Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Rent/Landllord/Information/Advice

113 replies

Greenkit · 20/10/2018 13:45

This letter was delivered by the letting agent, to my DD and her expartner. He is moving out and I will be taking his place, so to speak.

We have signed a new contract and if we hadn't excepted all conditions and signed, wouldnt have been accepted as tenants.

My question, can they charge for not letting them in?

On another thread it was said, you don't have to let them in, you can change the locks, etc etc However, if you have signed a contract and technically accepted those things, can we still refuse?

This letting thing is complicated

OP posts:

PinkHeart5914 · 20/10/2018 15:36

Inspecting properties to make sure your taking care of it is absolutely normally. I rent out a lot of properties and all are checked once every 12 months, I own it I payed thousands of pounds for it so I don’t think it’s unreasonable to check on the property once in a while. It’s not to check you’ve put your washing away it’s to check the house is in good order and you’ve not damaged the property in any way!

The vast majority of my tenants have been great and the properties have been kept lovely but inspections are good for seeing the tenants that aren’t so good

If the time isn’t convenient becuase you work or whatever then send a polite email and rearrange?

MsSquiz · 20/10/2018 15:37

@LunasPaws I am well aware of that... I didn't say you couldn't.

But I also know that a refusal to allow a letting agent carry out an inspection that you have been advised of well in advance, may affect a landlord's decision to continue with the tenancy.

I don't understand why people agree (and therefore sign an AST) to allow periodic inspections at the property, to then not allow them to go ahead once you move in

John4703 · 20/10/2018 15:44

I've been looking after two properties for a charity for ten years now. I use a letting agent as they keep up to date with legislation. They do quarterly inspections of one property (and 6 monthly on the other as it is a very long term tenant).
In the quarterly inspections they once found a problem from the tenant who had let other people move in, it was an easy fix to add them to the agreement, apart from that there have been several items like a dripping tap that had been found and fixed at landlord's expense. Let them inspect and check for problems.

Nellyelora · 20/10/2018 15:50

Have you changed the locks etc?

I'd be more concerned that they say 'if we can't gain access'. They could just claim they couldn't gain access in order to try and charge you £25. But I'm cynical. I'd be emailing saying the date is fine/not fine for whatever reason and offering alternative dates and making it clear that you haven't changed the locks so they should have no issue with access. Although of course you can refuse all inspections.

I rent, inspections are annoying but luckily I've never had had idiot inspectors moaning about non-issues like that mornings breakfast on the side to be washed up. I like to use it as a kick up the bum to do the spring cleaning type tasks that I'd otherwise seldom do.

LunasPaws · 20/10/2018 15:54

A lot of people would feel uncomfortable at the thought if a stranger entering your home, whilst you're not there, taking photographs of your rooms.

A lot of tenant don't know their rights and most LA will bully you lead tenants to believe that these visits are mandatory and non-negotiable.

It's about time tenant realised LA have very little rights when it comes to entering your home!

starr28 · 20/10/2018 16:21

I was a property manager for a couple of years. Our contracts signed at the start of tenancy outlined the need for inspections every 4/6 months.
During an inspection unless the place was a complete pigsty and I mean awful the state of the property wasn't an issue.
We are looking for problems with damp, condensation, damage, repairs that re needed etc.
We had several tenants that objected and some that made sure they were there and often made life tricky.
These always take longer than if we can just let ourselves in and whizz round.
If you live an normal people and are looking after the property basics then you will have no issues.
Please don't worry. They are just keeping their landlords ( their clients) interests st heart.
HTH

RPC28 · 20/10/2018 16:28

Where I live, (UK) if your privately renting then you have to let them do inspections. Usually the inspections are every 6 months. Just so that they can see if there is anything that needs renewing, cleaning up, been ruined or make sure everything is all ok for the landlord.

Alfie19 · 20/10/2018 16:39

Keep refusing inspections and expect to not have lease renewed and problems with the next rental.

Rixera · 20/10/2018 16:44

All these above property managers sound lovely. Ours is arsey. Had a go about unwashed dishes last inspection. They were from breakfast, the inspection was at 10am. Also, clutter in DD's room (she had left her toy farm set up for when she got home from the childminders).

Our house is usually a mess but I do clean up for house inspections. Then usually wonder why tf I bothered when three empty cereal bowls and a toasty-crumbed plate are worth cautioning about. Might as well hang for a chicken as an egg after all.

Original poster

Greenkit · 20/10/2018 16:50

An annual inspection seems reasonable, 4 monthly not so and only when the tenant is there.

OP posts:

TheOxymoron · 20/10/2018 16:53

It’s quite simple.
Landlords and tenants should work together.
A tenant has a right to enjoy their home but landlords have a right to protect their asset.
Nobody should abuse that.

Periodic inspections are to flag potential repairs or damage. If a landlord does not carry our periodic inspections and at the end of the tenancy (especially a long one) they have substantial damage. It can be asked why they didn’t carry out checks.
As long as the checks are not too frequent and are reasonable, I see no reason why people should refuse.
If you don’t want any checks then buy your own house.

TheOxymoron · 20/10/2018 16:57

To be fair a check should not include judgements on whether somebody has or has not done the washing up.
That is not reasonable as it does not affect the Landlord’s property.

slashlover · 20/10/2018 17:00

An annual inspection seems reasonable, 4 monthly not so and only when the tenant is there.

They've given plenty of notice, if it's not suitable then contact them and give them times when someone will be there.

starr28 · 20/10/2018 17:03

You may find it’s 4 monthly to start with OP and then move to 6 monthly. A year is a long time in a property and things could get out of hand if not checked. Ie subletting, damage etc.

slashlover · 20/10/2018 17:06

This letter was delivered by the letting agent, to my DD and her expartner. He is moving out and I will be taking his place, so to speak.

As it's essentially a change of tenancy then why wouldn't they expect to do an end of tenancy inspection? If there's any damage found later and your DD said her ExDP had caused it then she would have no proof.

You've signed a new contract would you want to be charged/held liable for damage which occurred before you moved in? An inventory etc. is usually taken when someone moves into a property, would you want your inventory to be against when your DD moed in however long ago that was?

AiryFairyUnicornRainbow · 20/10/2018 17:11

This seems standard practice OP, I am not sure what you are worried about tbh

MsSquiz · 20/10/2018 17:23

@Greenkit as you are taking over your DD's boyfriends share of the tenancy, has you DD. It had previous inspections by the agent? Did/does your DD have any issue with it?

Lazypuppy · 20/10/2018 17:26

@Greenkit i'm a landlord and do inspections every 6 months. I only take pictures if there is an issue as then it is documented correctly. Its also a great time to have a dialogue with the tenants about any issues they may want to raise.

I don't see why people have such an issue, it is part of renting and you k ow about it up front.

I'd be very angry if my tenants changed the locks, which they aren't allowed to do as its stated in their contract.

I'd also be very suspicious if they kept refusing to have inspections done.

hannah1992 · 20/10/2018 19:17

If it days in your contract they do inspections once every year or whatever then yes, they .ca charge you if they have made an appointment and you are not in and you haven't called then to let then know.

Inspections are also not only for the landlord. You can also raise any concerns you might have and show them these things.

If I was a landlord I would want to inspect the property. It would be my investment so I would want to know that it has been looked after.

If there's nothing to hide then I don't see an issue

mumsastudent · 20/10/2018 19:35

Luna Paws if you were a council social housing tenant you would still be required to have them come to check minor things like having your boiler serviced etc & checking there is no problem with the house - if you read Shelter you will see even they state this - there is a lot of confusion about this & I am afraid you are misinformed - most land lords are concerned with your washing up or your ironing pile but they are concerned if the structure of the house or there is a leak or damp that you haven't noticed & its in your interest that things are fixed

mumsastudent · 20/10/2018 19:36

Op you may be surprised that land lord insurances can require quarterly inspections

Cranky17 · 20/10/2018 19:47

f you were renting out a property, would you not need or want to know that it was being generally looked after?

Yes of course I would inspect but my comment was to someone who couldn’t understand why the tenant might not be that keen or excited about it

redsummershoes · 20/10/2018 19:57

Please don't worry. They are just keeping their landlords ( their clients) interests st heart.

exactly. the ll interest. not the tennants...

I always change locks upon moving in, you never know how many copies of they keys are about. plus my content insurance is invalid if a third party has a key.
for inspections I arranged (when I was renting) to be there during inspection.

mumsastudent · 20/10/2018 19:59

sorry - land lord not concerned with your washing & ironing pile (they have some of their own)

Rixera · 20/10/2018 20:03

@mumsastudent
The landlord might not be (ours is actually brilliant) but lettings agency a different story. As I said, ours literally did complain about the washing up.

Of course they have to do inspections but why do you think tenants would be happy about it? We accept it as a grudging necessity & in my case look forward to owning a house one day.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread