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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think they can't do this

74 replies

JimmyJamm · 06/02/2019 09:19

Live in rented accommodation and had an inspection last week. We have always looked after the place, I'm very clean and tidy anyway so no problems there.

Around a month or so ago we had my mother's dog stay with us for 2 nights whilst she had an impromptu hospital stay. He's getting on a bit so was no hassle.

The agents who did the inspection have said they have reason to believe we have a dog at the property due to 'evidence' found at the inspection.

The only possible thing I can think of is the small bag of dog food in my cupboard in the kitchen which was left over from the time mentioned above.

AIBU to think they can't go through my cupboards?! I can explain the dog food, that isn't the issue. But I have paperwork in this cupboard, bank statements, hospital letters of my own which I wouldn't want anyone to see.

I understand it isn't technically my house but I deserve some privacy when I'm paying to live there surely?

This isn't the first time they have done something like this. Last year they let someone in our house without checking first.

OP posts:

Original poster

JimmyJamm · 06/02/2019 10:38

Tinty

He would as well, the bastard.

OP posts:

safariboot · 06/02/2019 10:39

By itself, I don't think checking the cupboards during an inspection is unreasonable. The LL may want to check for damage on the inside, excessive dirt, or signs of vermin.

But the unauthorised access for a non-emergency repair is bang out of order and the agents sound like crap

HauntedPencil · 06/02/2019 10:39

They have to give you 24 hours notice and you can be there.

That's a bit much imo for me it's always been a quick scoot for obvious issues not poking around in cupboards.

Original poster

JimmyJamm · 06/02/2019 10:40

Maybe come clean and explain to them

Oh I will, I'm not worried about that. Our landlord is great I know they won't be bothered by it.

OP posts:

mansneverhot · 06/02/2019 10:41

You absolutely do not need permission for a dog to stay a couple of nights 🙄 stay confident with them and ask for their evidence.

Some posters on here are completely absurd. OP has more right to use her home as she pleases than her landlord has to enforce petty rules - that’s how it works when you rent any property to anyone else. The deposit is to cover damage, landlords don’t get a say in how their tenants use their time and home unless they want to evict.

Yes landlords have to give 24 hours notice before entering BUT you still have every right to refuse entry unless in the instance of an emergency eg flood or gas leak. Again, you have more right to deny entry than they have rights to enter. It is your HOME.

So much misinformation on here, it sometimes seems like some people genuinely believe renters should be treated as second class citizens with no rights to a private life.

Original poster

JimmyJamm · 06/02/2019 10:44

Is it reasonable of me to request they give me a time frame as to when they expect to be visiting i.e. between 10-12 so I can be there and not have to use a full days holiday?

I don't want to refuse entry. I like our landlords and don't want to be difficult but I just can't stand the agent.

OP posts:

anniehm · 06/02/2019 10:46

Can't you suggest to the owner that you can contract directly (assuming you are planning on staying put) cheaper for them so could do deal...

GemmeFatale · 06/02/2019 10:48

You can give them a time frame if you like. Just refuse entry except between the hours of x and y on date.

Original poster

JimmyJamm · 06/02/2019 10:53

I think I will do this from now on then.

OP posts:

jessstan2 · 06/02/2019 10:53

You would not be lying t say you have no dog because you haven't. If anyone asks about the packet of dog food it would show them up for going through your cupboards, however you can say your mother visited and she has a dog, you wanted to have something to give the dog. Who can object to that especially if you are good tenants who look after the place.

Toooldtocareanymore · 06/02/2019 11:01

I agree it is not appropriate to go through cupboards as part of a check, maybe ok to open door to check say no damage to door or damp/ mould issue, and they could see food then without going through anything, but that's only my opinion don't know what's legally allowed but I expect to look at their property is fine not your belongings, though I also would say you are only surmising the dog food was the evidence ,l think its far more likely someone reported the dog, so simply reply saying you absolutely do now own a dog, and ask them to put in writing what their evidence is.

Returning2thesceneofthecrime · 06/02/2019 11:08

Write to them - I am writing to confirm that we do not have a dog at the premises. Please could you let me know what evidence you have that suggests we do?

If it involves them going through you cupboards, personally, I’d hit the roof but realistically there is little you can do at this stage.

Always be there for an inspection. Yes, they can arrange a fixed time and it should be one that is mutually convenient.

Original poster

JimmyJamm · 06/02/2019 11:12

See, I understand what people are saying but knowing where I live, to me it's the unlikeliest possibility that it's been reported to them.

The young girl next door is 21 I believe, has parties, smokes weed outside the house etc....(I don't care about this, she's a nice girl), I really cannot picture her going to our agent and telling them we've had a dog in the house for two days. She doesn't seem the type who would care even if we did have a dog here 100% of the time against the rules.

There are no other neighbors (live on a small country lane!).

OP posts:

Butterfly84 · 06/02/2019 11:29

OP, you shouldn't have had the dog there without following the rules and getting it approved. But yes, going through your cupboards is really horrible. Definitely be there whenever your place is inspected in future.

It does seem like someone has reported you, either to the agent or landlord. You say that you don't think it's the woman next door, but you don't know that. Some people are snakey. I wouldn't confront anyone though because you don't know for certain.

PregnantSea · 06/02/2019 11:30

Insist that you have never had a dog, and they must provide proof of this claim. Stick to your guns

Santaclarita · 06/02/2019 11:36

I think what some are forgetting is that it is not ops home. She is renting it. It belongs to someone else. Therefore to keep it, you have to stick to the rules that they lay down. If that means asking permission for a pet, then you ask. I would have asked even just for looking after a dog for a few nights as its just polite. So many landlords are screwed over by tenants being asses and trashing a house that isn't theirs. My landlady had several bad tenants before us one of them let his child draw on the walls. Do that kind of crap in your own house but when you rent it's not yours. It's someone else's.

OP wouldn't have left the place in a mess after the dog, but many would. There's also the issue of not telling anyone and then possibly renting it to someone with an allergy to dogs. If it's not cleaned properly for that then there's obvious problems there. They have to cover themselves.

I doubt they looked through your letters, agencies are too lazy for that. But they can check the cupboards for wear and tear, and it doesn't take a genius to see dog food and put two and two together. Why else would you have it? They have to ask, and will because it will get them money. They are a business after all, although they tend to be useless.

I would ask what evidence they have, and then assuming it's the dog food, say that the dog was there for a few nights only. Tell your landlord too. They probably won't care, but I would tell them in advance next time. It is only polite.

TheLostTargaryen · 06/02/2019 11:41

A visiting pet for two nights is not breaking the rules! How silly. That's like saying no subletting or adding tenants and as such no friends or family can ever spend the weekend visiting or it means they now live there.

OP, email the agents stating that you do not own a dog and ask them to provide you with the evidence they apparently have.

TheLostTargaryen · 06/02/2019 11:46

And can I just say, you really should change your locks. It doesn't matter what the tenancy claims or what you signed, it is NOT law that the landlord or their agent has keys to your rented home. As long as you change the locks back after the tenancy then you are complying with the law.

If there are unknown people to you with access to keys to your home, your contents insurance is probably invalid. You have no idea if the previous tenants made a copy too.
I say this as someone who had a previous tenant's old friend walk into my locked house one night. The last tenants were junkies. Luckily the dodgy visitor wasn't there with bad intentions and handed the key to me and left apologising.

Original poster

JimmyJamm · 06/02/2019 12:03

Thanks. To be honest I never thought it was something I could do, change the locks etc...

OP posts:

HPLikecraft · 06/02/2019 12:16

I think what some are forgetting is that it is not ops home. She is renting it. It belongs to someone else

It absolutely IS her home. She pays money to live there. It is someone else’s property, not someone else’s home. Her landlords are not doing her a favour by letting her live there, they’re making money out of it.

mansneverhot · 06/02/2019 12:54

I think what some are forgetting is that it is not ops home. She is renting it. It belongs to someone else

So renters are homeless? 😂

You sign a contract, pay rent, yes its YOURS and not the landlords for that agreed period of time. They are just responsible for maintenance and have no other rights - without a properly followed eviction procedure. And even then, if they want to evict but haven't followed the correct rules in regards to gas/electrical safety, protecting deposits etc, the entire way through the tenancy, they can't legally reclaim possession. HTH.

Sick to death of people treating tenants like untrustworthy criminals when there are just as many bad, power crazed, misinformed landlords abusing their position of power.

Santaclarita · 06/02/2019 18:06

I rent and never consider the house I live in my home. If it were my home, I could do what I want to it, things that break would be my responsibility to pay and I wouldn't have someone else have the ability to tell me to leave within a months notice. You aren't homeless but it's not your house.

OhCustardPots · 06/02/2019 18:25

Of course it's their home. That's why you have to be provided quiet enjoyment of it.

A home and a property are two different things.

No the OP couldn't sell the property but she's paying for it be her home.

Pugwash1 · 06/02/2019 18:37

@Santaclarita, I respectfully disagree with you on this. We have rented our house out before and are about to do so again. While it might be our property, I do not consider it our home when rented out. It is our tenants. We provide maintenance to the property and gain income and they have a home that is theirs as long as the agreement is mutually acceptable to both. Regarding the visiting dog evidence it sounds as though they have been having a snoop. Not acceptable IMO unless there was obvious evidence of damage where they were looking. Tell your landlord. They may take this as an opportunity to leave the agents and rent privately to you as you both have a good relationship, potentially saving you both some money!

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