To think our landlord shouldn't use our home as their business address?

[tulippa]

We moved into a rented house in August. We go through a letting agent and have no direct contact with landlord in for repairs etc (we've had to report quite a few things).
Since we moved in, there has been some post arriving in the name of the landlord. Some things from American Express and Tesco Clubcard and some others for (Landlord Name) Properties and (Landlord Name) Investments. I have returned all items to sender unopened.
I get a call from the letting agent saying the landlord is requesting we don't return post to sender and that the landlord will come round and collect any post. I asked if the landlord could change her address instead as this seems the obvious solution. The letting agent said they would suggest this to the landlord and come back to us.
I'm not sure how I feel about the landlord seeming to run two businesses from an address which is our home. Is it allowed? I've tried to google but could not find any definite answers to this. I don't want the landlord coming round as we specifically chose this property as it's run through the letting agency. Just wondering if there are any guidelines around this which could back us up.

It sounds dodgy tbh.....

The LL can pay for Royal Mail post redirection to any address that they choose

Ask for a forwarding address. I bet he won’t give you one! No you are not you landlord’s secretary.

They can pay for a Royal Mail redirection. The sender will have no idea it’s been redirected, and it costs about £150 a year.

It could well be dodgy (letting out on a resi mortgage without permission probably), they could be disorganised, but to be honest, they also might not think it’s a big deal.

just go back to the agent and be firm- I will not be making myself available to hand over post, and if the landlord doesn’t want to pay for a redirect ask whether you continue to return or bin them- but they are the only options you will offer.

I have a similar problem that the landlord wants to store his junk in my house as he doesn't have room at his place. I go through a letting agent and have had to push back. He wasn't happy.

I had this. I moved in, arranged for phone/internet, to be installed, only for angry landlord to tell me that they were cutting off his business phone/internet, as it was registered to my flat. So, I wasn't allowed either, for the 3.5 years, ai lived there.

I dont see what the problem is? It is her property after all. Just stick the post in a drawer and leave it . If you are in when she comes round give it to her. If not, no big deal. Sounds like its junk mail mostly anyway.

What!! OP doesn’t want the landlord keep popping round.

That’s not how being a professional landlord works 😂

If its where he says he runs his business from will it affect your rates or insurance?

No.

It’s his house. He can do whatever he likes legally. If you like the house and the rent is reasonable I’d just keep quiet.

@AquaPeer

they could be disorganised I think it's this to be honest. And being a bit clueless.

They were living here before they started renting it out and there were loads of things wrong when we moved that they seem to have been happy putting up with. Eg: they were baffled when we asked for keys for the downstairs window locks, the upstairs landing light didn't work which took an electrician five minutes to sort but they'd living with for over a year.

Oh wow - that's bad. I'm not sure how that would even work??

It's her property but it's my home. I'm paying for quiet enjoyment of it and don't want someone coming round on a regular basis when it's not necessary.

I'm trying to find out if it is legal to run a business from your tenant's home though. I can't find any guidelines anywhere. I don't understand why they can't change the address to wherever they're living now.

Forward to the letting agents?

I am a landlord. The deal is, I keep the place to an acceptable standard and the tenants pay me for it. It is not acceptable to give the tenants an extra job (keeping post, making themselves avail to hand it over).

This situation would annoy me - mainly because it is the sort of thing you would ask of someone staying in your place for free.

We don’t live in a country that mandates this sort of thing through law. Even if it was, what would you do OP? Pay for a prosecution?!

Yes, do this. Make this their problem - they’ll soon get on the landlord’s case.

Im sure she doesn’t. I just meant it wouldnt bother me as I’d just continue with my life . If the landlord finds that “popping around” doesn’t work, then Im sure they’ll come up with a different solution.

And yes OP of course its your home, but unfortunately when you rent you are at the mercy of the behaviour of your landlord and unless its illegal or breaks teh terms of your rental contract theres not much you can do. You can definitely tell teh letting agent though that this arrangement doesn’t work for you.

3 ideas:

1. LL pays for post re-direction
2. Post gets sent to letting agent
3. Get LL to buy a plastic waterproof box that gets put in easy access place. all collects without disturbing you.

No not looking to prosecute. It would just be useful to have some guidelines as back-up in case the landlord refuses to change her address.

Write the letting agency address on the envelope and repost.

There are people who register random addresses as business addresses at Companies House, it’s been on You & Yours or some programme like that. But if the business gets into trouble would it affect your credit rating etc?

I don’t think the LL can legally do “whatever he likes” because tenants do have rights as well. It’s their home which they pay for, that gives them rights. OP I think you ANBU. It’s a pita to have to store post, and it’s on the LL to arrange something else.