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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was an outrageous request from our landlord and to be a bit suspicious?

398 replies

pinkowl · 14/09/2017 09:24

We rent our house and have been here for 3 years, so it is very much our home.

Some background. The landlords aren't buy to lets, they inherited this house and we are the first tenants. Before letting they completely refurbished the property - new bathrooms, kitchens, windows, carpets, roof extension, the lot. They did it themselves to a high standard and it's lovely. I can imagine that they're proud of it (relevant)

We have a good relationship with them. They're not local but come down to see family sometimes and tend to use the opportunity to do any maintenance that needs doing. Recently they've been sprucing up the exterior.

Onto the outrageous request! She text me yesterday and explained that she was coming down with a girlfriend who knew the house as it was before, and would love to see what it looks like now. And could they come round today so the friend could have a look round the house.

I feel pretty disgruntled. This is our home and of course I don't want a complete stranger traipsing around looking at it out of curiosity. Surely as a landlord once a property has tenants, you leave them be unless there's a real reason. We have annual inspections with the leggings agency which is bad enough, but obviously accept as being part and parcel of renting.

I also feel a bit paranoid. It seems such an unreasonable thing to even ask that I'm concerned there could be an ulterior motive. Perhaps the friend is an estate agent who could cast an informal eye. I'd like to think that if they had plans to sell that they'd be upfront, but you never know.

They do have photos of the house as they were used in the original advert - can't they just show the friend those?! Why would the friend herself want to impose upon strangers in their home?!

I politely replied that it wasn't convenient today. But should I be concerned?

OP posts:
MyPatronusIsAUnicorn · 15/09/2017 21:03

Just be wary OP.

We rented a lovely flat, rent wasnt6put up for 3 years, got on well with the LL and used to have a chat when she came for the rent, all very friendly. Then we got notice (after we had asked they fix the heating, yet again) and I let in the EAs as they were selling and getting valuations, still all friendly, gave us first refusal on buying (think they knew we couldn't afford to buy so were calling our bluff - sort of). Come to moving day and we were still going late at night, I was heavily pregnant, LL wanted us to post the keys through their door and they would send on t phe deposit, however I don't trust LLs and deposits (this was before the scheme) so said no, they would have to meet us there the next day. It got so late and as we still had the keys we thought sod it, we'll come back and finish tomorrow. 3 women approached us in the street asking about the flat, it was up for rent! For more money than we were paying. Went back the next day to finish moving and LLs DH turned up, very sheepishly and wouldn't look at me, he left and I got swift text frommher saying EAs were coming around at 10. Lying bitch, it was bloody prospective tenants!

We were model renters too (apart from daring to ask for things like a working boiler and non leaking windows) with a good relationship. Didn't stop them totally screwing us over when it came down to it so I've been wary of LLs ever since.

Nanny0gg · 15/09/2017 21:59

LL can enter if it says they can on the tenancy agreement!!

Only in an emergency.

Grumpyolgal · 15/09/2017 23:20

Have you never wondered what happened to a house you used to live in? I have and wish I had the courage to ask to look round it. Your landlady cares about her house and respects you as a tenant - otherwise she would not have asked for your approval. Whay not say that the date and time she has suggested is not convenient and offer an alternative time later the same day or early the next? This would allow you time to tidy up and make the house presentable.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/09/2017 23:37

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest if my landlady wanted to do that. It has been my home for the last 7 years, but it's still her house. She's a really good landlord so I certainly wouldn't mind.

MrsOverTheRoad · 16/09/2017 00:33

Grumpy If the landlady hadn't asked, then she wouldn't have got in! Landlords can't just walk in willy nilly you know!

existentialmoment · 16/09/2017 09:53

LL can enter if it says they can on the tenancy agreement!!

WRONG. Stop repeating this nonsense.

Mummyoflittledragon · 16/09/2017 10:07

Grumpy. The landlady then needs to organise herself so that it's between tenancies.

BoffinMum. I seriously hope you're not a land lady.

expatinscotland · 16/09/2017 10:56

Wow, if she wants to see her work why didn't she take video and photos of it before she let it to a tenant? I'm astonished at how many people will let a random person who knocks on their door with some story about how they used to live there into their house. It's a well known scam in some places.

mumof3boys33 · 16/09/2017 14:06

I like the opening paragraph about the leggings agency 😂😂
I am a landlord I am very happy with my tenants, I haven't put the rent up in the 3 years they've been in simply because I want to keep them. I go round once a year to see them, I don't look all round as I feel it's not respecting their privacy. Maybe I should look round.
Every year I ask if I can visit and they panic that I'm selling up. I have no intention of selling up. If I were I'd definitely give the tenants the heads up.
I hope your landlords aren't planning on this. Good luck.

unicornlovermother · 16/09/2017 14:34

I think the ll has been unreasonably generous doing up the house to a high standard, to rent it out. That is unusual and not what most financially savvy landlords do- they do the minimum and do it up right before they sell. In these circumstances, I think you are being reasonably mean and ungenerous with a generous landlord. That affects relationship in my book. They would be in for 20 minutes and you would have given something the ll valued- a chance to show their hard work to a close friend.
People are different but being generous with people may be seen by many as unnecessary but it really builds good relationships. When we bought our house we invited the previous owners back because the house had been in the family for 60 years. They turned up with a huge basket of hamper like goodies and 4 tickets to Disneyland and told u show touched they were by our invitation- we all felt very good at the end of the evening.
There should be a section of mumsnet called AIBVU
Am I being very ungenerous. Yes. You are. Under the circumstances you describe.

BearFoxBear · 16/09/2017 14:45

unicornlovermother The OP's paying her LL very good money to rent their home, how is that generosity? It's a business transaction! The LL asking to come in for no good reason is not business like at all, it's overstepping the mark, and is out of order.

We rent a place that has been fully refurbished to a high standard, but our LL wouldn't be welcome to come and show it off because it's our home!

existentialmoment · 16/09/2017 15:00

That is unusual and not what most financially savvy landlords do- they do the minimum and do it up right before they sell

You mean they do the absolute least they can legally get away with and force their tenants to live in a house they would never live in themselves?
A landlord not being a complete bastard does not make them unusually generous Hmm

KickAssAngel · 16/09/2017 15:15

Tenants have the legal right to enjoy their home without disturbance. They do have to allow inspections, repairs and emergencies to be taken care of. So, if there's a flood and they're not answering the door, someone can go in.

Otherwise, it IS their home. They don't own the bricks, they mustn't damage it, but they get to live there and feel at home.

The LL may just be feeling more emotionally attached than is wise, or they may have invented a 'friend' who is really an agent about to price up the place. We don't know. Either way, the tenant doesn't need to say yes.

If the LL is thinking of selling, they will have to ask again, this time stating the real reason. The tenant can't say no forever if that's what's happening - the LL is allowed arranged access (min 24 hours notice at a mutually convenient time) to appraise their property.

So - OP, you were right to say no. I wouldn't want a friend of the LL looking round my place, it would feel intrusive. If they're thinking of selling, I'd like to know.

I'm a LL btw (an amazing one according to some!) and I never go to the property, always get repairs done asap, and chose a more expensive and local agent to make sure that tenants get looked after well. That way I like to think I'll have long-term, happy tenants. It only takes a property being empty for a few weeks between tenants for any profit to be wiped out. A well run property is more profitable for me, and I like the idea of happy tenants who feel at home.

existentialmoment · 16/09/2017 15:17

The tenant can't say no forever if that's what's happening - the LL is allowed arranged access (min 24 hours notice at a mutually convenient time) to appraise their property

actually they can keep saying no to this forever, or until the end of their lease, whichever is first. They do not have to grant access to the LL.

JustDanceAddict · 16/09/2017 15:20

Not outrageous, but you're well within your rights to say no.

DeleteOrDecay · 16/09/2017 15:24

Why do some posters struggle to understand that just because they were happy to let strangers look around their home like some sort of museum or show home, it doesn't mean everyone is comfortable with that and it's certainly not 'mean' or 'ungenerous' to not allow it. Just because a LL does up a house nicely does not mean they should be allowed to invite all and sundry round for a look when there are actually people paying good money to live there and enjoy their right to quiet enjoyment.

I mean it really isn't a difficult concept to grasp.

DeleteOrDecay · 16/09/2017 15:25

*actual not actually

Original poster
pinkowl · 16/09/2017 16:36

I think the ll has been unreasonably generous doing up the house to a high standard, to rent it out.

Hahahaha. They did it up to a high standard so that they could maximise rent and it's not cheap. That wasn't generosity, that was a business decision on their part

OP posts:
caringcarer · 16/09/2017 17:08

I have 5 b2l properties and would never do this. I have a really good working relationship with all our tenants. I only have a cursory inspection where i just glance around kitchen and lounge after 1 year and then provided it was fine on 1st inspection do not inspect again as I think it is intrusive. However if any tenant has a baby i ask if i can pop by to drop off gift for baby but only stay 5-10 mins and have a peep at baby or cuddle if invited to. The rules are that unless there is a problem you must allow tenants to enjoyment of property. We do of course go if there are any problems/repairs.

Original poster
pinkowl · 16/09/2017 17:21

To all the people who have posted that they've happily let old owners around the houses that they now OWN, can you honestly not see how it would feel differently if you rented?

As a tenant you obviously don't have that same sense of security and ownership as you do as an owner. Perhaps once you own, this kind of thing wouldn't feel like an invasion of privacy. Can people not appreciate that showing around the current owner to whom you pay money each month is not at all the same as showing around a previous owner?

OP posts:
FiveBoys · 16/09/2017 17:47

Pink, I honestly dont see it as such but then I did once see a woman in the changing room who was really upset that she couldn't find an evening dress for a last minute 'do' so I took her home and let her go through my cupboard to find something. Then when that didn't work we went through my daughters. Where we live women have need to have a lot of evening wear and we got her sorted out. So, maybe its just depends on the person how they would handle letting the LL friend in to see the house thought it doesnt mean to say they are wrong or not nice to say no.

Original poster
pinkowl · 16/09/2017 17:56

And how did your daughter feel about you bringing home strangers to rifle through her clothes Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkowl · 16/09/2017 17:57

And I really need to know where you live that women have an unusual need for evening wear

Is it a cruise ship?

OP posts:
FiveBoys · 16/09/2017 18:07

And how did your daughter feel about you bringing home strangers to rifle through her clothes confused

She was with me and was happy to help out another woman who was in a fix - its called generosity of spirit.

FiveBoys · 16/09/2017 18:09

And I really need to know where you live that women have an unusual need for evening wear

Is it a cruise ship?

People just dont get dressed up to go on a cruise. Not that we live on one.

I obviously cant say where I live but I do live in a society where women dress up for occasions and occasions are not few and far between, they happen often, a few times a month at least.