AIBU to think my tenant might be subletting

[landladywithmissingtenant]

I live in a flat in a large block (60 flats in all) I own the one I live in and one other, which I rent out.
I used to see my tenant now and again, probably twice a month or so but I have realised that I haven't seen her in about a year or more. My daughter lives nearby and also used to bump into her quite a lot at the local shop and she says she hasn't seen her in ages either.
She's a retired single lady and it's a single occupancy studio flat.
The other day I was locked out of the main building and I rang her buzzer to ask if she wouldn't mind letting me back in and a man answered and buzzed me in before I'd finished my sentence.
I tried the buzzer again the next day and no-one answered.
Am I being unreasonable to think she might have left the flat and be subletting it? or something more sinister?
And WIBU to go and knock on her door and see if she's there? I'm worried I might come across as harassing her. And what do I say if she answers?

No need, I am aware of my responsibilities

So basically you could sort all of this out by knocking on her door?

Please update us OP if and when you can, shameless curiosity here now.

As others have said, you were friends with this lady and so popping around couldn’t be construed as anything other than a neighbourly hello. You do have reasonable grounds to be concerned for them so morally you really ought to just do a quick check, regardless of a subletting situation.

if you think from that interaction there is anything suspicious you could say you have been advised by the insurers that you need to do a quick check of the property to report it’s in a good state of repair and so give her 24 hours notice.

Since it’s a small flat it’s would probably take a few mins.

Maybe it was her boyfriend 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes I think so. I'm grateful to the people that helped me realise this by answering the question I actually asked for advice on.

Ah bollocks I just went an revealed my name. Mumsnet how could you do this to me 😂

I think what people are trying to point out to you is that you're taking a massive risk by not inspecting. No, you're not breaking a rule that says "Landlords must inspect properties annually". But a reasonable landlord will inspect their property at least annually, or have it inspected, and your insurance is likely to require you to do so (if you have insurance in place, which I'm assuming you do). So if you don't inspect the property and your tenant has trashed the interior (as happened to a good friend of mind) or turned it into a cannabis factory or venue for other illicit use, one way or another you might find yourself on a very expensive hook. That's all.

(Yes, I'm a landlord myself.)

Nooooooo, message her and give her the required 24 hour notice for the check.

OP didn’t say old, she said retired.

Totally wrong. Maybe check your facts before you post like this.

Those that have to have licences do. Otherwise no, it's not a legal requirement.

‘Hey, I hadn’t seen you in a while and I had to buzz you the other day and a man answered. I was just a bit worried and wanted to make sure you’re ok?’

Contact her and tell her you need to do an inspection within the next few days to check whether there is any updating/decorating needing doing to maintain the quality of the letting.

Because she might be subletting and receiving rent from the occupier while the landlord gets the housing benefit

annual check time or I just got some insurance documents or something delivered by mistake to the tenanted property and wondered if it had come time.

Contact her all bright and breezy - you've changed insurer and it's a condition of the insurance that you carry out an inspection. When can you pop round?

I know posters mean well but I don’t think the OP should just turn up unannounced. They may have been friends at one point but the relationship is now of a landlord/tenant and requires 24 hours notice for a visit. Have you tried contacting her at all OP?

A. If she answers You could say... Hi, haven't seen you around for a long time. Just checking you're ok, I'd like to arrange a landlords inspection. - ( check out the notice period required)

B. If someone else answers, say you're there to visit 'name of tenant'. If she then comes to the door, revert to A above.

I find it odd a landlord has to come on Mumsnet to learn basic facts about how to manage their rental property.

Landlords are entitled to check their properties!

Most landlords will replace carpets etc every 10 years if they are wearing and she's been there 9 years. Just say you stopped by to check the general state of repair and if anything needs updating. That would be quite a normal thing to do, ime.

If she wanted to go in then she would need to give notice. You don't require notice to knock on the door - although if you keep doing it then it could be classed as harassment.

Is the rent still coming from her or someone else?

You’d think that was the thing to do wouldn’t you. She has her details, it’s practically next door but start a thread..,…

It's your property and you are legally entitled to check it. Put a note through the letterbox stating you will be inspecting the property tomorrow at x (giving 24 hours notice).