Am a tenant - agency gave keys to plumber without telling me

[coffeegirl73]

Am I over reacting here. There’s been an ongoing issue with the hot water in the house. I checked my email around 530 after work and there was an urgent message from property agency who manage the house saying they had been trying to contact me all day and had given the keys of the house to let a plumber let himself in. There were no missed calls on my phone tho. I was so upset as we have a dog and if he ran out he would be killed as we live near a main road. Also my son could have been home after school. Is it out of order for them to give out the keys so someone can let themselves into the house. I just feel really violated that a guy was in the house - for one thing he would have had to move stuff to get to the boiler as it’s under the stairs and I always clear it out before any workmen come . Also I found some packaging on my table where I wfh. Also he set off the alarm somehow and then accessed the fuse box as he couldn’t turn it off so one of the fuses is down and I can’t put it up as the alarm goes off. Have lived here 5 years and never used the alarm was never given the code for it. Apart from any of that tho surely the can’t just let themselves in without telling me? What if I was sick in bed or my son was home alone . I’ve rented for many years and this has never happened before. I honestly don’t feel safe here now. Keep thinking someone might come in with a key. Maybe im
being paranoid tho. If anything bad happened to the dog I would never forgive myself. I had a very upset phone with a woman at the office. Probably made a fool of myself and am panicking now they might try and evict me or something. I feel really upset that a guy was in the house touching our stuff it’s just upsetting me a lot. Surely a tenant has a right to privacy. Maybe they will say they tried to phone me but I’m not lying there are no missed calls on my phone. Also I was in work in meetings all afternoon. I can’t always answer my phone

I am sorry this happened to you - it must feel as if your home is vulnerable to anyone walking in. Was this a random plumber or someone they use regularly - either way if should not have happened.

With a standard AST the landlord, agents and tradespeople can't just turn up - they have to give you reasonable notice and agree a date and time , unless it is an emergency, such as a ceiling collapse in a flat because of a water leak or someone smelt gas.

I would email the agents and point out that they should not have done this and you do not want a repeat of this.

They are either unprofessional or the manager does not have a grip on the staff.

You can't change the locks but could you put ring door bell or a camera up or leave the door double bolted so the same thing can't happen again?

I would keep the email professional if the rent is reasonable or if you are worried about no fault eviction or if the landlord does not know you have a dog .

If you want more information on your rights have a look at the Shelter charity website

A workman isn't allowed to enter if a person under 18 is in the property. So you need to make it clear that unless it is an emergency, such as a gas leak etc, then it can't happen again. It would be the police gaining entrance, under those circumstances. That's besides from a landlord having to give notice. It just shouldn't have happened and you aren't wrong in your reaction.

It's not on. A LL must give at least 24 hours notice for a work person to do work unless in emergency like gas leak etc. I'm a LL and always ask if I can give their mobile number to workman who will call to make a convenient appointment with the tenant.

Legally, in the UK you can actually change the locks if you feel unsafe and given what’s happened I absolutely would.

They must've been looking at the wrong number somewhere. I'd confirm what they have recorded and what they were calling.

They do have to give notice. It wasn't urgent if there wasn't water leaking or anything like that.

I think no one wants someone in their house alone and/or without notice for all the reasons you say. Plus, every so often I might accidentally leave something tempting out like jewellery or money or embarrassing like underwear or just a bit of a mess. It's concerning to think you can't leave your personal possessions at home.

Thanks I got such a fright I was sure I had read somewhere that landlords had to give notice to go in. Yes it was a bit messy - I have been painting and there was a bit of mess - I ran out the door early and it just wasn’t how I like things to be if someone is calling . It just doesn’t seem safe now. What if I was sick in bed I can’t help thinking that. I didn’t even know work had to be done - I reported the hot water now working but it was fixed ages ago and has at broken down since. Can’t help wondering is the plumber pulling a fast one . Just the way he must have had to move our things out from under the stairs and he was obvs in the snug where my wfh desk is as he left some packaging there. It makes me very uneasy he was there looking around. I’m sure well I hope he was professional I don’t know who he was. The thing is I wfh some days so am always easy to arrange an appt with . Feel sick to my stomach.