To think people shouldn't just be walking into Dd's flat?

[SummerGardenFlowers]

My DD rents a little flat, yesterday there was a bit of paper saying "fire alarm testing Sept 2nd" stuck to the communal front door. This morning at 08.30 she was woken up by a man just opening her door and walking in to test the alarms - I'm right in thinking this is against the law aren't I? She was in bed in just her pants because of the heat FFS!

How did he let himself in? Had the landlord given him a key?

A pity your DD did not feel able to call the police. Door should have been knocked, awaiting your DD to answer. Not an unreasonable time to do the testing though.

Suggest your DD changes the locks.

Is this halls at uni or something and their way of telling people they'll be coming in people's rooms so to make sure you're up?

Did they have a key? Buy a bolt for your daughter's door so she can secure it when she's home alone.

This is not right. He should knock and wait for the door to be answered

Where did the key come from?

You can't just change the locks on someone else's property.

OP, did he knock and wait for an answer?

It's very wrong, but IME very common. I've had it both when renting a room in a shared house, and when renting a whole house. One of the funniest times, a man let himself in, and we had a downstairs bathroom where I was having a bath. I assumed it was my then-partner and jumped out of the bath enthusiastically. I've never seen a man turn tail so fast!

(I did then write an extremely strongly-worded letter to the lettings agent afterwards, mind. It's not really funny!)

Odd how it's always a man, isn't it? I can't help but feel there may be some opportunism there, especially if they knocked and came straight in.
(Obviously NAMALT and not suggesting that there were any really malevolent purposes in every case, but a/you never know and b/why are they doing it? )
Could it be a transgressive thrill, what they might or might not see, illicitly entering someone's space, or just general insensitivity?

Or, given that the daughter is an adult renting her own flat, she could just buy a bolt herself.

I think you'll find the vast majority of fire alarm testers are probably men so no, not really that odd at all. I think your post says more about you than it does a landlord letting a tradesman in to their property (albeit without the courtesy of knocking)

She should have been adequately warned beforehand AND he should have knocked before letting himself in. Not unusual for letting agents to let themselves in or allow tradespeople access but they should always warn beforehand (although usually it's a 'we'll be here on x day, sorry can't give a time'' which is annoying but standard)

Sounds like uni halls? And they always did stuff like this

Not quite the point, but is your DD following this up with her landlord herself? If not, why not?

No kidding.

https://www.landlordstudio.com/uk-blog/can-tenants-change-locks

Useful information here

Oh god. I hadn't actually thought of this but now that you mention it...

I went 100% ballistic on my letting agency when I was in my late 20s and this happened. Twice. From memory, the first time was in the afternoon - I have no idea if they knocked or not as I wasn't there but they hadn't told me someone was coming in and I was therefore very confused to realise someone had been in the flat when I got home. I called to complain. They apologised. Few days later they let me know someone (same guy I think) was coming over the next day to follow up on whatever it was. I was home, awake thank god, but he also just walked in.

From memory I think I threated to sue them! But it never once occurred to me at the time that it was on purpose and now suddenly I'm realising that actually, there's a very good chance that this was opportunistic - I was a young, single woman renting a flat. I feel slightly ill.

OP - your dd should feel very comfortable going absolutely mental at her landlord or the letting agency.

Report to Police. Get locks changed and add new locks.

You can't just change the locks in a flat you don't own.

Jam a chair against the door so it won't open even if they have a key.

Depending on the type of lease agreement the landlord can enter on reasonable notice to undertake repairs. Notice was given by the sign in reception. Whether it was reasonable or not depends on how visible it was and how long it was there.
It usually doesn't have to be reasonable if there are health and safety concerns. Emergency it can be immediate access.
He should have knocked. Maybe he did and she didn't hear so he entered. I would say 8.30am earliest acceptable time under reasonable.

A wedge would be good, too. Very effective.

Yes you can as long as you change them back afterwards

Does she have a room in a shared flat or rent the entire flat herself?
I ask because how she should handle it is a bit different depending on whether they were given access by a flatmate to communal areas and then went in her room or whether they let themselves in to her private flat.

(Neither are ok btw)

She needs to keep her door locked at night so nobody can come in.