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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think my landlord is a bit rude

43 replies

Regalparade · 15/08/2017 09:58

When ever she comes round which is very often right now she 'tells me' when she is coming round. She doesn't ask me when is a good time to come or if she can, she just informs me when she is coming and that is that.
She is vague with her times too. For instance she will say I'm coming round sometime this week to do xyz. I will come home from work to find her car outside and she has let herself in.
A couple of weeks ago she came round and hovered over tradesman doing work in the garden. She was here everyday in the week for hours at a time. I locked the door from the inside and left the key in as I was sick of her letting herself in when the back gate was open, so she actually had no need to be in my house.
She has just texted me to say I'm coming round tomorrow can you leave the key out the door so I can get in.
I'm moving in two weeks so I'm expecting more of her for quotes for work on the house. (Nice to know she hasn't updated the house in years and years but as soon as we are going she starts)
I find it really rude to just come round when it suits to my home instead of asking for an appropriate time. She is retired and lives a five min drive away so not like she is restricted to when she can come. But I work and have a family and I hate coming home to just find her in the house. She always overstays her welcome too. For instance she came over to wait on someone coming to give her a quote for installing a smoke alarm. The guy never turned up but she stayed an hour just incase. This was at 7pm at night when I wanted to relax.
I know I'm moving in two weeks but I find it really really irritating. I don't want to cause a fuss incase she makes things hard for us when we move.

OP posts:
waitforitfdear · 15/08/2017 10:03

That sounds rude but at least you are going. Have you got your deposit back?

YellowLawn · 15/08/2017 10:05

yanbu
tell her she cannot let herself into your home. if she does it's tresspass.

cansu · 15/08/2017 10:06

She is out of line. You need to be firm with her. Eg that dorsnt work for me or you will need to come another day as we are busy or you are welvome to wait outside but the door will be locked as we have a visitor etc. Alternatively ask her to come over and sit her down and tell her it is unwelcome as you need your privacy. Tell her to ask and to try and remember that this is your home.

honeysucklejasmine · 15/08/2017 10:06

She has no right to access your house for these reasons, whether you are moving soon or not.

nina2b · 15/08/2017 10:08

She should not be doing this. You, as a tenant, have rights. Check them out.

Bubwiser · 15/08/2017 10:10

I hate coming home to just find her in the house

Is she allowed to do that? Yes, she owns the house but you are renting it from her legally. My mum is a landlord and would never just let herself into her tenant's place. Lucky you are leaving. She sounds awful.

Original poster
Regalparade · 15/08/2017 10:11

Not as yet but I think we need to pay another months rent on the place before we get it back.
We have bought our own house so at least I will be shot of the landlord set up. I hate that I'm reminded every time she steps in that this isn't my house.
She always has people round for quotes and never follows any of them up. The quote she's having done tomorrow is the fifth quote on the same job Angry
I find it frustrating I have an exhausting job and I'm a parent to a young child so the last time she let herself in I hadn't done the housework as I was planning on doing it after work as I wasn't feeling well the night before....then I come home to find the front door open and she's in the garden. Angry

When I locked the door and left the key in I didn't know if she had been round and attempted the door. Obviously now I know she had been!

OP posts:
DeleteOrDecay · 15/08/2017 10:12

YANBU, thank god you won't be there much longer. She sounds awful.

JustDontGetItAtAll · 15/08/2017 10:14

That's illegal. A Landlord has to give 24 hours notice and if you refuse then there is nothing they can do! I would inform her that this is to stop. You are refusing her ANY access until you move out. (She cannot withhold any bond - out of spite or otherwise - even if she wanted to, as it SHOULD be in a Tenancy deposit scheme and is nothing to do with her, provided there is no damage. Which has to be witnessed by the Tenancy Deposit Company themselves) x

Original poster
Regalparade · 15/08/2017 10:14

I have looked up my rights and all I can see is that she can let herself in providing she has given me 24hours notice if she requires to carry out work on the property.

She does tell me 24hours before but as I said she can be vague with times. Tells me 'during the week'. When she said that last time during the week ended up everyday for hours at a time!!
I am sick fed up with it.

OP posts:
ElizabethShaw · 15/08/2017 10:18

She has to give at least 24 hours notice but she can't let her self in unless you agree.

Just say no next time!

ThymeLordIsSpartacus · 15/08/2017 10:21

She can not let herself in OP. I don't know where you would have read that? Confused

24 hours notice and even then you can refuse. It is your home. You decide who comes in and who doesn't. She can't tell you that she is coming round at all. She can ask you, with 24 hours notice, and you have every right to refuse.

AndNowItIsSeven · 15/08/2017 10:21

No she has to give 24 hours notice but you can still legally refuse her access. Put the key in the lock and tell her no access until the day you move out.

Jaxhog · 15/08/2017 10:24

She has to ask and agree a suitable (and specific) time with you. She can't just let herself in, Especially not when (I presume) she's also letting strangers (workmen) in as well! You can't withhold consent unreasonably, but that doesn't mean you have to give her access willy nilly. Personally, I would only give her access when I was there.

We used to have a landlord who would not only let herself in, but connect her vacuum to our power socket to vacuum the common areas. Until we caught her at it.

silkybear · 15/08/2017 10:24

When she gives you 24 hours notice say no its not convienent. Keep saying no. If she wants to renovate she can do it after you have moved out. It is your home until you give the keys back and you don't have to give a reason. If she turns up regardless call 111 in front of her.

smurfit · 15/08/2017 10:24

I think the general rule is you can't be unnecessarily obstructive if she gives 24 hr notice. So you could try 'no I'm not going to leave the key out of the door but between 5 and 7 is a good time'.

hedgebitch · 15/08/2017 10:24

I'm sure she can't just march in without your permission. 24 hours is the minimum notice required but I don't think it obliges you to say yes. You are entitled to quiet enjoyment of the property, and if she wants free access she can wait two more weeks.

Hang in there! Soon landlords will be a thing of the past. I scraped together enough to buy last year and it's brilliant. We've spent a small fortune fixing the ancient boiler etc., but it's so worth it to know it's my home and no bugger has the right to come and inspect my housework.

Original poster
Regalparade · 15/08/2017 10:25

I guess I'm just stubborn. If she had texted to say I'm getting a quote done for this or That, is it ok if I come round at 12pm or a time that suits you I wouldn't mind. But it very much goes like this 'tomorrow I'm coming round to do xyz can you leave the key out the door.
She doesn't care what I'm doing or what suits me as long as she can get in.
She texted me a few months ago to say I'm coming round soon to plant flowers. Surely that's my decision if I want flowers or Not? It's overbearing and it drives me nuts!

OP posts:
duracellred · 15/08/2017 10:27

Do remember that legally, she can enter if emergency works (gas leak, water flood) ensues. However, all are very right - she cannot enter without 24 hours notice (agreed by yourself) and certainly not to let herself in as and when she pleases - that is trespassing and illegal.

ElizabethShaw · 15/08/2017 10:28

You really need to grow a backbone and say no then. Letting her walk all over you isn't stubbornness!

ThymeLordIsSpartacus · 15/08/2017 10:28

You aren't stubborn. This is your HOME. Keep telling yourself that please! Nobody can come into your home without your permission, regardless of whether they own the bricks and mortar. Nobody can plant flowers in your garden without your permission.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 15/08/2017 10:30

She's more than rude. Make her wait.

Oldraver · 15/08/2017 10:32

Just text her and say no you do not give her permission and yo stop letting herself into your home as it's illegal

Original poster
Regalparade · 15/08/2017 10:33

I would have thought leaving the key in the door was a massive hint that I didn't want her letting herself into my home. Clearly no fucks given. I'm so tempted to say dh is night shift tomorrow but she can let herself in Grin just to make her feel uncomfortable, also ensures she won't be snooping about and overstaying her welcome.
I'm too soft. I really am. I wouldn't know what to say when she asks me why.

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 15/08/2017 10:33

Did you post about this a few weeks ago OP? Identical problems and you were given loads of advice which you seemed reluctant to taken on board, or do anything about.

Sorry if it wasn't you, but a hell of a coincidence if not.