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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

worryworts · 17/07/2017 22:07

Sent you a pm.

Doesitgoto11 · 17/07/2017 22:24

As others have said your DP is worrying unnecessarily if your deposit is held in a scheme (as it should be by law now). She absolutely CANNOT just let herself in and I can't believe tbh that she is given she should know all about her lack of rights of access. She is taking the absolute piss. It doesn't matter one fkn iota that you're going to be moving on, she has no rights to access your home.

toosexyforyahshirt · 17/07/2017 22:28

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

No this is bollocks. Notice or no notice, she should never let herself in and has no right at all to do so.

Flisspaps · 17/07/2017 22:28

Why is she in the garden at all? Whilst you live there that is your garden and should be subject to the same access rights as the house - ie not unless there is an emergency.

You have the right to peaceful enjoyment of the house (and garden).

Doesitgoto11 · 17/07/2017 22:31

What @Flisspaps and others have said. The garden is an extension of your house. No one should be there without express permission.

bunningsbunny · 17/07/2017 23:21

Also if she has been very vague with times, text her back and say as per our contract times you are here need to be mutually agreed. Please note that [day off] and any time after 5pm will not be convenient so please do not come then. However, xx time would be more convenient. If you are unable to make this time then please let me know your availability for the next week so we can find a mutually agreeable time. Please also note that I do not feel comfortable with you letting yourself into my property when I am out; not least because it invalidates my insurance. If you are coming to do the garden please do not let yourself into my house but access the back gate via the garden. If you need access to the house please let me know approximately when you need access so we can agree mutually agreeable times. FYI, Tuesday evening for an hour at some point between 6 and 8pm (or whatever it is) would be best for me.

doobree · 17/07/2017 23:29

Seriously, you have to put a stop to this. She cannot enter the property inc garden without proper consent.

Your deposit cannot be claimed on without good reason (not new for old, excepting fair wear and tear) and evidence to back up the claim and as PPs have said, the deposit should be in a scheme.

Check ASAP that your deposit is protected. You should have a certificate. You can also check online I think with the various schemes. Serious problem for the LL if it isn't protected. And compensation for you if not protected.

Read up on the rules re deposits and time limits for disputes/ adjudications etc and put your minds at rest about that at least.

pigsDOfly · 18/07/2017 11:16

This all sounds rather dodgy tbh. Are you sure your deposit has been put into a deposit protection scheme OP.

She can't just keep all, or any part of your deposit because she wants to. She has to prove to the deposit protection scheme that she has good reason. And if it isn't in a deposit protection scheme, as pp said, she could face a heavy fine.

I had a tenant who paid no rent for six months and left the house in an awful state - evicted by bailiffs eventually - but I still had to supply prove that I had good reason to keep the whole deposit.

The pps saying the OP is paranoid or maybe she's going in to use the loo, seem to have a very odd idea about the law and what's acceptable. The LL has no right to enter the OP's home, full stop, she is breaking the law by so doing. Would you like a stranger walking into your home and using the loo or sitting in you living room? I doubt it.

EnglandKeepMyBones · 18/07/2017 11:23

Is your deposit protected OP?

She can't punish you for handing in your notice. And she can't just access your home willy nilly. You and your DP can put a stop to this and whether it upsets her or not is irrelevant, she has no recourse for simply being told that she can't continue to act illegally.

specialsubject · 18/07/2017 13:00

If you won't tell her in writing, at least read the how to rent guide on gov.uk, and get your husband to read it too . it sets out all your rights.

Lack of agent irrelevant.

Original poster

lemondropcake · 18/07/2017 15:59

I locked the door from the inside and left via back door and left back gate open. She has been because her car was there when I went past earlier but it doesn't look like she has done anything.
I felt bloody rotten about it because she is obviously doing us a favour and I feel bad because in a week or so I'm going to be giving her our notice to quit....but she's letting herself in at her own leisure while I'm out. I don't want her just popping up especially on my day off when I'm going to be in pjs until 10am and be pottering, plus I want to be able to start packing some things away without the fear the landlord is looking in the window.
Do and I had a row last night. He said she will find fault with the house and keep the deposit because we will have pissed her off by locking front door and leaving key in. I told him until I was blue in the face she can't do That, plus any ware and tear is really her jobs anyway not ours so we havent done anything wrong. House is clean and tidy but there is ware and tear because she hasn't touched anything in seven years.
I just hate the inconvience it's caused me this week because I'm a person who likes my own space. We have nothing to hide other than a few boxes that would make her suspicious but I still don't like people coming and going as they please in the house.

OP posts:

specialsubject · 18/07/2017 16:51

Not a favour unless the place is rent free!

Please tell your husband to cease the guardian reader all landlords can keep deposits on a whim nonsense and get informed.

BTW make sure you give proper notice in writing, and remember you can't take it back.

I'm a landlord.

CouldntMakeThisShitUp · 18/07/2017 17:02

I felt bloody rotten about it because she is obviously doing us a favour

how is this is a favour that benefits you? she hasn't touched anything in seven years

She is probably looking to sell and the garden is the only place she wants to concentrate on.

She's probably been letting herself in for a snoop far more times than you are aware of.

You can always not pay your last month's rent and tell her your deposit will cover that last month.
That way you're not out of pocket and she can't find excuses to keep the deposit.

Just keep your keys in/chain on the doors.

If she's there when you're home - stick your music on full blast. When she complains - tell her to arrange times with you so she doesn't HAVE to go through that again.

picklemepopcorn · 18/07/2017 17:34

So, has she been doing this for seven years?

pigsDOfly · 18/07/2017 17:46

Don't think OP can refuse to pay the last month's rent and tell the LL to take it out of the deposit Couldn'tMake.

The deposit has to be returned to the tenant unless there's a dispute, and disputes can take some months to resolve. Of course that only applies if the deposit has been put into deposit protection.

demirose87 · 18/07/2017 17:57

I've had similar problems, ring your local council and ask them to write her a letter or speak to her over the phone telling her she's in breach of her contract. She should be registered as a landlord with the council so if shes not doing it properly they need to know.

pigsDOfly · 18/07/2017 18:23

Pretty certain it's nothing to do with the local council demirose. I've never heard of a LL having to register with the local council unless letting a house of multiple occupancy, in which case LL needs a licence.

demirose87 · 18/07/2017 18:34

Most councils make sure they are registered. My previous landlords were fined £200 for not registering.

demirose87 · 18/07/2017 18:37

Its new legislation I think, my local council has been doing it for 2 years. They helped me with ending my tenancy early and finding me a social housing home.

pigsDOfly · 18/07/2017 18:56

I've never heard of that Demirose. I will ask my letting agent about it tomorrow.

He's very professional and has been in the business for years can't understand why he has never mentioned it. Oh dear.

You might have saved me a large fine.

demirose87 · 18/07/2017 18:59

Yes, just check. I think its about 600 to register, I only know all this cos my last landlords gave me hell and ot almost went to court. But its not all councils so you may be ok

demirose87 · 18/07/2017 19:02

pigsdofly, I think the letting agents might be registered and that's why you might not need to be, my landlords weren't with a letting agency so might be why they were responsible.

HappenedForAReisling · 18/07/2017 19:35

OP, do you actually have a legal agreement with your LL?

If so, I don't know why your DP is getting so upset - the law is on your side.

Doesitgoto11 · 18/07/2017 20:00

@lemondropcake what she has been doing by accessing your home is ILLEGAL without your express permission. Not to mention breach of contract.

There are some lovely LL posters on this thread who are all of a similar view.

There is no need to 'feel rotten' she's taking the absolute piss. My LL (also private) has txt me today to make sure it's ok for her to still pop in on Friday she would never ever just turn up.

Original poster

lemondropcake · 18/07/2017 20:18

On Sunday night she texted I will be round next week to sort garden....i said ok no prob.
I found this very vague and thought she would text me with days and times once she knew and I could either say yes that's fine or no it's not convenient.
I didn't expect her to come round the following day without a phone call and just let herself in the house and stay for five hours in the garden.
I have no idea if she plans to come round tomorrow or how long she hopes to stay.

I appreciate she has work to do but I wouldn't have expected her do more than a couple of hours a week in the garden as coming round when it suits her seriously inconveniences me and disturbs my peace!

She does everything by the book in terms of deposit but hasn't updated contract in seven years. My partner moved in five years ago and she still hasn't added him to it, plus her husband died and his name is still on the contract.

OP posts:

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