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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

Rent/Landllord/Information/Advice
OP posts:
MirandaWest · 20/10/2018 20:10

I hated inspections when I rented through a letting agent. I appreciate that not all inspections are like this but I was specifically told that I had to present the house to its best advantage and this included tidiness. And the one time I wasn’t there for an inspection, my cupboards were opened as they commented on them being untidy inside. Judgements were definitely made and once one of the letting agents ran her finger over the top of the doors checking for dust (and there was some).

Then when rented privately it was much better, but I still got really anxious.

LunasPaws · 20/10/2018 20:37

@mumsastudent I am not misinformed at all. You absolutely do not have to allow access to LL or EA for general inspections.

DopeyDazy · 20/10/2018 20:49

it might be a great theory refusing inspections but the landlord doesn't have to renew and the reference would be a problem. 'I was concerned about my property condition and the tenant wouldn't allow inspection ' would go down well

LunasPaws · 20/10/2018 21:16

Probably not but that's up to the tenant to decide isn't it? And any concerns they had about the property would be disproven during the end of tenancy inventory.

DopeyDazy · 20/10/2018 21:22

be a bit late when the tenant is homeless and the landlord gets their own back. I'd just let it happen and put it behind me

nonetworkaccess · 20/10/2018 21:29

New laws for LLs came in this month regarding HMOs.

As a PP has written, some tenants will sublet illegally.

It has huge implications for LLs who can be fined heavily if tenants are not related if several people are living there or co-habiting.

If I was a LL I would be carrying out regular inspections in order to prevent this kind of thing happening. Any LL who doesn't would be pretty foolhardy.

You might be a decent person who wouldn't do that sort of thing, or grow cannabis in the loft, or let a leaking roof cause damage etc., but your LL doesn't know that.

Inspections are there for the protection of both parties. It's your chance to point out any problems at the same time.

Are you new to renting? Any LL may see red flags with your reluctance to an inspection. If your daughter has liked living there she's not going to thank you for rocking the boat to the point that you may be getting evicted in favour of tenants who are happy to fulfil contractual obligations.

mumsastudent · 20/10/2018 21:30

england.shelter.org.uk/legal/housing_conditions/disrepair_rights_duties_and_remedies/responsibilities_of_landlords,_tenants_and_occupiers please note section where it states allowed landlord access for repairs

DopeyDazy · 20/10/2018 21:34

link doesn't work 'page not found'

CSIblonde · 20/10/2018 21:44

Checks are very standard. You can insist on being there. Unless there is a repair issue I've never been asked for photos. I'd be unhappy if they wanted them as I keep it pristine & it's invading privacy. I refused a prospective tenant who wanted photos when I moved out of previous flat. I was quite peeved tbh. (The details had a pic of it empty & a floor plan).

purpleme12 · 20/10/2018 21:44

I don't particularly like inspections but I know this is Norman when renting.

I don't really like the wording of the letter. Even though it does say you can rearrange if you want etc etc the wording just send quite confrontational like they expect you to put up a fight or something.

People are also forgetting here that another reason the property needs to be inspected because that's part of the landlord's household insurance, that it needs to be

Mehaveit · 20/10/2018 21:56

The other thread is completely different! That's a landlord letting themselves in with little/no notice. You're being given 3 months notice of a scheduled inspection! Chill out! You've got 3 months to tidy up.

LunasPaws · 20/10/2018 22:06

@mumsastudent .. There's a difference between repairs and inspections by letting agents.

mumsastudent · 21/10/2018 15:09

so how do you know if a repair is needed - sometimes the tenant might not notice or recognize issue - case in point here: we went to tenant to fix something they requested (always checking suitable mutual time when she was in, please note) we were outside & I noticed something that was not obvious but was a major concern(not caused by tenant!) which had to be fixed immediately - & that is exactly why properties need checking if we hadn't been fixing something & weren't allowed to visit how would we find this out? We have a responsibility to maintain property & if tenant isn't aware of issues or doesn't notice they are the ones who will suffer as well as the building. (I have always given my tenant notice -usually a couple of weeks or longer & fitted in with them).

tiggerkid · 21/10/2018 16:03

Not entirely sure you are allowed to change the locks in the rental property without a) notifying the landlord of your intention to do so and b) leaving the new keys with the landlord's appointed agent

You can, of course, choose not to let the agent in but as they said they will charge you £25 rebooking fee on each occasion that they've not been able to gain access to the property.

The question is why wouldn't you let them in?

redsummershoes · 21/10/2018 16:05

of course you can change the lock!
you are not damaging the property by doing so,

in an emergency (as in re-light worthy) the ll/agent can force entry.
for anything else the tennant can be there to let ll/agent/workpeople in if needed.

BarbarianMum · 21/10/2018 16:16

As a landlord I wouldnt let to anyone who refused inspections. I/the agent visit once at 3 months, once at 9 months - and if everything's fine, annually thereafter.

I dont care about your ironing pile (most of my tenants have been cleaner and tidier than I am) but I do care if you've moved a dog in, are smoking in the property, have illegally sublet to another 3 people or started a pot farm.

Letting property is a business. I need to check my assets. Its also a good opportunity to talk to tenants about long term things like redecoration or furniture replacement (not repairs - for repairs they let the agent know and they get sorted right away).

My tenants may not like inspections but as 1 has been there 5 years and just tells us to let ourselves in whilst she's at work and the others have just signed another 3 year tenancy, I guess they don't mind too much.

53rdWay · 21/10/2018 16:25

I dont care about your ironing pile

I believe you, but letting agents often do care about that sort of thing when inspecting. I had a written warning copied to my landlord once about “plates left unwashed in kitchen” from last night’s dinner.

Personally I wouldn’t refuse inspections, it’s just going to be more hassle than it’s worth. I would insist they came on a date and time that was convenient for me though.

Oysterbabe · 21/10/2018 16:29

If my tenant refused inspections I'd give him notice. I've never had trouble finding new tenants and every one so far has accepted that the odd inspection is just part of renting.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/10/2018 17:07

Please don't change locks. The law isn't as cut and dried as some posters are imagining!

www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2016/10/18/tenant-penalties-breaching-tenancy-rules-changing-locks/

Original poster
Greenkit · 21/10/2018 17:30

Right, I didn't say I would refuse, I said could you

The letter will be null and void as its for DD and expartner, I would expect them to do a visit as soon as we are confirmed as tenants.

DD has lived there 5.5 months

I DO have my own house

Of course I wont jeopardize the tenancy, it is 2 mins from my home, so very convenient as my dogs are staying there

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/10/2018 17:32

What? You live 2 minutes away, with your dogs... yet are joining your DD on the lease and will also be living there?

I don't get it... having 2 residencies raises all sorts of issues! What are you doing?

Original poster
Greenkit · 21/10/2018 17:38

Currently splitting up from my husband after 30 years!!

OP posts:
BlatheringWuther · 21/10/2018 18:02

I have every sympathy with you, when we returned to the UK and discovered that this had now been added to the hell that is private renting in Britain we were less than impressed. I was absolutely disgusted in fact - whatever happened to 'the right to enjoy a home' - you're bloody paying landlords enough to do fuck all, but that's Britain nowadays for you. Unfortunately it seems to be standard practice now.

You could check what the law is with Shelter - but bear in mind that law is one thing and practice is another. In practice if tenants cause landlords too much fuss they can find excuses to 'not renew contracts' - i.e. kick them out. The housing market is massively shifted in landlords' favour, and poorer people haven't had the benefit of protection in law for a while. More people need to know this.

Original poster
Greenkit · 21/10/2018 18:15

I haven't rented for 30 yrs and so im finding my feet in renting land. Its so restrictive, no pets, no decorating, let people in when ever etc...

I just want to pay my rent, look after my home and get on with my life Sad

OP posts:
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