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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to refuse access to my bedroom?

113 replies

SecretChocolateStash · 17/12/2020 10:02

My landlord and I arranged mutually agreed a time today for a gas engineer to come to do the gas safety check which is due.
This was arranged several weeks ago.

The day before yesterday he emailed to say the EPC (energy rating) needs doing too so he will send someone at the same time.

I’ve had a google and it seems that this epc inspection involves the assessor checking windows lights and radiators in every room of the house, plus the loft and for cavity wall insolation.

The gas engineer would only need to be in the downstairs to check on the gas meter and boiler so I hadn’t especially worried about cleaning and tidying as the downstairs of my house is usually tidy enough for unexpected guests. (That’s the rule I try to live by)

However, the upstairs isn’t guest ready.
The bathroom and guest room/office are fine and I could quickly have a wizz around DS’s room to make it presentable but the master bedroom is a bit of a dumping ground and I have piles of washing (clean to be ironed) and boxes of clothes and shoes to go to the charity shop and stuff in bags to go to the tip.
Really it looks a mess and I really don’t feel up to sorting it out and making it look presentable just for a check that I wasn’t expecting.

Wibu to say I would prefer to rearrange but if the do want to do it today they can do every room except the master bedroom?

OP posts:
DemolitionBarbie · 17/12/2020 10:06

Let them in and don't tidy up.

helloxhristmas · 17/12/2020 10:07

Just let them in you really don't have to tidy up.

An EPC is a legal requirement.

TheThingWithFeathers · 17/12/2020 10:08

I'd just let them into the bedroom. They won't care about the mess and probably won't even notice.

Bluntness100 · 17/12/2020 10:09

Honestly they don’t care. Just let them in,

Shoxfordian · 17/12/2020 10:10

They're not guests and they've definitely seen untidy rooms before. Yabu

Smallsteps88 · 17/12/2020 10:11

The inspector doesn’t care about the state of your bedroom. They’ve seen plenty. Just let them do their job.

LightDrizzle · 17/12/2020 10:13

They won’t give a shiny shite and unless there’s a body in there, they won’t think to mention the state of it to anyone.
In. Out. Next!

Brefugee · 17/12/2020 10:15

Wouldn't you rather be safe? they literally don't care unless it is a stinking mess of dog shit and mouldy food. How long will it take you to whip round and put stuff in piles so they can access the windows?

InTheLongGrass · 17/12/2020 10:15

I'd put away any underwear, but otherwise let them in without tidying.
As an ex landlord, I didnt really care if you chose to use a wardrobe or a floordrobe or a chairdrobe. I did care that the house was physically in good condition.

HerbErtlinger · 17/12/2020 10:18

They don't care, my DP does these and the only time he's bothered is when things are really grim like full cat litter trays right next to where he's working. He usually just wants to get in and out as quickly as possible. He'd be more annoyed at having to return at a different day to finish the job as it will be tacked onto an already full schedule, invariably not enough time allocated and he would end up working late to get all his jobs completed. This is a really busy time of year for heating engineers

rbe78 · 17/12/2020 10:25

Pick your knickers up off the floor and pull the duvet over the bed, but I wouldn't worry over and above that. People who work in opther people's house must have seen it all before!

SATSmadness · 17/12/2020 10:27

They'll have seen a lot worse ! You'll never see the EPC man/woman again after this so why worry.

JackAndJillsBucket · 17/12/2020 10:28

Wibu to say I would prefer to rearrange but if the do want to do it today they can do every room except the master bedroom?

Yes.

Why are you bothered about cleaning etc?

Just let them fulfil their legal duty, stop fannying people about by saying it's ok to do everything except 1 bedroom because you haven't cleaned. You're really making a mountain out of nothing.

MakeWorkYourNewFavourite · 17/12/2020 10:35

Someone has just come around to fix my boiler. I thought he'd just be going near the boiler. He is now balancing the system, which involves going in every room of the house and pissing around with the radiators. I asked him to come back next week, but he clearly thinks I'm nuts. I haven't cleaned my house in weeks. I've just been so so busy. And some rooms are massive dumping grounds! Absolute tips. Covered in cat hair. He's still in the house. I want to die. He's also a friend of a friend, so now everyone will know what a dirty, dirty bitch I am. Bloody hell! On the plus side, he doesn't want to charge me because I run a cat rescue. I don't know what to make of that. I think he thinks I'm mental and feels sorry for me. But, the heating is on!

HoppingPavlova · 17/12/2020 10:37

Honestly the person won’t give two shits about the state of the bedroom. Just let them get in and out for goodness sake.

IMNOTSHOUTING · 17/12/2020 10:38

They're not guests. Just make sure there isn't dirty underware on the floor.

ifonly4 · 17/12/2020 10:38

I understand who you feel, but workmen and surveyors have seen it all before. He'll probably have loads of inspections to do, so won't want to spend time assessing if he thinks your rooms upstairs are tidy. As said, the main things I'd want to avoid are underwear on the floor and have the duvet, sheets pulled up (even if not flattened out).

SonjaMorgan · 17/12/2020 10:39

It is easy to tell you just to let them in but I wouldn't. It is a massive cause of stress to have anyone in my house and I will make sure everything is clean before workmen or anyone else can come in.

Original poster
SecretChocolateStash · 17/12/2020 10:41

Thank you all for replying.

The epc has been expired for 7 years so I didn’t even know why they wanted it doing now until I read the law is changing in April so all rented properties have to have a valid certificate, so that’s why he’s decided it now needs doing.

I know they probably don’t care if it’s untidy, but I care.
I know it’s probably a bit of a drip feed but I have anxiety that makes me get really stressed out about these kind of things and I’ve already chewed my lips until they are bleeding and sore because of the stress about it.

The mess of the bedroom is something I’ve been stressed about and putting off dealing with for a while, it’s a large room and there I are two walls of stuff piled up to go to the charity shop and the tip,
(I don’t drive so I have to store it until someone can help me get rid of it and because of covid it’s been building up for a while).

Ok I’ll try to make it look as presentable as humanly possible and tell the landlord the inspector can come when the gas engineer come.

Thanks for giving my head a wobble.

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 17/12/2020 10:41

No, because it won’t be complete without checking that room too. It’s all or nothing.

But they’re not coming to inspect your cleanliness or tidiness so let them do their job.

goopsoup · 17/12/2020 10:42

Sounds like a great opportunity to spur you to get it sorted.

Can DS (and anyone else in HH) help?

Comefromaway · 17/12/2020 10:43

When we had our EPC done we had stuff everywhere as we were in the process of moving house and we wanted them to be able to see the loft insulation so had literally dumped the contents of the loft which was hiding it all into the downstairs study.

They really will not care.

Xenia · 17/12/2020 10:45

Boiler work often involved looking at every radiator. I would just leave the mess but let them do their work.

LightDrizzle · 17/12/2020 10:48

Sorry it’s making you so anxious. They really, really won’t care or give it a second thought, even if it’s a proper tip, however what you describe sounds like a room where someone has been sorting and gathering stuff together, not just random filth.

CharityDingle · 17/12/2020 10:49

Honestly, it will be fine. Make sure there is an easy path to the window and other than that, don't worry one bit about tidying.

Sounds like you have done great work, organising stuff to go to the charity shop.
Think of the relief when that is gone and don't be pressurising yourself, the engineer won't even notice.