She just let herself in my house ...aibu to think that's illegal?

[ozonelayer]

My housing officer is a pain in the ...
Every other week she's knocking about something ..keep garden tidier (it's fine ) etc etc.
I seen her car at the top of road earlier and 20 mins ago there was a knock.
I'm sat eating my dinner and she just knocks again and opens the door.
My own stupid fault as the parcel guy came earlier and carrying the heavy box forgot to go back to lock it.
That's not right surely ?

I would be calling her manager today and following up with a written letter of compliant.

Yearly inspections are a thing. But after notification, and with agreement. And ime, to chat about any issues/ problems that need resolving. Not a nosey around( unless there is an obvious issue).

I 'd contact HA, and do it in writing ( email) to outline your concerns. Polite but firm, and mention the different approach previously. And the letting herself in.Send to the top of the chain of command. I'd probably copy in my local councillors too.

I can't control the wind blowing things In my garden.

No you can't, but you can control whether you chose to pick them up or not. If you live on a busy thoroughfare where rubbish is constantly landing in your front garden it's a pain in the neck, but you can't ignore it and let it build up for months just because you didn't personally put it there. That's skanky.

You are lucky to have social housing. Treat it with some respect.

@ElsieCat sorry il just stop you there.
I'm out with my bin liner in the garden twice a week picking up litter that's blown in.
We live on the corner and any breeze blows rubbish in.
If I cleaned it on a Tuesday and during the night it was windy and she looked in on a Wednesday she would be straight on my case.
My house is tidy and clean and I've spent a fortune getting it that way.

Good lord, can't believe she's still at it. I remember thinking that the shit she put you through before was very OTT, born of jealousy and I said so, albeit under my old posting name.

Did you ever complain to one of her managers about her behaviour that was bordering on (if not outright) harassment. I think it's about time you do or do so again. She has no right to walk in like that, none whatsoever.

You have a right to quiet enjoyment. Tell them you need 24 hours notice of visits

@ElsieCat and where did I say rubbish was building up for months?

I've never complained about her no just for the fear she will be even worse with me.
I'm trying to keep her sweet but that's not having the desired effect it seems.

Yes I remember you posting about this quite a while ago and from memory the resounding voice of mn was report her and keep a log. It's harassment at the end of the day.

our previous tenant refused any of our requests for access to the house. And apparently we couldnt do anything about it, as it might have 'spoiled her enjoyment of the property'. No way could we have let ourselves in with no permission....despite it saying that we could in the contract. Apparently the court would have gone nuts....though dont think thats the technical term

I hope you told her to leave?

Write a letter of complaint and make sure you put in about your right to quiet enjoyment and that she can't just let herself into your home without your EXPRESS permission

Not acceptable on any level.
Ring immediately,stay polite and tell them you will follow up in writing.

despite it saying that we could in the contract. Apparently the court would have gone nuts....though dont think thats the technical term

It's 'quiet enjoyment' and LLs can't enter without permission unless it's for an emergency, a real one.

Many agents and LL write into their contracts that a T MUST allow them in for inspections, thinking that will give them the right to enter for inspections. But it doesn't as anything written in a contract cannot override a law... and the law is clear that a T is entitled to the quiet enjoyment of the property. So no agent or LL can just walk n.

It is EXACTLY the same for HAs. So OP really should write and formally complain so that this woman and the HA are brought back within the law.

If they should be daft enough to make OP feel uncomfortable in any way, or to issue her with a section 21, she can then try to sue them for 'revenge eviction' which is highly illegal and frowned upon by all courts across the UK.

stop keeping her sweet just complain and always lock your door

its an invasion of privacy

Imagine if you were walking round naked or in bed with your partner. Not acceptable.

Imagine if the OP had collapsed on the floor with a heart attack. To answer the question, it is not illegal to enter a property thru an unlocked or open door, if you have no intention of committing a crime.

ElsieCat
Are you the housing officer?

Did she actually step over the threshold and did the door appear open when she knocked?

I'm asking because I'm a HO and have knocked at doors that have clearly been open (not just unlocked) and have moved when I've knocked at the door. If no one answers I will slightly open the door without entering the property and call in until I get an answer. If no answers I'd be looking for other means to contact you and if necessary secure the door.

To answer the question, it is not illegal to enter a property thru an unlocked or open door, if you have no intention of committing a crime. Which is a little different form a housing officer walking into the homes of her tenants uninvited.

Context being important!

When was the last time you walked into someone's house just to check they weren't dying?

Did the officer have an appointment to do the inspection, were you expecting her or someone else to come round that day?

I had a HA officer turn up unannounced one day. The nosy bag across the back had reported us for subletting. (Her friend told me it was because she'd seen my BIL having a vape in the garden at night once and as it was so late, she thought he must be staying here. He was. For a weekend when DH and him went off on a hobby trip. They do it a couple of times a year.) That woman has reported most of my neighbours for something or other over the years.
We work, we keep pretty gardens, we don't drink or party. We have 3 quiet kids and are in bed by 10/11pm most nights.

Anyway, Housing officer asked to come in. I told her it wasn't convenient right now. She told me that I would be fined for non-compliance if I didn't. The problem was, DH was in bed after night shift and I was in PJs and looking like shit after having a week of us all being ill. We had furniture piled in the hallway meaning you could only get through sideways and by pushing a wardrobe like you were a Resident Evil game character solving puzzles! (We'd bought new the week before and were waiting for these to go), the washing was piled up, the dishes were all over the sink and the kids were also in PJs despite it being 11am and I hadn't been able to get the hoover out in days as there was a triple wardrobe against the hall cupboard. My house has never looked worse and I am normally very house-proud.
To this day I will never forgive myself for caving and letting her in. She would be breaking the law to try and fine me for not allowing her into my home after turning up with no 24hrs notice and my agreement to it.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I hope she caught our tummy bug.

@Prestonsflowers Great comment.

I don't think the OP needs posters preaching to her about how she should be eternally thankful about living in social housing, the way some have gone on about it it's like she should have fallen to her knees in front of the housing officer. Someone barged into her home, which whether it's owned by her or the council, is her own private space. I would absolutely be reporting this OP.

I live in a HA property and have never had a house inspection, been here for 8 years. No one has ever been over unless I called them for a repair or something issue to be replaced or serviced (boiler).

I've lived in HA house for 13 years and never had anyone inspect my house

@ElsieCat and where did I say rubbish was building up for months?
hmm

You didn't. But I can't believe a housing officer has nothing better to do than hassle one specific tenant about one rogue crisp packet. And you say the garden is 'fine'. Fine is usually a euphemism for not great but just about acceptable.

Besides, if you are not going to pick up the rubbish in your own garden when there is just a little bit of work involved, it's hard to imagine you'd do it when there is a lot of work involved.