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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hate property inspections?

28 replies

nervousPersonx · 25/09/2017 09:39

Rental property inspections. They make me so nervous. I've had some really bad experiences in the past with them (here are a few but honestly there's way more)

Coming home from work early to find the inspector in my home looking through my wardrobe (not included in the house, brought it with me. So no reason to be going in there). Then telling me my oven is unacceptably dirty (dirty inside, judge me. Again, not included with the house so no need to be bothered with that everything else was immaculate).

Landlord, upon seeing I had underpants in my washing basket asking me if I have many men stay over

Inspector commenting on the shampoo I use while being so far into my shower for so long I nearly offered to bring him a towel to go with it.

Landlord using wet wipes to see if he could see dirt. She'd spend 5 mins+ in each room wiping random surfaces to see if she could see anything. She almost never did but honestly it felt so intrusive.

When I briefly rented from a HA in the UK (I now live overseas) the inspector that came out made comment on the fact I was making dinner and asked me if I "could've waited to not make her feel awkward" fair request until you hear that actually I wasn't given an inspection time just "between 10am and 4pm" so of course I'm going to eat... same inspector then made a comment about me having a dirty colander (and nothing else) in the sink.
When I tried to bring up the mold in the cupboard I was told to "lodge a request online because I'm not here for that"... um... isn't that what inspections are FOR?!

I'd say 8/10 times I receive an inspection something always happens that makes me very uncomfortable or I find intrusive. I understand that they are there to see the property check on any repairs that need doing etc. but where I live now inspections are done every 3 months and honestly it's making me feel like I can't really relax. Especially since there was an issue with (very small, shorter than my grass) weeds growing near my path, it's a small strip around 15cm and they're very short weeds, so now I'll be having another inspection within the fortnight (not sure exactly when) to check they've been pulled up. I didn't even think it'd be an issue tbh!

When I have an inspection nowadays I'll sometimes stay up until 2am cleaning and ensuring that every single surface is clean every dish clean and put away oven scrubbed carpets shampooed washing done and put away (completely empty baskets) no dust on skirting boards everything mopped candles lit around the house the night before so it smells nice etc (not that my house stinks anyway!).
Basically it's made me utterly paranoid.

Am I the only one here and if I'm being U, help me get over myself???

OP posts:

SnowBallsAreHere · 25/09/2017 09:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

nervousPersonx · 25/09/2017 09:47

I hate having to be out during inspections because then I'm scared they'll go through my stuff... god I'm pathetic aren't they!

OP posts:

Original poster

nervousPersonx · 25/09/2017 09:47

Aren't I not they!*

OP posts:

SerfTerf · 25/09/2017 09:51

When I rented (20 years ago now) they weren't a thing.

That sounds incredibly intrusive, especially at that frequency. I'm not surprised they make you edgy.

It's about time someone came up with a full set of proposals for rental reform. I'd sign a petition. I worry about my DDs renting in future.

Ecureuil · 25/09/2017 09:51

We rented for years, had multiple inspections and all they ever did was have a quick look round and say 'all fine'. Yours sound awful!!

SerfTerf · 25/09/2017 09:51

Why does it have to be while you're out?

Cel982 · 25/09/2017 09:53

Where are you living, OP? That sounds horrendous I've rented in Ireland and the UK and never experienced anything like this. In England my landlord used to pop in for a cup of tea every six months or so, I'd always do a bit of frantic tidying before he arrived but he only ever wanted to know if there was anything broken that he needed to get fixed. Is the treatment you're experiencing normal for where you live, do you think? Can you arrange to be out during the inspections?

Crispsheets · 25/09/2017 09:55

I've been renting for 15 months and have never had an inspection

CroakingCrocus · 25/09/2017 10:00

That sounds awful and going way beyond what's reasonable. I rented for 15+ years in London and never had an inspection during the tenancy period, just at the end.

TwatteryFlowers · 25/09/2017 10:01

I've been renting my whole adult life and have never had an inspection (unless you count that one where they check your current home before allowing you to transfer to another property).

Why do you have to be out of your home whilst they inspect? What would happen if you stay home for it? Surely they can't dictate when you can be inside the home you're paying to live in? If you feel intimidated by the inspector, would it help if you had a friend or family member there with you at the time?

Original poster

nervousPersonx · 25/09/2017 10:02

I can't always reschedule inspections (couldn't in the UK either) so if I was working I had to be out during the inspection, that's what I mean. I was always welcome to be present but due to other things couldn't attend.

Some of those experiences are from when I was in the UK, so it's not necessarily an overseas issue - I live in Australia, now. The state I live in has a rule that there's no more than 4 inspections done per year 3 months apart.
But unfortunately if there's an issue of some kind (see weeds) they can come back and reinspect, the 3 month rule doesn't apply then. Once it's rectified then the 3 months reset and it has to be at least 3 months between the inspection (for the weeds) and the next general inspection.

The estate agents enforce that it's done every 3 months, it's not a legal thing that's just the maximum rather than "has to be done" IYKWIM. I don't know how usual it is as such but it's not rare either.

OP posts:

specialsubject · 25/09/2017 10:02

Succession of shit landlords and housing associations. I go six monthly unless called for a problem. Only definite one is with the gas safe test.

Normal is just to check for undeclared faults and that the right person is still living there.

specialsubject · 25/09/2017 10:03

Op is in Australia. So no point screaming about the horror of the uk system.

GemmaCollinsBabes · 25/09/2017 10:03

When we rented most of the inspections were of the glance around and shout "all fine" whilst waking out of the door.
Another place we lived in the landlord took it to extremes. Checks every 3 months and she brought her bloody nosy son with her too. He questioned everything
"Is your rug damaging our laminated (shitty, wrinkled) floor?"
"Why do you have a blender on the kitchen counter"
"Is it really necessary for you to have an additional freezer (to the one drawer provided in the fridge)?"
"Why are you using the washing line?"
"You should use the washing machine only once a fortnight, use a laundrette the rest of the time."

The one time we left them to inspect the place alone (whilst I took DC2 to the hospital) we came back to them having moved two pieces of furniture (which we owned) and left a sticky note on the washing up drying on the draining board.

meyouus · 25/09/2017 10:06

Dirty ovens can become a fire hazard so although it didn't come with the property that may of been part of the reason for commenting on

SerfTerf · 25/09/2017 10:06

I don't think anyone was "screaming". Mumsnet is an eye opener on tenancy matters. Some crazy things seem to go on. Standardisation couldn't possibly be a bad thing.

SerfTerf · 25/09/2017 10:08

"Why do you have a blender on the kitchen counter"

Where else would you have it?

SerfTerf · 25/09/2017 10:09

"Is it really necessary for you to have an additional freezer (to the one drawer provided in the fridge)?"
"Why are you using the washing line?"
"You should use the washing machine only once a fortnight, use a laundrette the rest of the time."

What!?

Original poster

nervousPersonx · 25/09/2017 10:11

meyou
A fire hazard?
There was a few splashes on the glass. The bottom and sides were pretty clean.
Since I learned ages ago to place a baking tray with foil on it at the bottom of the oven to catch any food that falls down.
I don't think any inspectors have any right to look inside your appliances, to be honest. my Hobs and thenoutside were perfectly clean.

I really don't mind people sharing their experiences with the UK system - for one I'm familiar with it, since I lived in the UK fair years and also they could suggest something I've not thought of that might help/apply here too.

OP posts:

SerfTerf · 25/09/2017 10:19

Weeds being a reason for extra inspections seems very uptight too. Especially for Australia. They always seem so sensible

GemmaCollinsBabes · 25/09/2017 10:24

SerfTerf
He was a real piece of work! The family owned a string on houses on the same road and apparently he made a snotty comment about another family leaving shoes and coats in their hallway! Literally nothing to do with their tenancy whatsoever.

SerfTerf · 25/09/2017 12:52

Too much time on his hands. And power,

echt · 25/09/2017 13:28

I'm in Australia too OP, though no longer in renting. We rented landlords' personal homes, so not BTL. We had tons of photos and very frank appraisals from the agents, e.g. "worn carpets" on our takeover. Only annual inspections.

The landlords came to inspect personally. They were very tactful: "This our house, but your home."

Sounds like you have horrid landlord and agents.

specialsubject · 25/09/2017 14:04

Yes, being a landlord is also an eye opener if you get the triple treat ( filth, drugs, no rent) - I knew how long it would take to evict and what it would cost, but the helplessness of the law as the destruction and crime went on was news.

howrudeforme · 25/09/2017 14:19

I'm doing an 'inspection' of a property I rent later this week. Doing it only because I'll be there to supervise a boiler service. While there I'll see if anything needs replacing replacing.

I won't be checking for dust or dirt! He's a decent tenant and I don't want to harrass the guy.

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