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Is monthly inspections reasonable as a landlord

26 replies

PandaDad · 04/06/2022 13:45

Hi, our landlord has put us through hell the last year. We are trying our best to keep the place in a good state, and he has just made us feel like absolute crap every inspection they do. For our first year here, no inspections, just once during a gas safety check and all was fine. Next year was covid. Once lockdowns stopped he came and started inspecting every 3, or 2 months saying that we are damaging the property and how we are living is not reasonable. We literally have not been doing anything any different since the first year, but okay, we'll try harder. NOPE keeps saying bad bad bad bad and no matter what we are doing and how much money we are spending trying to look after the place he still says we are not looking after it. Recently, he gave us our section 21 (in his words to help us get onto the council housing list) which he now has revoked. His recent inspection he said the place was generally okay, other than a couple things. Ive just received an email stating that there are various things wrong with the property and that the way we are living is unsuitable again!! He now wants to do MONTHLY inspections.

So my question is this, would monthly inspections be considered harassment? His 2-3 monthly inspections have destroyed my mental health as it is...

OP posts:
Clymene · 04/06/2022 13:48

I would contact Shelter. It sounds absolutely awful and stressful.

There's some info here and a template letter: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housingadvice/eviction/harassmenttbyaaprivatelandlord/understanddyourtenancyyrights

ballsdeep · 04/06/2022 13:49

This is surely not right op? You have a right to live as you want within reason? Id hate this
.

GodspeedJune · 04/06/2022 13:50

No, it’s not reasonable. You have the right to quiet and peaceful enjoyment of your home. Agree with PP, get some advice on this.

Neveranynamesleft · 04/06/2022 13:50

What does it say on your tenancy ??

purpleme12 · 04/06/2022 13:55

God this is awful
Monthly is ridiculous.
6 monthly is normal.

It usually says 6 months in the tenancy agreement does it in yours?
What is be stating is wrong in these inspections?

Discovereads · 04/06/2022 13:55

You do have a right to quiet enjoyment so long as you are not damaging the property.

Initially the inspection was after one year (annual inspections are standard), and then it has been getting more frequent since the first inspection because numerous issues have been flagged up at every inspection. That sort of trend is normal if tenants are actively living in a way that is damaging the property. It’s hard to say who is being unreasonable here without further information as what the landlord identified issues were and are? Obviously some landlords are unreasonably picky, but on the other hand some tenants are unreasonably messy.

SquishyGloopyBum · 04/06/2022 13:57

What sort of things is he complaining about?

SlatsandFlaps · 04/06/2022 13:58

What examples is he giving? If he's referring to bundles of clothes strewn about for example then he has no right whatsoever to even comment on that, let alone stipulate that it's not acceptable. However if he's referring to food crumbs always all over the floor/rubbish left lying around etc, things which could attract vermin or wet clothes on radiators with the windows closed which can & does cause damp within the property, then he absolutely can comment on it and request that you refrain from doing so. As to whether these are legally acceptable reasons to end a tenancy I'm not 100% sure. It also depends on what is written in your tenancy agreement

notapizzaeater · 04/06/2022 14:00

What things is he complaining about ?

PandaDad · 04/06/2022 14:07

Hi folks, so the things he is complaining about are things like the cooker and windows being dirty (they're not even that bad, we regularly clean them. In the case of the oven. They're not perfect but I think he is being picky about a lot of stuff. I mean, one time he complained about dirt being up against a garden fence because it encourages rot. It's a garden fence?)

With regards to tenancy agreement, it doesn't say how often one can check.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 04/06/2022 14:09

I would speak to shelter they can be very good with advice
also I would take photos of the things he's complaining about on the day he complained about them so you've got evidence

PandaDad · 04/06/2022 14:11

Shelter aren't around on weekends T.T but I'll contact them Monday!

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 04/06/2022 14:12

👍

Oceanus · 04/06/2022 14:26

This sounds ridiculous, you're being harrassed. Never had a landlord come round monthly for inspections when I was there. The landlord wants you out on the cheap/fast for some reason, maybe the place can be rented for more now? Or maybe hoping you'll leave now and, as a bonus, give up your deposit for peace of mind?

purpleme12 · 04/06/2022 14:29

PandaDad · 04/06/2022 14:07

Hi folks, so the things he is complaining about are things like the cooker and windows being dirty (they're not even that bad, we regularly clean them. In the case of the oven. They're not perfect but I think he is being picky about a lot of stuff. I mean, one time he complained about dirt being up against a garden fence because it encourages rot. It's a garden fence?)

With regards to tenancy agreement, it doesn't say how often one can check.

Does it say anything about inspections at all?

Oceanus · 04/06/2022 14:52

OP, rethorical question here but are you pretty?... And how old is the landlord?... Don't let yourself be backed into a corner by him, when there's nobody else around.

PandaDad · 04/06/2022 14:57

Lol Oceanus. I am a 28 yr old man with a wife and 2 kids xD this made me smile but honestly a horrific thing for women to have to worry about.

I don't think it says anything about inspections, I should dig it out and have a look.

To the comment about he wants us out on the quick/cheap, absolutely. He was more than fine with us when we were going to go to the council/another private rental and now he's being a dick. We have spent the last few hours looking for places, making calls. Looks like we could possibly go for another place on Monday. I think it is more than time to get out of this place. He will undoubtably want the whole of our security deposit but I will dispute what I find unfair. He didn't even give us an inventory upon moving in so it's a pain but still.

OP posts:
HeyDelRey · 04/06/2022 15:13

PandaDad - did he put your deposit in a protection scheme? If so, the responsibility is with him to prove that deductions from your deposit are reasonable and necessary (for instance, he'd have to provide quotes for re-papering a wall, rather than guesstimating what it would cost, and show the scheme that damage was beyond reasonable wear and tear).

If he didn't put your deposit in a scheme, it's good news - you can go to court and claim up to 3 x the deposit from him for failing to do so.

All this info is here: www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection

Mabelface · 04/06/2022 15:15

If you've no inventory, then you'll get your full deposit back from the deposit guarantee scheme. He's also encroaching on your quiet enjoyment rights as a tenant. He sounds like a dodgy fucker.

Oceanus · 04/06/2022 18:48

PandaDad, I think females have to worry more but males aren't immune to it either, plenty of pervs to go round! hahah! The landlord could still fancy you or the DW! Still, I agree, you guys moving out asap seems to be what he's going for. I could tell you to get a hidden camera or get sb neutral to be there when these visits take place, but tbh your MH is the priority here, so if I were you I'd focus on finding a new place and most of all not losing my deposit for this place -which I think is a strong possibility here.
This is your home and having sb invade it like this would be disturbing for anyone. Can I call this landlord a c*nt?😊
BTW years ago I had a problem with a flatmate -who took my money and didn't pay the council tax- and I got help from the citizen's advice bureau, so one more option for you. There was also this number you could call for free legal advice but I don't remember what it was called though maybe sb here can help with that? Good luck op!

Xoxoxoxoxoxox · 04/06/2022 19:01

Hi,
I've lived in quite a few rented homes and if there are inspections it is once a year.
A dirty oven would not be mentioned!
I think I would start looking for a new place, I couldn't live like that.

winterchills · 04/06/2022 19:04

I couldn't cope with this! I would feel like I was constantly scrutinised! I would be moving to be honest. If you were living like absolute pigs then I could understand but if like you have said they are just little things!

AclowncalledAlice · 04/06/2022 19:25

Just a word of advice. If you do move out take photos of the place on the day you move, with date and time stamp.

PandaDad · 04/06/2022 19:51

Lol thanks for your replies it is making me so much better. We had a long conversation with the whole family today and we are moving (120 miles) back to the family. This rental market is an absolute joke, and we need to save for a mortgage... It'll be nice to get back to family tbh and away from a landlord who is a complete c*nt as Oceanus so eloquently put it lol. Now I just have the stress of turning down a job offer at an interview Monday and then the move lol. Wish me luck folks.

OP posts:
Oceanus · 05/06/2022 13:21

Good luck Op! I'm really sorry about the job though, It's not fair to have your life disrupted like that just because your landlord's a cnt. I think it's wise of you to make some sacrifices now when the kids are young, to be able to afford a house in the future. Good luck with the move!
P.S. I had landlord who was a bit of a c
nt too and he decided to up the rent because of Olympics! When I moved I notified the council (just because of the change in address nothing else), they notified the HMRC (I had no idea of this) and it turns out the landlord wasn't paying taxes. The landlord was made to pay a big fine because not only wasn't he paying taxes on this rent but it turns out it was his mom's council apartment, which shouldn't have been rented in the first place. I wonder whether your landlord's completely kosher and above board?

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