Annoyed about by our Landlady while we’re moving out.

[Weightwoes]

More of a rant really as I know there’s nothing I can do about this but curious if I’m justified in being annoyed by this.

We’ve rented this house from our landlady for just over decade now but having finally saved a deposit we have bought a house so are moving out. We contacted her to ask how much notice she required in light of the new renters rights changes even thought our contract said one month. She insisted on two months so we’re paying rent up to the end of September although we move on the 18th of August, bit annoying but fine, we figured that meant more wiggle room getting end of tenancy clean and garden tidying booked in. What we
hadn’t anticipated was that she was going to start bringing a seeming endless stream of tradesmen in while we’re packing as she selling up and now all the stuff she refused to fix for us needs doing.
We let in the first few as it was quick but then she tried to come on the day we are moving out and we told her absolutely not. My husband politely messaged her after that to suggest as she has a whole month and a bit of us paying rent where the house will be standing empty where she can do what she wants could she not just wait until then and she just replied with a comment about not doing conflict, whatever she thinks that means.
She was here this morning for the third time in fours days and as she was leaving she dropped in that she’d see me again tomorrow at 6pm. She’d never mentioned this before and when I questioned what it was for she said it was for a a decorator to come measure and eat for painting. I asked how on earth he’s going to manage that when the house is full of boxes etc and she was implying I’d have to make room. I said it wasn’t possible and could she not possibly wait until we’ve left for all this. Well she blew up at me about how her husband is ill and she has every right to come in as much as she wants and left slamming that door.
For the record I’ve met her husband many times over the years and genuinely like him, but I fail to see how waiting until next Wednesday is going to make any difference to his health.
She’s been here twice to measure the same taps and just lingers chatting at me while I’m trying to pack, on Friday she kept a poor plumber chatting in my door way for a good 30 mins. I’m just so stressed with packing and everything else for moving and utterly fed up of her so not sure if it’s just me over reacting and she’s being entirely reasonable.

I wonder if you can negotiate with her. Say look I am within my rights to refuse access until the end of my tenancy (refer her to Shelter or some other resource) but I want to be reasonable. If you want me to give 2 months notice then I will block access for 2 months. If you want access then happy to do so but then I don't want to pay for 2 months notice. Your call

Tempting…
Our deposit is held a proper scheme. I anticipate her trying to keep it to replace things that have worn out but surely after ten years it’s expected so hopefully challenging her will be easy.

I'd refuse entry until the tenancy ends, I'd offer to end it early if she is in agreement (after you've moved out, cleaned and took photos of the condition you leave the property in of course) but until that tenancy ends you have exclusive right to use of the property.

This is why I think she’s being totally unreasonable, we’ve told her we will give her the keys at the end of next week and we’re sucking up the extra months rent for a quiet life and she’s not even giving us that. I just think she’s so selfish and entitled in her attitude.

She was not legally entitled to 2 months notice. Your original contract applies although as notice probably had to tie in with rent periods you could have ended up paying more than one month.

Dont open the door to her when she turns up and tell her she is harassing you. Dont pay any more rent after the one months notice she was legally entitled to or your moving day, whichever is later.

Take copious pictures when you move out as she'll probably go after your deposit. Check what scheme it is in and be prepared to dispute any deductions - after 10 years almost anything she wants to claim for will be deemed wear and tear and she'll get nothing.

If workmen are in before the end of your tenancy, how will you know any damage is not caused by them affecting your deposit? I would say the tenancy needs to end before then, or they are not allowed in especially when you are not present. What if they caused a fire etc ?

@Weightwoes pleaae google “right to quiet enjoyment” and renting.

You do not have to let ANYONE in EVER

in any case, if you wish to allow people in, there has to be a minimum of 24 hours notice and even then, you can refuse

it doesn’t matter even if your contract says you have to allow visits, you don’t. The right to quiet enjoyment overrides anything written in a contract. Any clause demanding access is unfair and unenforceable.

@Weightwoes say no, mean no. You’re 100% within your very well known and established rights to refuse all access for as long as you want while the property is yours.

when I moved out of my rental, I offered the LL an early exit, for a shorter notice period. She refused. Rudely.

then she requested access while I was in the final throws of leaving and I refused. No. You don’t get to be rude to me when I’ve made an offer to leave early, then try to take advantage later.

Get legal advice from Citizens Advice

I don’t think you need to pay her that 2nd month.!

your contract says a month, so a month it is.

you don’t need her for a reference, you don’t need her for anything. She’s being unacceptably rude and pushy.

She's being a CF. If she demands you give two months notice and pay rent for those months, then you are entitled to two months quiet enjoyment of the property, regardless of whether you are living there or not.

The last landlord we rented off before we bought our flat tried to do the same thing. He required two months notice and was very vocal about it - but as soon as we gave our notice he started sending trades around for fixing and redecorating. I refuse them entry and read him the riot act, but said very nicely as a compromise if he refunded all the rent after our completion date plus a financial sweetener for disruption to our plans, we would move out completely on that day and he could book as many trades as he liked after then.

His face was a picture.

You can report her to the police for harassment as she is constantly doing this. You can change locks, put a chain on the door if you have one or just block the door. Tell her she is harassing you.

Do not trust her as far as you can throw her. As you walk out of the house for the last time, take photos. Lots of photos. Wide photos. Close ups of each corner. You name it. She will likely want to claim your bond after she has who knows who or what through. Don’t let her back in until and unless those photos are secure.

Have you looked up your deposit scheme to make yourself familiar with the end of contract process? Do.

This 100%

@Weightwoes photos of EVERYTHING

don’t let workmen in before you leave, you could be at real risk of being hit for damages caused by these guys

Landlady here. This is absolutely not allowed. She is not allowed in the house without your permission and you don't have to give it. The fact that her husband is ill is not your problem has nothing to do with your tenancy. If she wants to start work then she can agree to end your tenancy early. Where is your deposit secured?

Noooo! Of course she will insist on two months’ notice as she benefits most. What do you want to bet she has someone moved in by 1st September?

You don't have to follow the new law as your tenancy is a decade old! Inform her your notice period has been brought forward, move out on that date and draw a line. You're basically giving her a month rent as a gift! If you've made plans around the September date and want to stick with it, tell her to stop entering your home until after the tenancy ends.

I absolutely would not be allowing her to enter with tradespeople while you are still paying - any damage will inevitably be blamed on you.

I’d give her the choice - she can either accept an early surrender of the tenancy or she (and her trades) stays away until the end of your tenancy. She cannot have it both ways.

as a LL I despise cowboy landlords like this.

her hysband being ill isnt relevant-she cold also damage something then blame you if yu let workman in to do up the house

@Weightwoes have you sent her the message suggested earlier about either ending tenancy earlier or no access till end of September?

If not then do that ASAP. It could save you a months rent.

After 10 years I don’t think she would stand a cat in hell’s chance of retaining any of your deposit as it will all be fair wear and tear unless you have smashed holes in walls.

She's being a cheeky twat.

Either she lets you leave with shorter notice and then gets things done or you hold on to the property and prevent her going in and sorting it out for relet.

She's a twat.

And why would you give her a month’s extra rent and the keys back early? Go and read up on this properly, you are letting yourselves be taken for a ride because you are not properly informed (and I do feel for you - she is really taking the piss).

She is being unreasonable ! Very !
I had a situation where landlord moved someone else in before the end of my tenancy (I'd moved out). I read them the riot act as I rocked up to check the flat before the end date and found people on it. He then tried to withhold deposit let me tell you that did not work !

Completely.
Not content with the best of both worlds - you paying for an empty house for her to have fixed - she then wants to come and bother you while you're still actually packing up!
Entitlement to the max. Definitely tell her to bolt.

Tell her to piss off. I'd leave the keys in the locks inside (to prevent her using her keys externally) in all except one door which you can cheaply DIY a barrell change in so you can access that one externally. Then even if you move out, do not give her the key for the changed lock until the last day of her tenancy. Even better if you can leave a tapo camera pointing outside of changed lock door to capture her if she tries to break in.

Being a cheeky bitch should have consequences, FAFO.

There are a few things that are expected to last more than 10 years - life of an oven is reckoned to be 9-15 years so if left uncleaned they could probably claim for cleaning it. Renters should always be familiar with the Lifespan guide https://thedisputeservice.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/#4J0000001lUd/a/Nz000001etoP/hWDkRnvS.XinUwL7PClZkzIx4OXMKcVIzdbCy3XQiks and what amount landlords need to deduct for wear and tear if they make a claim