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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask landlady not to ?

158 replies

PigeonAndPotato · 09/08/2023 13:22

I've lived in the same house for 15 years and it used to be managed by an agency. In the last 4 years my landlady now manages this and other properties herself. She is an OK landlady and I don't want to cause unnecessary upset. I live here with my children and dog. A lot of cosmetic repairs / updates have been carried out to the house recently which is nice but is obviously reflected in the frequent rent increases.

Repairs are usually done in a decent time frame, and either herself or her partner have done most of the repairs themselves. The issue is that whenever there's a house inspection or repairs, the landlady arrives with her partner and their daughter who is about 6. I would like to preface this by saying that the landlady, her partner and child are all nice enough but the landlady doesn't seem to see an issue with this.

The daughter is scared of my dog, so I usually end up having to pay for a dog walker to take the dog out or for boarding for the dog if the repairs will take hours / days to do - I work from home so taking the dog out for the day myself isn't an option, and he cannot be locked away in a room because the landlady's daughter wanders around the house and opens doors. There was one ocassion when he was shut in the kitchen and she opened the door, realised he was there and ran to the other side of the house leaving all doors open because she was scared and my dog ended up in the street running in front of a car. He was fine but now I'm not comfortable having my dog in the house when the child is here.

One of my children has autism and gets very stressed by this child being in their space and using their things for example if there is work being done outside she will wander in and out of the house, she will empty toyboxes or play with scooters / bikes or anything else that has been left in the yard. There have been two occasions now where the landlady's daughter has broken items belonging to my children and the landlady has shrugged it off in a kids will be kids way.

Do I have any right to ask the landlady to not bring her child?

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 13/08/2023 19:47

PigeonAndPotato · 10/08/2023 19:10

Wow I've just come back to this thread today and wasn't expecting so many replies. Thank you to everyone who has commented there have been some interesting points raised.

I dont think she is planning to move into the house herself because she owns multiple properties and has been doing the same repairs and renovations to them all which is probably another reason that each thing takes so long to be completed.

I text her this afternoon and I think I was a bit more assertive than I have been in the past. It was along the lines of

"Hi Jane, as you're the only person I have ever rented a home from I've nothing else to compare to but it was recently brought to my attention that it is not usual to bring along your child when you are doing repairs or house inspections. I usually wouldn't mind having her in the house but because she is scared of Max I don't think it's fair to bring her along anymore because I can't afford to keep paying the dog walker and not only that you know that Jake has autism and his home is his safe place where he needs to have as few people as possible. I've always been a good tenant and never caused any damage or asked for anything and I always pay on time so I hope you don't think I'm being fussy by asking this"

Names have been changed. She replied saying that she will rearrange for a time when she can get a childminder. So thanks again because I had built it up in my head to be a much scarier task than it was.

You’re fabulous, well done! She’s been taking the piss big time and her coming round should be at your convenience and not cost you money. Brava!

Blueuggboots · 13/08/2023 19:56

You have right to quiet enjoyment of your home. A 6 year old wandering around your home, regardless of who she is related to is NOT allowing you quiet enjoyment t of your home.

I would tell your landlady that it is not acceptable to bring the child and if she does, then you will charge her for the costs of dog sitting.

Applescruffle · 14/08/2023 08:42

My mouth fell open reading your OP. This is unbelievable entitlement.

Far too many landlords treat you like a guest in their house. No. You are a customer paying for a service.

My husband is a tradesman. Imagine if he took our kids to work and let them just run around the house. I see no difference.

Applescruffle · 14/08/2023 08:56

The landlady has a 9-5 job
That's her problem, not yours.

I hope they are compensating you for all the inconvenience of working on your home while yoh are livjg there, especially during unsociable hours, and not just increasing the rent. I think this alone is bad enough, never mind the absolute cheek of bringing their kids along.

They are acting like this is a renovation project on a empty property and not someone's home. It's disgusting behaviour. If they want to act like this, they should empty the property and pay the mortgage themselves instead of having you there paying it for them and doing as they damn well please in YOUR home.

Too many landlords want to have their cake and eat it. I used to live in the town centre and whenever my landlord wanted to go shopping, he would just turn up and use my drive! And I overheard him telling the builders next door that they could use it for their work vans if they wanted to!! I put a stop to that nonsense straight away.

Applescruffle · 14/08/2023 09:03

VinEtFromage · 11/08/2023 19:12

@PigeonAndPotato

Firstly. You can tell her to come without the kid!

I'm just not understanding why you can't keep the dog in with you when you're working? Just put something heavy in front of the door or fit a small bolt on the door.

Show quote history

Why should she have to?

It's her home and the dog's home.

T1Dmama · 15/08/2023 18:24

Thehop · 10/08/2023 08:16

"Of course you are welcome to visit on x date.

m an I ask that you don't bring Emma with you please? The dog can no longer be boarded out and stevens autism means that he simply cannot tolerate other children in his home at all.

thank you for your understanding.

tennant."

This!!
she should be paying for childcare not you paying for a dog sitter and your children being upset

Anna8089 · 01/11/2023 14:50

Thats not normal or ok and illegal to let herself in. We're an autistic household and that would not fly with me. Look up your rights as a renter about landlords letting themselves in etc it will tell you the same.

Applescruffle · 06/11/2023 13:25

OP, how did it go?

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