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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want my landlord round everyday this week

86 replies

lemondropcake · 17/07/2017 19:34

Landlord text me yesterday and said she was coming round to prune garden and do other jobs in the garden. She said she will be round next week.
Today I came home from work to find she had let herself in and was in here for four hours!
I felt uncomfortable and couldn't get on with doing anything I wanted to do.
She tells me when she's coming and that's it she just let's herself in at any time. I'm on egg shells and wondering if she's going to be here every time I come home from work and even worse on my day off when I want to relax!

OP posts:
Rawhh · 17/07/2017 19:43

That is completely intrusive and impinges on your right to quiet enjoyment of the property. What is she doing out there to warrant her being in the Garden all week? You need to tell her that the whole week is not acceptable and she needs to only be in the Garden from x time to y time on so and so days. Assuming you are comfortable with her being there when you are out as you clearly aren't comfortable with her being there when you are home.

Pengggwn · 17/07/2017 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
lemondropcake · 17/07/2017 19:47

I don't understand why she needs to use the front door when there is a back gate which is accessible. I hate the thought of someone wandering around when I'm not home.
She dug out some bushes that have been there for years and a rose bush. She left at 5pm. I do a hard physical job and it was roasting today so I wanted a shower when I came home. I didn't feel comfortable enough to do that.
I hate how she is vague about when she is coming round. No day no time just let's herself in and leaves when she pleases.
I am livid!

OP posts:
Bunbunbunny · 17/07/2017 19:47

She should be giving you 24hrs notice unless it's an emergency (leak etc)

What does your TA say about the garden maintenance?

BenLui · 17/07/2017 19:48

Why is she in the house if she is coming to garden?

ScrumDinger · 17/07/2017 19:48

Ugh. Fuck that shit. Tell her it's not on.

specialsubject · 17/07/2017 19:49

Nope. Write letter reminding her of the law.

MatildaTheCat · 17/07/2017 19:49

In a way you are lucky as caring for the garden is usually the tenant's responsibility. However YANBU in not wanting her to just pop in whenever suits her and should ask her to fix her dates well in advance and restrict to a minimum.

Unfortunately at this time of year gardens do need very regular maintenance in order to stay under control so it may need to be quite frequent. Could you suggest times when you are at work? Saying you don't feel comfortable with her there for four hours is fine.

faithinthesound · 17/07/2017 19:51

Um...

IANAL but she can't do that.

In my country, she can ASK, but she has to give you 24/48hrs notice (one or the other, I forget which), and you have the right to refuse (if you're being reasonable). For example, years ago a landlord of mine told us that she was going to have viewings of the house we were moving out of, every weekday at three. We told her to sit and spin: he would have been at work, and I would have been asleep (night shift), and that just didn't work for us. We gave her two times that worked for us, and by this country's law because we were still allowing her access, she had to like it or lump it.

She doesn't have the right to let herself in without your permission and without prior knowledge unless there's a genuine emergency (gas leak, burst pipe, fire). But again, IANAL.

Justhadmyhaircut · 17/07/2017 19:55

Go through your tenancy agreement and text her the bits that apply in this situation. . She needs to give x amount of notice to call around, can't use a key, you have the right to enjoy your home, offer a mutual time and have coffee in the garden with the doors shut. - Gate access only.

Doesitgoto11 · 17/07/2017 19:55

Depending on the terms of your contract then no that's not on. I'm going to assume you're on a standard AST in which case they should be giving you at least 24 hours notice in writing and you are within your rights (from my understanding) to say no unless you're there or to arrange a mutually agreeable time. What if you'd been off sick or something and they'd just let themselves in???? Totally breaches your right to 'quiet enjoyment' of your home.

pigsDOfly · 17/07/2017 19:59

No, no, no. Lovely that she is taking care of the garden, if that suits you and it's what's on the tenancy agreement, but she must be told she cannot just use her key and walk into your home like that.

She must, as pp said, give you notice if she intends to come and inspect the property or work has to be done and you have to agree a mutually convenient time.

Just because she owns the property it doesn't mean she can just ride roughshod over your wants. How dare she just walk in and spend time in your home, I'd be furious if I were you.

Original poster
lemondropcake · 17/07/2017 20:00

The worst part is we have only just had our offer accepted on a house but not yet signed for it so can't let landlord know until everything is signed.
I have boxes in to start organising and she's letting herself in the house. I would rather she used the back gate instead of coming in my house for a nosey....because that's all she is doing.
I wanted to start clearing stuff out and start packing up some things on my day off. Going to be on egg shells all day if she just let's herself in. Hate this!

OP posts:
CryingMessFFS · 17/07/2017 20:01

It doesn't matter what the contract says, she cannot come into the property except in an emergency. Pruning the garden is not an emergency. She should give 24hr notice to come round for any other reason but you don't have to allow her any access whatsoever. Tell her in no uncertain terms to stop. If she persists tell her you'll call the police (I am not joking - some landlords and letting agents think they can get away with murder when in reality they're breaking the law)

pigsDOfly · 17/07/2017 20:10

Well, Lemondrop tell her she's breaking the law by walking into your home uninvited and it must stop and she won't be able to see what you're doing.

If she were a complete stranger breaking in you wouldn't accept it. She's not above the law.

Original poster
lemondropcake · 17/07/2017 20:15

She's sneaky. She said yesterday next week. What she really meant was tomorrow. I didn't even tidy up and left breakfast dishes in sink and washing hanging out of washing machine.
By saying next week she's saying any day any time. I do not want to come home from work and find her in my house or garden every sodding day. 4pm and 5pm isn't an acceptable time in my book as it's time to start winding down and preparing dinner!

She does my head in.

OP posts:
Rhubarbtart9 · 17/07/2017 20:18

Just ask her for specific times/days and explain that you need to have the house to yourself once home as you want to get showered

Doesitgoto11 · 17/07/2017 20:25

@lemondropcake the simple answer is that she cannot legally do that. Tell her she needs to abide by the terms of the tenancy agreement.

I've had a landlord like that before, ended up having to quote chapter & verse. Some LL's hold the view that because they own the place it's theirs lock stock. Unfortunately for them it's not. It's their 'house' but it's your 'home'. And you have rights.

CorbynsBumFlannel · 17/07/2017 20:28

Just send her a message saying That's fine. What day/time will you be coming? Also could you use the back gate rather than the front door. Thanks.

gallicgirl · 17/07/2017 20:29

If she's gardening, she doesn't even need to be in the house.
Does she use an agent? If you are not confident enough to tell her what time is suitable, then complain to her agent.

Original poster
lemondropcake · 17/07/2017 20:37

Private landlord so no agent.
She will be getting her notice to quit shortly once I've signed for the house we have bought. She is having work done in the garden, we have been here eight years. I can bad letting it go ahead but we need to cover our backs.
I just don't want her in the house when I'm not home. I have a feeling she has a good nosey about. When ever I talk to her in the hallway her eyes are looking about everywhere. It drives me mad.
When ever work is getting done she lets herself in and waits on tradesman coming. Last time she waited an hour in my living room for someone to come do a quote and he didn't show up...rather than me just let him in and him call her with the quote.

OP posts:
DixieFlatline · 17/07/2017 20:37

It doesn't matter what the contract says, she cannot come into the property except in an emergency. Pruning the garden is not an emergency. She should give 24hr notice to come round for any other reason but you don't have to allow her any access whatsoever.

This.

All this 'check your tenancy agreement' and 'depending on the terms' stuff is nonsense.

pigsDOfly · 17/07/2017 20:39

Lemondrop Everyone on here is telling you she is not allowed, by law, to just keep coming into your home, yet you seem unwilling to challenge her on it.

She doesn't have to 'do your head in', she has to keep out of your home.

I'm a landlord, by the way. I just can't imagine a scenario in which I would feel it appropriate to just turn up at my tenant's home, open the door with the key and walk in.

DeadGood · 17/07/2017 20:44

OP are you actually reading any of these responses, or just ranting?

Gingerandgivingzerofucks · 17/07/2017 20:47

It is illegal for her to do this. Tell her to fuck off and that she may NOT enter your home when she pleases. I cannot believe you've tolerated this for 8 years! Madness!

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