about landlord popping round all the time?

[Thesandmanishere]

We just rented a lovely place and signed a year's contract. The house was previously lived in by the landlord so has been very well maintained.

I'm sure she's very nice but she keeps popping round unannounced and it's starting to irritate me. It's never ostensibly because she wants to check up on us but it obviously actually is. For example she didn't redirect any of her post so she keeps coming round to collect it. She had a parcel delivered here this morning which she came to collect.

I really don't like it as I want to feel that this is "our home" while we pay rent here - I've lived in rentals before and never seen hide nor hair of the landlord other than when there's been a problem to resolve. But I also don't want to piss her off or be unreasonable.

AIBU or should she not be doing this?

As pp have said, you need to make it clear to her that she can't keep popping round.

If she does it again after you have spoken to her, then I'd suggest you call your local council and ask to speak to someone in the private housing department. They are very helpful and will make it clear to your landlord that this is your home and you and your family have a right to privacy.

Could say when she next comes round: "It feels like you're keeping tabs on us, do you have any concerns about our tenancy? This is our home now, and I'd feel much more comfortable if you trusted us and stopped dropping by."
I would be pretty hacked off if I were you.

Good advice @RoSEbuds6

I had landlords like this, they drove me out of the house in the end!

totally unaceptable and l am a LL

Next time she comes round dont answer the door, stay out of her view and see if she lets herself in. If she does then ask her to respect your privacy and that you will be speaking to the agent . Dont take in any parcels and put the mail back in the postbox not known.

@TemptedToSleepInTheShed

It’s her house and I’m afraid she can do as she pleases while you’re living in her house. Do you have a plan for buying your own?

This is not correct. Landlords can't do whatever they want, tenants have rights and protections.

@TemptedToSleepInTheShed

It’s her house and I’m afraid she can do as she pleases while you’re living in her house. Do you have a plan for buying your own?

Oh dear. No, that’s not true.

Do you have a plan for buying your own?

Yes we do, we're planning on selling our child to facilitate the required £25,000 for a deposit. .

Wait until she does it again. Then slide out of the front door closing it behind you with you both on the outside.

‘The thing is [landlord] that both DH and I are here for work and so on all day and we would very much appreciate it if you WOULD get your post redirected. Neither of us are happy with this arrangement of your post coming here and I would be grateful if other arrangements could be made so your post comes directly to you.’

Keep focussed on the post. Very focussed. ‘Just our post coming to our house.’ Whatever she says next just keep saying ‘yes but we would prefer only to receive our post at our address’. Be like a broken record.

@Thesandmanishere

I just feel like she obviously (having lived here before) feels like this is still "her home". I mean obviously it is, but you know what I mean!

She owns the house. It is not her home. House and home are not interchangeable in this instance. (Property developers use them interchangeably in order to sell more houses.)

It’s her house and I’m afraid she can do as she pleases while you’re living in her house. Do you have a plan for buying your own?

@TemptedToSleepInTheShed err what?? You think people who rent need to just let landlords in as they please? Does that go for young women living in their own as well, male landlords can just come and visit them as and when they like? Tennants have rights - what planet are you on?

Nip this in the bud ASAP. A relative had rented a property from another older relative and it became unbearable for the tenants as the ‘landlord’ would just turn up 2-3 times a week unannounced, it’s not right to feel uncomfortable in your own home and it can become very stressful.

Just to be clear, we would love to own our own home. I can't work due to caring for a child with SEN full time. DH earns a decent salary but certainly not enough to save the amount required for a deposit on a property any time soon.

I'd put my keys in the door and stop answering the door to her.

There is no 24 hour rule - landlords cannot let themselves in, or insist on being let in, for anything other than emergency repairs.

She needs reminding that you are legally entitled to quiet enjoyment of the property that you are paying for.

Sadly, if I were you, I’d be preparing to move at the end of your first lease. In my experience as a tenant, and a LL hearing from my tenants about previous experiences, LL’s like this don’t change.
If she hasn’t changed her address anywhere I’d also be concerned that her mortgage company may not know she’s letting the property out - having an agent doesn’t guarantee anything as most of them are crap.

@Thesandmanishere

I'm seriously concerned she would let herself in if she came round and we weren't here.

I had a LL who used to do that regularly.

She's nosey and your husband is right to be fuming.

I'd move as soon as you can people who have to be told this is unacceptable tend to just keep right on doing it.

Id also consider getting a Ring doorbell so that you can prove what she is doing... it might deter her too.

@TemptedToSleepInTheShed

It’s her house and I’m afraid she can do as she pleases while you’re living in her house. Do you have a plan for buying your own?

I swear some Mumsnet posters have never once entered the real world.

I don't understand how you can get through life not realising that tenancy laws and rights exist.

I’d speak to the agent. If you don’t want to do that then get a ring doorbell so you can see it’s her and not answer the door- or answer remotely saying you are busy.

It might be her property but it’s your home!

I'm not British and almost no one in my home country owns. It's completely normal there to rent. Consequently tenants have more rights.

I’m a landlord. This is totally unacceptable. I would contact the agent and tell them she’s breaching the ‘quiet enjoyment’ clause in the rental contract and ask them 1) to tell her to back off and 2) that you expect her to immediately redirect all post / parcels and 3) explain you are concerned she will access the property if you are not at home and ask them how they are going to broach that with her. Give her the grace period of one week, after which time you will return all items to sender.

I also think she is pulling a fast one with her mortgage lender.

I'm passive aggressive but I'd refuse any parcels in her name and post letter in the postbox to her forwarding address. If she says anything just say "oh no its so much more convenient to send it to you!".

Keep doing it.

www.plazaestates.co.uk/news/can-my-landlord-enter-my-house-without-me-being-home

I’m a landlord. This is not on. I give texted minimum 24 hours notice. I can go in to check properly once every six months (by arrangement) and I go in or coordinate with tenants for any maintenance (I give them the option to do it themselves).
It’s her moved home. Or rather it was! You’re giving her money for the run of it!