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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU private rent

49 replies

Daisydoo6799 · 05/12/2019 16:37

We were meant to have someone come to look at our bathroom roof today between 3-4... Made sure I was back by 3 from shopping...
Got to 4.15, no one had turned up, so i rang estate agent.
Apparently they came at 2pm, no answer so got next door to open the side gate and accessed the back of our property unattended.
So annoyed at people just turning up when they like! 😑

Had a meeting / inspection with the managers of our estate agents in August, expressed these concerns, (as has happened on more than one occasion)... with a young baby, it's not acceptable to just turn up and was assured they had a quiet house policy and this wouldn't happen again.

Surely it's courtesy for them to ring us and say 'we're in the area, is it OK to come now? '
**so fed up of paying our rent every month and bare minimum works get done. The house is freezing, cold, damp, and mouldy.

OP posts:
EL8888 · 05/12/2019 16:42

YANBU. They are rude and unprofessional. You had a time agreed and it was flexible as it was. Why turn up so early?

Popuppippa · 05/12/2019 16:47

Your complain has nothing to do with privately renting. The workman turned up early - it's down to him. He probably thought he was being resourceful finding a way of looking at the outside of your bathroom roof. This kind of thing happens to people who own as well as rent.

PotteringAlong · 05/12/2019 16:48

I agree, your complaint has nothing at all to do with private renting.

Original poster
Daisydoo6799 · 05/12/2019 16:52

Well it is to do with private rent isn't it... The estate agents have allowed him to turn up early.
I was assured this wouldn't happen again.

OP posts:
everythingcrossed · 05/12/2019 16:54

Yes, but it could equally have happened if you were in social housing.

PlanDeRaccordement · 05/12/2019 16:56

You are angry because they came early and were able to look at the roof from outside without disturbing you or your baby because you were out?

What is the problem? I’d be happy in your shoes.

Original poster
Daisydoo6799 · 05/12/2019 16:57

And now the estate agent won't tell me what the outcome of the assessment, just that she has sent it to the landlord.

If he had turned up when he was supposed to, we would have known the outcome.

And if we were in social housing, or even owned our own home, if they had no answer, they would have gone away, not just accessed the back of our property, where we have valuable things in our outbuildings.

OP posts:
Popuppippa · 05/12/2019 16:58

I don't think Estate Agents have much control over when a workman turns up. They made an appointment , let you know the timeand your roofer/workman turned up early and so as not to waste everyone's time he was resourceful and found a way to check the outside of your bathroom roof. Not sure what the fuss is about myself - these things happen whether you rent or own. The good news is if you owned instead of renting you would have to make all the phone calls yourself, to several people to get quotes, have multiple people not turn up and then pay for the work yourself.

Original poster
Daisydoo6799 · 05/12/2019 16:58

Just total disrespect I think.

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 05/12/2019 16:59

Why is your house cold and freezing? Surely that is dependent on where you set the temperature of your heating?

Winterdaysarehere · 05/12/2019 17:00

Dh waited in all day for boiler service. I did school runs and worked. Needed to work a bit Tuesday to make up time so no day off...
Rang agent as he no showed.
Boiler man rang later on and came straight away.
Showed me texts to prove the agent hadn't put us on his list at all!!
Door broken and lock temperamental and half the time have to leave the door unlocked!
They don't care at all.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/12/2019 17:02

No, the agents didn't allow him, he chose to.

It happens whether you are an owner or a renter. And if you want any remedial work done well, he's been and had a look, that's progress.

PlanDeRaccordement · 05/12/2019 17:02

Not really. Workmen are all insured and bonded. They would not steal items from outside your home. I’ve owned homes and left keys for workmen to go inside my property and do work, then lock up when they leave. It’s no different from having a cleaner come in.

Original poster
Daisydoo6799 · 05/12/2019 17:02

Because its an old house, drafty windows and doors.
Were just told 'they aren't that old windows' or it's an old house.
Contradicting.
We had a window company look before, and all he did was look at the 2 worst affected windows, put a bit of paper between them, and was told they were fine 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also, the roof on the bathroom isn't felted properly, so adds to the freezing cold bathroom!

OP posts:
CSIblonde · 05/12/2019 17:03

He didn't access indoors so I'd not be fussed tbh. My agent turned up un announced with a key to read the meter. He didn't even knock, first I knew was key in the door. Cue strict written letter re law being 24hrs notice for any visit & me texting future readings on request, which they insisted had to include pic in case I'm lying re reading: which is mad as bills are inclusive, so no makes odds to me what the reading is. If damp & mould is an issue they won't sort, contact Council environmental health, as its direct cause of serious chest infections etc & it's illegal not to sort it.

UtterlyPerfectCartoonGiraffe · 05/12/2019 17:04

plan that rather depends on whether the heating is efficient or even working at all, or whether the house is draughty or badly insulated... No guarantee, even on a private rent Sad

Original poster
Daisydoo6799 · 05/12/2019 17:04

@PlanDeRaccordement not everyone feels comfortable with workmen being in and around their house unattended.

OP posts:
everythingcrossed · 05/12/2019 17:05

To be fair, if the builder had come closer to 4 (assuming you are in most parts of UK), it would have been very hard to assess the roof as it would be dark.

madcatladyforever · 05/12/2019 17:07

Private landlords are c*s all of them. My son and his wife have suffered for years in revolting mouldy, freezing shitholes paying £1000 a month and nothing in return (Surrey). It makes me furious.
I'm in rented short term while I'm buying a house. I have the reputation of an ogre and nobody dares to come here unless the answer is yes. I will not put up with this nonsense.

LensGlans · 05/12/2019 17:07

YABU, and please don't say "our property". You're renting, the property does not belong to you.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/12/2019 17:08

The assumption that tradespeople are thieves is really insulting... I am in and out of other people's homes every day and would be mortified if they saw me like that!

SpiderHunter · 05/12/2019 17:08

This workman clearly doesn't understand boundaries and I wouldn't want him working in my home for that reason. I'm amazed so many people on here would be fine with it if random people they've never met went into their gardens.

It happens whether you are an owner or a renter.

If you are an owner and a workman does something you are uncomfortable with you can choose to hire someone else instead. That is a luxury tenants don't get, so I think estate agents (the people who actually choose the workmen) do need to take some responsibility here.

PlanDeRaccordement · 05/12/2019 17:08

Fair enough to not be comfortable, but I think it’s a bit paranoid to think honest workmen are theives.

LakieLady · 05/12/2019 17:09

Yes, but it could equally have happened if you were in social housing.

Or if you own your own house.

I arranged for the plumber to come at 2pm today. I arrived home at 1.45 to find him parked outside. He then told me he'd originally come at 11, but I wasn't in.

Well, no I wasn't, I was at work, earning the money to pay the bloody plumber's bill!

Hurdygurdy24 · 05/12/2019 17:09

And if we were in social housing, or even owned our own home, if they had no answer, they would have gone away, not just accessed the back of our property, where we have valuable things in our outbuildings.

Not true at all.
The tradesman has got through his jobs for the day a bit more quickly than expected, or someone had cancelled on him.

Happens all the time to all kids of tenants or home owners. Trade men can’t just hang around for an hour or two until it’s the agreed time to visit, they crack on with their day.

Also, nothing to do with you what the outcome of the visit was. It’s the landlords business and nobody else’s