty linen put in the laundry basket etc. No way should it just happen without prior agreement! That would be an invasion of privacy.

This could protect the tenant as much as the LL, thinking about it. I wish it had existed in the 1990s when I was renting, it might have saved my flatmates and me money and inconvenience (landlord made false claims, we stood no chance and lost £120 each). So, I cautiously think it's a good thing - both parties must agree though, and the tenant must receive notice.

Atenco · 04/04/2017 20:53

This is supposed to be her home. Just because she pays a landlord rather than a mortgage lender, why should she be treated this way?

Many years since I last rented, but I couldn't cope with that treatment. LLs (with the honourable exception of some, such as shesastar) get worse and worse.