AIBU to refuse access to my bedroom?

[SecretChocolateStash]

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?

How much notice did you get? If just a day then reschedule. If more than that then you have had time to tidy up and shouldn't delay them.

Just let them in and don't think any more about it. You'll feel better once it's done and you're not having to plan it for another day. Sounds like your LL was trying to be considerate by organising them both together.

OP, I’m sorry to hear about your anxiety.

With respect to helping you get rid of things for the charity shop could you put some of it on Freecycle?

I’m preparing for a house move and Freecycle has been amazing for getting rid of things as people come and pick it up!

If you want you can. Say excuse the mess I'm waiting to do a tip run and then just let them get on with it as long as the radiator isn't blocked then it's fine because that's all they are interested in.

Pick up your pants, straighten bed let them in. It’s good it has all been arranged at same time. Why do you think workmen are guests?

Sorry to those confused, it’s not about the boiler or the heating system.
It’s the epc energy efficiency rating, i believe it’s something that was only required when a property was being sold or advertised to let, but in April they are changing the rule to make it so that all rented properties have to have a valid certificate at all times.

I think my problem with it is that everything is usually mutually arranged with a few weeks notice, this inspection was tagged on at the last minute, he emailed me late on Tuesday which I didn’t see until yesterday morning so I’ve had no time to even think about sorting it out.

I know I just need to suck it up and get on with it but it’s a big job because I’ll need to move a lot of the stuff to allow access to one of the windows in the room.

Although my sons bed blocks both the access to the radiator and the window in his room and I can’t move that so I’m not sure if that will be a problem (it’s a high sleeper with a desk and cupboards underneath so would be impossible to move without serious upheaval)

Totally missed the point but a gas check should be yearly well we get one yearly and have done for the last 10 years since moving in.

I know it’s easy to say, but really try not to worry it’s a legal obligation so the landlord just needs it done ASAP. The guy will probably be in and out quickly, he won’t even blink at the stuff and would be far more bothered at an extra journey another day then even the worst you could offer up!

You’re doing great

@MakeWorkYourNewFavourite

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!

@MakeWorkYourNewFavourite I think I love you!

I have to go into peoples' houses to carry out surveys and do epcs and we don't care how tidy they are. We do prefer it if you have put your dirty knickers etc away so that we don't have to move them.

The person carrying out the epc will need to measure and assess and photograph the windows, the radiator and its controls, the boiler/ hot water cylinder (which is sometimes in a bedroom). They'll also need to photograph the light-fitting. They can't carry out an epc without access to it all.

Please don't waste the epc surveyor's time by letting them come out, then telling them they can't do the entire property. They get paid a ridiculously small amount for what can be hours of work.

They will have seen far worse than your bedroom, so just make sure they can get to the window, radiator and can photograph the light. (They're looking at the kind of bulb that's being used, not whether your lampshade is dusty). They'll also need access to your loft, so make sure that the space beneath the loft hatch is clear. They really won't judge you on your tidiness or dusting skills.

Sorry to hear about your anxiety but just focus on the fact that once it's done you no longer have to worry about it. Putting it off just means you'll know it's coming and still have the pressure to tidy up. Just let the inspector see the mess and it'll be over with and off your mind.

You can do it. Nothing bad will happen.

Surely they will help you move beds in the way if you can’t move. Let let in today and then you won’t need to worry again.

It’s a little different if you have to move things. You can tell the landlord you’d rather schedule it two weeks out. He was probably thinking it was less inconvenience for you to get it all over with at once.

Where you going to put your stuff though you have no where to tidy it to,so Instead of spiraling into panic just leave it they will. Just be looking at windows and the size of the radiator In the rooms just let them get on with it.

No, energy efficiency assessors don't move beds and furniture. The epc expert I employ is a 4'11" woman. She's brilliant with the maths and the building knowledge involved. Why does everyone assume that anyone doing this kind of work is a hulking great bloke?

So if you can't move the bed yourself, OP, tell the landlord to cancel, prepare access to the space and then rebook.

Don't be so silly. They'll have seen a LOT worse!.
You're not going to be scored on this!

Any time I have my boiler serviced the engineer bleeds all the radiators too.

@Twillow

Don't be so silly. They'll have seen a LOT worse!. You're not going to be scored on this!

You should see the state of some of our lads vans/the workplace toilets/mess room!

YABU. Stick your dildo out of sight and let them get on with it. YA also BU for calling them guests 😅

@InTheLongGrass

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.

Exactly, the OP would be 'fuming' if there was an accident because of her preventing the inspectors doing their job!

OP: put everything on the bed under your duvet

The energy efficiency assessor won't give a rat's ass about how tidy your house may or may not be.
I'd probably refuse them access though on the grounds that they haven't given proper notice.

It's in your interests to have them both done so YABU to refuse.