to be a little put out that letting agent had a key to my house?

[mumblesmummy]

I received a letter saying the letting agent is coming to check the property as we've been in it three months, and then from there on, they will come to check once every four months (pain in the arse. Baby on the way. We've decorated beautifully but without asking, feels like an invasion of space etc). However, I can cope with this until she said 'you don't have to be there, we can just use our key, let ourselves in and have a look around'....

Surely they're not meant to have a key? Let alone let themselves in for a poke about? Say money went missing or something? I think it's a little shady.

As a landlord I insist on permission before allowing tenants to decorate. Generally I want to know what colour they want, otherwise it can really devalue the property if the tenant paints the entire flat pink. Its one thing to paint an entire flat pink if you are going to live in it for years, but if is a short term let then its another matter.

Our tenants are baned from fixing the electrics or doing any plumbing. Your landlord could be within their right to charge you for having an electrical work checked by a qualified electrican.

Our contract has the right to do three month checks and these are carried out by the agent. In practice the letting agent gives a week notice and if the flat is in good condition and rent is being paid regularly then inspections are only done annually. The inspection gives the tennant an opportunity to voice concerns like leaking taps. As a landlord I want to know if there is a leak damaging the paint work.

I don't care if a tenant is untidy. I care that there aren't holes in the wall, the tenants aren't subletting

You should have a copy of the gas safety certificate. Legally the boiler has to be serviced once a year and all gas appliances need to be checked once a year.