To refuse entry?

[MysticMeggy]

I rent and my landlords electrician texted me yesterday afternoon to say he needed to do an electrical check so could he come round this morning.

Not really happy about having someone in the house with the pandemic but I responded immediately ‘OK, what time, how long will it take and will the electricity need to be turned off’ as DC and I are WFH and have Teams meetings so need the WiFi on and don’t really want someone wandering around while on a calls so would move them if we knew what time he was coming. I never got a response and I have a feeling electrician will just turn up when it suits him as he has done previously. He thinks he’s so important and busy, he can’t be pinned to an approximate time and the tenants time and convenience is inconsequential . That’s the impression I have anyway.

WIBU to send him packing if he does turn up (even if it’s not really inconvenient) and say next time confirm a time and don’t just turn up when you want?

Just don't answer the door. Does your landlord know how rude he is?

The electrical safety check does need to be done by 1st April but the electrician should, of course, schedule a proper and convenient appointment with you.

It's a fairly in depth check so not just a 10 minute job. Could you contact your landlord/agent and ask when he's coming as he hasn't replied?

I'm a landlord and I leave my agents, tenants, workmen to sort out scheduling themselves as I trust them all to act professionally. I would want to know though if there were problems and if the scheduling wasn't being done appropriately.

Also as a landlord I can say electricians are charging a lot for these checks, knowing that every landlord has no choice but to have them done.

I would want a professional service for me and my tenants the money I'm being charged.

Landlord is just as much of a twat as electrician is. He has a big portfolio of properties and ignores maintenance issues, even refused point blank to replace the washing machine so I had to buy one out of my own pocket despite the tenancy agreement clearly stating that it was there at the property so his responsibility.

I'm sorry to hear that MysticMeggy. Unfortunately there are some rubbish landlords out there.

Absolutely YANBU. If they want access to the house you need to mutually agree a time. I would refuse to answer the door and once he got in touch explain you never heard back with a confirmation of the time so presumed it wasn’t booked.

No fucking way would I be letting him in.

@MysticMeggy

Landlord is just as much of a twat as electrician is. He has a big portfolio of properties and ignores maintenance issues, even refused point blank to replace the washing machine so I had to buy one out of my own pocket despite the tenancy agreement clearly stating that it was there at the property so his responsibility.

Make sure you take that with you when you go - have you kept proof of purchase?

Send a text to the electrician and landlord saying you are happy to allow access at a mutually convenient time which must be agreed upon in advance.

I agree with you.
Did he try to turn up? If not, I would advise you to let him know in writing that you won't allow him entry if the time etc hasn't been agreed before. Just to keep the high ground.

If he knocks, go completely silent, don’t answer the door and turn phones to silent. Then reply to him after saying ‘so sorry we missed you, as you hadn’t replied to my message I stepped out, what bad luck, please call to rearrange a specific time’