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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Not to open door to man claiming to own building

32 replies

Mummaluelae · 07/11/2018 15:45

I live in a block of flats above shops. Security door to enter building with intercom system.
My flat is rented via estate agents via landlord. (The only people I have names of)
The buzzer went (I assumed it was dp and forgot key)
I answered and the man said "Mr x can you let me in"
My response "sorry wrong person and address"
"No, I'm Mr x, I own the building can you let me in please I need to see xx'
" I've never heard of you or the person your mentioning sorry"
"Look I own the building and I forgot my key this is very important. Let me in"
"I can't do that as I don't know you and have never heard of you sorry" and I put down the reciever and just left him outside.

I had a peer out bedroom window (window is above main door)
I see a man standing there on the phone shouting "ffs x they won't let me in because they've never heard of me. This takes the piss"

I haven't heard anyone enter the block of flats as of yet.
Aibu?
I have 2 DC my job is to protect them. What if I let someone with a criminal record into the block ect?

OP posts:

pippistrelle · 07/11/2018 15:48

If he was legitimately there to see xx, why didn't he press xx's buzzer?

You absolutely did the right thing.

Original poster

Mummaluelae · 07/11/2018 15:52

@pippistrelle no idea. That's what I thought. There's someone in the block with the same first name he asked for but not same last name. I wasn't going to say " oh you mean xy not xx he's at number z"
Admutedly my dp has knocked to on xx door before and he has not answered. I don't think anyone in the block ever answer their buzzers tbh. Only 6 flats! Usually door is left on latch so thankfully it wasn't today!

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 07/11/2018 15:53

YANBU not to have let him in.
YABU to think that you can prevent your children from encountering people with criminal records.

Sirzy · 07/11/2018 15:54

You did the right thing, surely if he owns it he would be pleased someone is taking sensible precautions to protect the building.

I would give the estate agent a call and let them know just so they are aware

Puggles123 · 07/11/2018 15:55

Yes you did the right thing, even if he does own it he would have to give reasonable notice to enter anyway; if he had given notice to another tenant it would be up to them to let him in. Wouldn’t hurt to maybe give the estate agents a call maybe. The last flat I rented several flats were all owned by the same guy and he would always email or phone one of us if he needed to come in, but wouldn’t just knock or bring his keys and let himself in. Always best not to if you’re not sure, especially as you rent via the estate agent.

BobbleHat102 · 07/11/2018 15:56

So i take it your landlord has a lease and you rent from him? Either way, unless it is an emergency you are entitled to 24 hours notice from your landlord who should be able to confirm his identity. You absolutely do not have to grant immediate access.

If you can remember the name, could you look up the land registry?

If he comes back with keys and tries to let himself in, call the cops, that would be illegal.

Tadda · 07/11/2018 16:00

Don't let anyone in you don't know - ever! He wasn't exactly nice about it either by the sounds....?

I once rented a house where the owner (who apparently lived abroad and I had never met, I rented through an agency) turned up on a Sunday afternoon, said 'I'm Mr soandso, I own the house - can I just pop in for a look' - Errrr - I have no idea who you are and absolutely not - please contact the agency (who need to give at least three days notice and a valid entry reason!) and they will contact me....door shut...goodbye!

I now live in an apartment block, and if anyone rings my buzzer (there are 7 apartments here) then unless it's for me AND I know who you are, no entry!

What if the person they're apparently looking for doesn't want to see them also??

Not your responsibility OP

TheCatWhisperer · 07/11/2018 16:01

I would have thought he'd have a key if he owned the building. You did the right thing. Could be an angry ex of your neighbours or anyone really. Bit suspicious he didn't ring the buzzer of the person he was there to see.

JeanPagett · 07/11/2018 16:09

I wouldn't have let him in either. Presumably if he was the owner of the building he should be pleased you aren't letting random men wander around the place anyway?

Buster72 · 07/11/2018 16:13

If he returns with keys and let's himself in that is o.k. as long as he stays in the communal areas.
He will need give notice to enter individual flats.
So please don't call police

ReturnofPrincessOzma · 07/11/2018 16:19

YWNBU not to let him in if you didn’t feel comfortable but YABU to dramatically say you had to protect your children. I mean obviously you do yes, but I don’t think he was going to hold you all hostage on spec with a machete just because he’d got access to the building.

CoolCarrie · 07/11/2018 16:19

You did the right thing, if he does own the building then he needs to get keys from the estate agents that he pays to manage it for him.

EdisonLightBulb · 07/11/2018 16:23

Just because he may own the building doesn't surely allow him to walk straight in unannounced?

I would have thought the agent should have forewarned you, he had a key and/or he made arrangements to meet or call the person he was there seeing and they let him in as their guest.

Original poster

Mummaluelae · 07/11/2018 16:40

Strange situation. All 6 flats have different landlords, and I guess he is the freeholder of the building itself (flats and shops)
So I don't know if he would nesseccarily have keys but he stated he forgot his keys. A little odd to me. The communal area itself is literally a stair well up to1 st floor with 3 flats and another stair well to another 3 flats.
I wouldn't call the police unless he was persistently pressing buzzer

OP posts:

dontalltalkatonce · 07/11/2018 16:41

YANBU

Oneweekleft · 07/11/2018 16:45

You did the right thing, well done.

Elbbob · 07/11/2018 16:46

Why don't you call the estate agents and ask them? They might be able to reassure you he is legit. Not that you should let him in even if he is.

LavenderBush · 07/11/2018 16:48

YANBU.

Literally anybody could turn up and say that.

Gingerrogered · 07/11/2018 16:50

You did the right thing, but I hate to break it to you, it sounds like you're illegally subletting. The name you have is who he thinks is living in your flat.

Original poster

Mummaluelae · 07/11/2018 16:50

If he pressed buzzer again I would've rang estate agents. But even if I knew the name of him I wouldn't let him without meeting him firstly. There's a lot of strange people out

OP posts:

Whereismumhiding2 · 07/11/2018 16:50

Nah, sounds dodgy.
If he owned the building and had legitimate reason to be there he'd have brought keys / arranged with the managing estate agent to let him in. I would have said /done exactly same as you.

Wonder if he's a dodgy debt collector? Has he gone away now?

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 07/11/2018 16:51

I do this. I will never let anyone in through the buzzer I don't know.

As you said it's a safety thing.

Sexnotgender · 07/11/2018 16:51

YANBU. If he’s there to see x then he can buzz x and they’ll let him in.

CaptainHammer · 07/11/2018 16:54

You did the right thing OP.

Original poster

Mummaluelae · 07/11/2018 16:55

@Whereismumhiding2 yeah he's gone. I don't reckon he was debt collector. But come to think of it. He may just been an angry person who someone in the block owed him something who knows!

OP posts:

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