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Original poster

Landlord turning up unannounced

132 replies

Crazyhousewife · 27/04/2022 11:15

So I moved house recently and my landlord seems to be coming round a lot. He comes round more then my own family. He is trying to get my family to do repairs had to do a few as he hasn’t done them and it costs me for the things that needed buying to do the repair. I pay quite a high rent for my area and I’ve noticed he seems to hang around more when rent is due. He was supposed to be coming by for something yesterday but then turns up randomly today. Am i in the wrong but I’m kind of getting sick of it. I just want privacy is that so wrong.I homeschool so the constant disruption really isn’t good for learning. I honestly dread him messaging or calling because I can’t deal with the constantly coming around. I’ve got enough to deal with financially so I don’t need him hovering over stressing me out more.

OP posts:
SunshineAndFizz · 27/04/2022 11:23

Landlords need to give you 24 hours notice. They can't just turn up.

BlanketsBanned · 27/04/2022 11:30

24hrs notice minimum, why does he come round near rent day, can you pay by standing order. You shouldnt be doing repairs either. Is it a private rent or through an agent, do you have a contract. Shelter have a great website about each persons responsibilites and tenants rights,

AryaStarkWolf · 27/04/2022 11:36

YANBU, tell him you want to be notified in advance if he needs to call round for something

MissusMaisel · 27/04/2022 11:41

Ignore all the people who will blither on about 24 hours notice...that's not actually a thing. You are entitled to quiet enjoyment in your home and you do not have to let your landlord in to the property ever, at all. You should do for essential maintenance, but you don't actually have to.

Tell him to sod off, frankly

billyt · 27/04/2022 11:44

It may be his house, but it's your home.You are legally entitled to quiet enjoyment. You are also entitled to change the locks as long as you reinstate them when you vacate.

Any repairs are his responsibility not yours. He sounds a real cheapskate already.

If you pay your rent in cash I hope you get signed receipts as he does not sound trustworthy.

And a final note when you do decide to vacate. You DO NOT have to allow viewings before you leave. If he pulls the 'it's in the contract' stunt it's not valid as contracts cannot and do not override the law.

Hopefully, more knowledgeable posters will be along soon.

Original poster
Crazyhousewife · 27/04/2022 11:48

I pay through my bank he just seems to hover around when rent is due. The notice I got yesterday about him coming that day but then just turns up today. He then keeps asking if I can ask a family member about repairs as it needs doing. Currently family member is really I’ll at the moment on antibiotics and steroids. Last time I got stung paying for materials on a repair and although the landlord gave the money back (short changed me) I just can’t afford to be paying it as I’m not getting help with rent so I have to foot the bill myself at the moment so I can’t afford to be paying for these repairs to be done. I’ve even had to turn to a food bank this week as the rent has literally drained my bank account to the point I’m selling everything I own on vinted to afford food for the next 3 weeks. Rent is due the 1st and I am dreading having to pay family member for repair items because my Landlord might not even give me the money for materials and I can’t do anything If he doesn’t because it’s on me if I buy the items. It’s just one of the repairs is in the kitchen and could ruin the wood of my cabinets from leaking so I’m worried if it doesn’t get done landlord might bill me from it even though it has been like this since I moved in and family member is ordering parts but might not be able to fix it and I cant afford to pay them back for materials

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 27/04/2022 11:49

This is not on. As pp said you are entitled to 24 hours notice of his intent to come round, and it has to be for some specific purpose, such as an inspection or repair, not for him just hanging round.

You need to make sure you know your rights and inform him what your rights are.

You're paying rent to him. It's your home and you're entitle to live in it without him keep popping up all over the place.

I have a house I let out and the only contact my landlord's agent has with my tenant is when they contact him for something that needs seeing to.

Everything is dealt with immediately, and they are given proper notice about someone coming to do the work.

Other than that, as long as everything is going well, house in order, rent being paid, there's no need for him to be there.

Testina · 27/04/2022 11:51

If you’ve only recently moved in, why have you had so many occasions when rent is due? Are you paying him in cash, him collecting? Stop that if so! Get a standing order set up.

He shouldn’t be coming round, but your post is a bit confusing around the repairs - if there are multiple minor repairs that you agreed he could do over time then that’s different to him just showing up randomly.

Why have you taken on repairs yourself?

wonderwoman26 · 27/04/2022 11:54

All of this is wrong.

Say 'unfortunately family member is ill currently, and is not able to complete the works. I would suggest finding a local company to fix this issue.
And whilst i am keen to keep a good relationship with yourself, i will recquire atleast 24 hours notice of any inspection/arrival at the house so i can assure a plan is in place to not disrupt my home schooling, thank you'

This guy is taking you for an absolute ride, it is not your responsibility to be paying for repairs up front and not potentially have the money back. It is not for your family to sort.

You need to stand up to him and stop allowing this to happen!

Testina · 27/04/2022 11:55

I don’t understand this at all. You’ve said you’re paying high rent for the area so it’s not like you’re feeling forced into doing repairs because you’re somewhere cheap.

Do you have a secured deposit?

Take photos of the repairs needed and keep a record of sending those to your landlord, along with messages that you think if not repaired they will cause damage. Then you can’t be charged from your deposit.

How can you have got into paying for a landlord’s repairs a second time?

TweetTweetMF · 27/04/2022 11:56

Why are you doing repairs?

Landlord needs to be doing repairs!! I would seek advice off CAB.

I would also tell him that legally he must give you 24 hours notice if he needs to come round and to only come round if he's repairing something as it's HIS job to do the repairs not yours. Your basically making his property increase in value and it has no benefit to you.

ParisLondonTokyoSlough · 27/04/2022 11:57

Stop doing the repairs yourself that is his job.

Plus you have the right to quiet enjoyment. Ask him very directly by email to stop coming round as this is your home and you have the right to quiet enjoyment. The 24 hours notice thing is only if he needs entry to the premises for an urgent repair. You don't need to allow him to give notice to pop round for any other reason. Please nip this in the bud and if he doesn't stop then start looking for other properties to rent, and call the police each time he comes round uninvited.

Alightjacket · 27/04/2022 11:57

What are the repairs that need doing?

Did you go through and agency?

You don't have to let your landlord in. And he certainly shouldn't be letting himself in. In all honesty I'd look for another property. Your landlord is taking the piss and acting illegally. I doubt it will get better.

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/04/2022 11:57

He’s responsible for repairs, not you or your family.

take advice: Shelter or CAB should be able to give good advice.

Crikeyalmighty · 27/04/2022 11:58

We once had a landlord that was an extremely rich toff in a pretty posh area and a very nice house. We had to pay 8 weeks deposit on it. About 9 months into tenancy I went4 days late on rent as hadn't been paid due to someone being away that did payroll and informed him . Whilst I was out at the post office , landlord just let himself in and my 15 year old was extremely startled!! I made a complaint to the agency that we rented the property through and next thing was he emailed all my referees on the property to say we were untrustworthy and hadn't paid the rent!! Bearing in mind I owed him around half of what he had on deposit and had paid every other month up to then. I was absolutely incensed and since then have never rented a property that wasn't managed.

TweetTweetMF · 27/04/2022 11:58

Crazyhousewife · 27/04/2022 11:48

I pay through my bank he just seems to hover around when rent is due. The notice I got yesterday about him coming that day but then just turns up today. He then keeps asking if I can ask a family member about repairs as it needs doing. Currently family member is really I’ll at the moment on antibiotics and steroids. Last time I got stung paying for materials on a repair and although the landlord gave the money back (short changed me) I just can’t afford to be paying it as I’m not getting help with rent so I have to foot the bill myself at the moment so I can’t afford to be paying for these repairs to be done. I’ve even had to turn to a food bank this week as the rent has literally drained my bank account to the point I’m selling everything I own on vinted to afford food for the next 3 weeks. Rent is due the 1st and I am dreading having to pay family member for repair items because my Landlord might not even give me the money for materials and I can’t do anything If he doesn’t because it’s on me if I buy the items. It’s just one of the repairs is in the kitchen and could ruin the wood of my cabinets from leaking so I’m worried if it doesn’t get done landlord might bill me from it even though it has been like this since I moved in and family member is ordering parts but might not be able to fix it and I cant afford to pay them back for materials

Sorry why would he bill you for something that is damaged on the property before you moved in? It's not your fault he's not repaired it, if it damages other things that's on HIM not you.

Sounds like you're being scammed. Is he a legit landlord? Does he have insurance? Confused

Alightjacket · 27/04/2022 12:00

He is only allowed access in an emergency situation OP. He is breaching your 'right to quiet enjoyment' and is breaking the law.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housingadvice/eviction/harassmenttbyaaprivatelandlord/understanddyourtenancyyrights

ParisLondonTokyoSlough · 27/04/2022 12:00

Also the landlord cannot bill you for the damage if you notified him of the leak in a timely fashion. Just make sure you document the damage and your emails to him about the repair so that when you want to get your deposit back, you have proof.

Please do not put yourself out financially for the repairs. Even if you could afford it easily, you shouldn't be doing this. Just ask him when he will book a plumber/professional. Don't let him do it himself either - ask for it to be repaired professionally.

LaingsAcidTab · 27/04/2022 12:01

Crazyhousewife · 27/04/2022 11:15

So I moved house recently and my landlord seems to be coming round a lot. He comes round more then my own family. He is trying to get my family to do repairs had to do a few as he hasn’t done them and it costs me for the things that needed buying to do the repair. I pay quite a high rent for my area and I’ve noticed he seems to hang around more when rent is due. He was supposed to be coming by for something yesterday but then turns up randomly today. Am i in the wrong but I’m kind of getting sick of it. I just want privacy is that so wrong.I homeschool so the constant disruption really isn’t good for learning. I honestly dread him messaging or calling because I can’t deal with the constantly coming around. I’ve got enough to deal with financially so I don’t need him hovering over stressing me out more.

As PP have said, you are entitled to "quiet enjoyment" and he is responsible for all structural repairs.

Original poster
Crazyhousewife · 27/04/2022 13:55

I honestly feel like I’ve let it carry on too long. I was desperate to move and he seemed to get on with my family. There was a few others there and he said I could have the house because I was homeless so my situation was worse then the others. I now realise it was because he kept asking about repair advice which my family have suggestions on what may work but I didn’t realise we would be doing the repairs ourselves. Fitting the cooker yes a one off but fixing the sink in the kitchen and I’m dreading anything major going wrong cause I feel like a pest to my family always asking because then they come round to help. They all own there own houses so they don’t have the situation of renting. I have no idea if my deposit is secured and I’m betting it probably isn’t. The tenant in here before me grew weed and you can still smell it a bit upstairs. It just feels like with the housing market the way it is, tenants are replaceable and I’m scared of being homeless again. My local council are pushing this license in our area at 500.00 per year so I can’t even ask for help because it could even up with a rent increase and section to leave or rent increase that’s completely unaffordable even more so now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Crazyhousewife · 27/04/2022 13:59

TweetTweetMF · 27/04/2022 11:58

Sorry why would he bill you for something that is damaged on the property before you moved in? It's not your fault he's not repaired it, if it damages other things that's on HIM not you.

Sounds like you're being scammed. Is he a legit landlord? Does he have insurance? Confused

Show quote history

It’s the damage to the under sink for the waste thing being missing. Which he lost before I moved in and is asking about my family replacing and fixing it. Asked again today when round. If it’s not texts, phone calls and then showing up at the house. I’ve never had a landlord have this much contact before but my last landlord didn’t do any repairs either and never got in contact. Only when I was moving out did he contact me.

OP posts:
OlympicProcrastinator · 27/04/2022 14:30

24 hours notice...that's not actually a thing. You are entitled to quiet enjoyment in your home and you do not have to let your landlord in to the property ever, at all

This with bells and whistles. I wish more people knew this. The law is clear. No matter what a contract says you never have to let the landlord in whatever the notice period or allow viewings when leaving. You just don’t. Essential maintenance is in your interest to let a landlord in but in your case, it’s just random visits and unreasonable demands.

OP, what is actually stopping you from just politely telling him that you won’t be asking your relative or paying for materials as it’s neither your responsibility nor did he pay you the correct amount last time?

Also, telling him that if he wants to contact you in future to e mail you and you’ll let him know if it’s ok to come round or not? Polite, plain speaking is your friend here. As is knowing your rights in law.

OlympicProcrastinator · 27/04/2022 14:34

I have no idea if my deposit is secured and I’m betting it probably isn’t

He should have given you the rent deposit details shortly after you moved in. Ask him. If he hasn’t then actually you have something over him as if you report it, he gets into serious & costly trouble.

If there is any hint of eviction or rent increase for putting your foot down, I’d be using that.

Testina · 27/04/2022 14:55

Sounds like maybe you’d be better off being homeless though, and biding your time in temporary accommodation until the council houses you.

Tell him that your family aren’t able to do any more repairs and list what he needs to do. Ignore calls and texts from him - only reply if you need to. Tell him to stop coming round.

Talk to Shelter ASAP!!

Wombat98 · 27/04/2022 14:59

Yep, I'm a landlord. This isn't right at all.

You're entitled to quiet enjoyment. He should be organising the repairs.

You pay rent for a service & accomodation, not constant harassment. As people have said, talk to Shelter or CAB. Sounds coercive and I would be taking great care around this man from now on.