The agency are coming to inspect my house on Thursday...

[PeaceofCakeAndGoodWineToAllMN]

...I suspect it's so that they can find faults in the house so they can repair them and increase the rent. How do I get out of this? It will be the second time they have 'inspected' in 9 years. I don't mind them having a look, it's a little cluttered but we take care of the house. I object to them doing repairs which they have neglected for the past 9 years so they can increase the rent though.

Ours inspect every 6 months - it gives is a kick up the arse to tidy up . I think they are mainly checking you are not running a crack den/ marijuana farm/b&b in the property.

They go round and write down if anything is broke and needs fixing and where there is ordinary wear and tear. I think ordinary wear and tear actually acts in the tenants interest as for example the landlord would have to repaint and recarpet our house to get new tenants but we are happy with the "lived in" house.

There shouldn't be a link between routine maintenance and putting the rent up, but I tend to play down things that might need fixing one day (...but not urgently) as I don't want to drive up the landlords costs that they (not the agency) take into account in setting the rent.

My advice:

• use it as an opportunity to have a tidy up
• be nice to the agent
• don't have a laundry list of little jobs to get done (but if abything really needs fixing then ask them)
• if you do get notice of a rent increase with your next contract renewal, you can always write back to the landlord then and make them an offer for a lower rent increase/freeze based on what good tenants you are, care taken of the property, low mainanence costs etc...

It may be in the agent's short-term interest to push you out and cycle through a series of 6 month tenancies. But for the landlord this increases cost and risk, so a good agency shouldn't push out good tennants.

Thank you :)
Not a lot needs doing as I've done repairs myself (they are useless). I've been unable to open the kitchen window since I moved in (9 years ago) as the hinge is broken. They did send someone to fix it a couple of years ago, he tightened a screw and said it was OK. It's still broken.
I've cleaned ds's room, the bathroom, the hall, the stairs and half of the kitchen today. I have family visiting tomorrow so I was going to do it anyway.
I have cake, they can have cake and coffee!

I'm fuming! The owner of the house has let herself in when I wasn't here and reported back to the agency that the house is a mess It isn't, there's a lot of books (which I need for work). Also, the front garden needs clearing. There was some paper recycling which has now been taken and three weeds! They want me to clear some of the books and are coming back in three weeks! So bloody much for enjoyment of your home! It's not in my contract that I should be tidy FFS!

I thought that was illegal ? Since you weren't at home. What happens if you were in the house but in a state of undress and she just waltzed in ? I'd be fuming too.

It is illegal. They are supposed to give 24 hours notice.