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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 live-in landlord to let guests stay in my room when I’m away?!

44 replies

RebeccaBunchLawyer · 22/08/2018 21:08

Hi all,

I’m not sure (seriously) if I’m being unreasonable here, as, as a tenant I don’t really know all my rights. Atm I am lodging at a friend’s house with her and her mum (saving to buy, as many are!), and want to know if the following are or aren’t acceptable, legally and or morally:

1.) My landlady going in and out of my room all the time (whether I’m in it or not). If I’m in it she will knock, then walk straight in, whether I’m naked or whatever. She says that she can do this. She keeps putting things in the wardrobe and under my bed etc, and always finds a reason to tend to these items. She goes in and out when I’m not here all the time, and I can always tell. Such an intrusion!

2.) Not getting anything fixed (loo handle, shower, window etc), so (and this is my main gripe here) things we use get worse and then she blames us for them completely breaking and hints that we should pay towards them etc.

3.) IMHO this is a big one and probably the real reason I am posting here: she is planning on letting guests of hers stay in my room if I’m away. I am still paying rent when I am away- obviously- and I really don’t want anyone in my room. We have politely expressed a worry about people I don’t know being in our rooms and I am worried about strangers rifling through my things but it has fallen on deaf ears, and she say it is “her house”.

Is there a tenant who’s had this threat before, and if so, could you legally advise me on this, please? Any landlords who could comment? I am a bit concerned as I do not want anyone in a room I am paying for- whether I am there or not- but don’t know where I stand, and don’t want to rock the boat as need to live here a bit longer, unfortunately!

TIA.

OP posts:

BertieBott · 22/08/2018 21:09

You need to leave this place. It’s not going to get better.

Anobody1 · 22/08/2018 21:11

Do you have a tenant agreement/ contract? Or is it an informal arrangement?

WutheringFrights · 22/08/2018 21:11

Do you have a contract?

PlateOfBiscuits · 22/08/2018 21:12

She’s not really seeing you as a tenant is she?

You need to either sit down and go through your contract/expectations together until you are on the same page - or leave!

notdaddycool · 22/08/2018 21:12

YANBU, but short of moving out I’m not sure what you can do except perhaps talk to your friend. Using your room could just about be reasonable if you’re paying below market rent due to the friendship. But perhaps don’t tell them in advance when you plan to be away so they have less time to arrange house guests.

NorksAreMessy · 22/08/2018 21:13

None of these is acceptable

Whipsmart · 22/08/2018 21:15

Move out as soon as you can. They're never going to respect your space if they consider it their room (the mum certainly sounds like she does!) If they want someone to share with they can get someone they're not already friendly with and maybe realise you can't do stuff like this when you have a lodger / tenant.

Can you get a door wedge to keep them out when you're in there, at least? You're just going to have to be blunt about not wanting other people staying in the room you're paying rent on.

Anobody1 · 22/08/2018 21:15

Regardless, it’s very unreasonable in my opinion to be doing those things. However depending on whether you have a legally binding agreement will make the difference in terms of how she can access your room.
In my experience of rooms being rented out( under a proper tenant agreement) the landlord has to give 24 hrs notice before entering room-( unless in an emergency)
I would consider a room share in another property if I were you. Good luck!

witchofzog · 22/08/2018 21:15

This is absolutely outrageous. What happenned to "peaceful enjoyment"? Do you have a tenancy agreement?

londonrach · 22/08/2018 21:18

Sounds like you a lodger not a tenant. Suggest you move out asap

Daddyto2monsters · 22/08/2018 21:19

Do you hold a tenancy with the landlord ? If not things could be quite tricky as without any form of agreement there is nothing setting out what is expected of them as your landlord or you as the lodger.

I would suggest finding this out as soon as possible and if in any doubt you can get some free advices from services such as CAB and Shelter who can help.

I would suggest contacting these straight away as we will all have differing opinions on here depending on background. For example I am a housing officer within a homeless scheme so deal more with Licence Agreements and HMO issues.

MrsBlaidd · 22/08/2018 21:19

Sadly I think your landlady can access your room whenever she wants according to CAB www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/subletting-and-lodging/lodging/what-rights-do-lodgers-have/

Specifically You may have your own room, usually a bedroom, but you don't have exclusive use of that room. This means that your landlord can enter the room without your permission

Technically I think this extends to the principle that if you're not there to use the room your landlady can use it for other purposes like hosting a guest. However I'm just basing that on the "exclusive use" wording.

Ethically I think that's a really shady practice though.

It might be worth giving shelter or CAB a ring to talk through the legal points around privacy and not having your room used as guest space when you are paying for it.

kenandbarbie · 22/08/2018 21:20

I would have thought you should have a lockable door and only you have the key

rjay123 · 22/08/2018 21:22

Legally, you have very few rights I’m afraid, and for the landlady to not enter your room isn’t one. I would look to move on ASAP.

Original poster

RebeccaBunchLawyer · 22/08/2018 21:24

Thanks all. Sadly this confirms my worst suspicions!

OP posts:

Glumglowworm · 22/08/2018 21:25

YANBU

I’ve been a lodger and none of that is normal!

Your room is yours and unless there’s an emergency, the landlady should not go in at all. And she shouldn’t be storing her things on your room.

She certainly shouldn’t be letting other people stay in it when you’re not there! You’re paying rent, all your things are in there!

I’m assuming there’s no lock on your bedroom door?

Honestly though, she’s not going to change. Your best bet is to move out I’m afraid. Not all lodgings are like that and you don’t need to put up with it!

Akire · 22/08/2018 21:28

I’ve rented plenty of bedroom where landlord also live there. I would certainly consider the bedroomto be my own personal space not a part of main house to be used as and when they wanted!! Unless it was very cheap rent I would be looking to move out. You can’t rent the room out and still keep all your things in it or indeed let anyone stay if you are away! Different if have you a weeks rent back and told you in advance so you could move any private things. She wants all rent but still keep it as spare room and use as and when. Just no.

Whoisalanbrazil · 22/08/2018 21:34

I've had lodgers in the past.

My christmas decs were kept under the spare bed out of necessity but i wouldn't have kept any personal items in there. Wouldn't have gone in without their permission, and to be honest never asked for permission unless it was christmas and I wanted the tree. Wouldn't have dreamt of using the room if they weren't there. Didn't even go in their allocated kitchen cupboards. She'll being well out of order.

gendercritter · 22/08/2018 21:35

Yes legally you have very few rights as a lodger.

That doesn't mean this is ok - it's not how you do things if you're decent. But you have no power to stop ot. Definitely move on.

ReservoirDogs · 22/08/2018 21:36

You are not a tenant though you are a lodger.

To muddy the waters though she is a friend. I suspect if she were not and it was purely a business arrangement with a landlady who was not a friend then she would not do these things.

TakeMe2Insanity · 22/08/2018 21:40

You are a lodger not a tenant.

The landlady does not view you as a tenant. Therein lies the problem. SHe probably views you as her child’s friend staying who gives her money.

You really do need to move.

category12 · 22/08/2018 21:43

I'd move.

LeftRightCentre · 22/08/2018 21:43

You need to get out of there.

Benandhollysmum · 22/08/2018 21:46

do you have gas appliances in your room that need annual inspection but you haven’t complied to letting gas man in to check? Have you water things in your room that is flooding the place?

If the answer is no she has absolutely no right at all to enter your room, even the council wouldn’t walk into your home except for above.
Go to citizens advice see what they say

Nerve of her your paying digs and she’s walking in an out esp when your naked, if your landlord was a male doing that he’d be called all the perving bastards from one end of the uk to the other.

StorminaTCut · 22/08/2018 21:46

Have you looked on spareroom.com?

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