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Original poster

Tenant has changed locks, gone away and left lights on.

263 replies

Brightonhome · 08/02/2017 12:59

New tenant is two months in to a six month let (to be extended after 6 months) No issues before, although he does have a weird habit of leaving all the lights on all the time (the property we let to him is visible from our house). He has a regular job, and it's his electricity bill, but I still find it a bit odd. He has been away for at least a couple of weeks now with all the lights still on. I sent him a nice text asking him if he would mind me going in and turning the lights off (concerned about overheating / electrical problem) I waited for two days with no answer. I then went over there, thinking he may be ill, to discover he has changed the locks (as is his right) but without telling me. As the owner of the property, I feel a bit uneasy about this. Don't I have the right to a set of keys? I would never enter the property without the tenant's consent, but in the case of an emergency, there is nothing I can do without keys. Not sure what to do now re lights. Am I being overly cautious and worried over nothing? I've been letting this property for six years (two different tenants in that time) with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I have always had keys.

OP posts:
OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 20:30

Yes one text message asking permission to enter the house then just went and tried to enter it anyway despite no permission granted!!

Gallavich · 08/02/2017 20:41

She's done a lot more than sending one text!

Coconutty · 08/02/2017 20:47

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Gallavich · 08/02/2017 20:51

Please, can people get over the idea that leaving household lights on means he's growing weed? It's a completely mad suggestion.

Coconutty · 08/02/2017 20:54

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

Gallavich · 08/02/2017 20:56
Confused Ok. It's really not at all but I fail to interpret your wink emoji so I'm going to leave it.
HirplesWithHaggis · 08/02/2017 21:11

Even hydroponics need regular maintenance, Coconutty.

MissLupescu · 08/02/2017 21:30

The op has sent 1 text message, you're fighting the wrong person.

Eh?

Is there a fight? Have I missed something?

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 08/02/2017 21:51

Galla

I assume coconutty is being sarcastic Grin

Livelifetofull1978 · 08/02/2017 22:15

Firstly you need to check the terms and conditions within the assured short hold tenancy that you both signed. In particular check to see whether there is a clause which prohibits the tenant changing the locks without your consent. If this is not stated within the agreement then I strongly advise you to put this clause in all future agreements.

Secondly you need to check to see whether there is a clause to see whether the tenant should inform the landlord when they are to be away from the property for a period of time. If not again I strongly advise that this is inserted in all future agreements.

The above posts are all correct in that you can not simply allow yourself access into the property without giving prior consent (at least 24 hours) as this goes against the basic rights that an assured shorthold tenancy affords (quiet peace and enjoyment and exclusive occupancy). Your tenant should not refuse your request without r also able grounds. If you were to have entered the property whilst the tenant was away, you expose yourself to being accused of anything going missing or damaged so don't do it.

If the above clauses are included in the AST that you have granted the tenant, then the tenant too is in breach of his tenancy. These clauses are included to protect both tenant and landlord. What if there was an emergency and the tenant was not away?

You are in a sticky situation now because you know the tenant has changed the locks, and when you bring this up with him, he will know that you tried to gain access without his prior consent.

RedBugMug · 08/02/2017 22:18

Your tenant should not refuse your request without r also able grounds

not wanting to let a stranger into my home is a pretty reasonable ground I find.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 08/02/2017 22:20

In particular check to see whether there is a clause which prohibits the tenant changing the locks without your consent. If this is not stated within the agreement then I strongly advise you to put this clause in all future agreements.

Nope wrong. The tenant does not need permission to change the locks regardless of what the contract says. The landlord can however ask for a copy of the keys.

OneWithTheForce · 09/02/2017 00:21

livelife as has been said numerous times now, those clauses in the tenancy agreement are unenforceable. Tenancy law overrides a tenancy agreement. OP could add a clause that says she can keep her granny in the chimney breast but it means fuck all when it goes to court. You can write what you want in a tenancy agreement, tenancy law is what actually counts.

Your tenant should not refuse your request without r also able grounds

Landlords should not request access without reasonable grounds. Requesting access because there are lights on is not reasonable. It is, quite frankly, ridiculous!

myfavouritecolourispurple · 09/02/2017 18:28

I told my dh about this today. The first thing he said was "is she sure they're not growing cannabis in there". He thought it was very plausible, coupled with the locks being changed - the tenant is obviously trying to stop people getting in. And he made the good point that the way it smells when growing is rather different to the smell when being smoked! I don't know how it smells. It might be that I'd recognise the smoked smell from university parties, but I'm not sure as there would have been a lot of cigarette smoke too. I really don't know how it smells when being grown though.

I really don't know why the OP got so much grief on here. It is fine to be concerned.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 09/02/2017 18:29

Requesting access because there are lights on is not reasonable. It is, quite frankly, ridiculous

Many of us on here disagree with you.

Gallavich · 09/02/2017 18:31

Well favourite if your DH thinks it's plausible...
Why does your DH's opinion make any difference to anything?

Cannabis plants smell like cannabis. It's very distinctive.

Gallavich · 09/02/2017 18:32

Many of us on here disagree with you

Are you lawyers specialising in tenancy law? Or judges maybe? Because if not then your views mean jack shit.

OnceUponATimeInLondon · 09/02/2017 18:44

Gallavich this is a public forum where people ask for opinion. You could apply the same rules to yourself? If you are a lawyer - great - what a help to the OP to get some specialised advice.

OneWithTheForce · 09/02/2017 19:11

I told my dh about this today. The first thing he said was "is she sure they're not growing cannabis in there". He thought it was very plausible,

With what authority does he speak?

the tenant is obviously trying to stop people getting in

Grin clearly a criminal at work then, everyone else just leaves their doors open to the world dont they?

Many of us on here disagree with you.

None of them judges, or authorities in tenancy law. of that I am sure.

OneWithTheForce · 09/02/2017 19:12

Xpost gallivach!

DianaMemorialJam · 09/02/2017 19:32

tenant is obviously trying to stop people getting in

Um yeah... I wouldn't like it if people could let themselves into my house either...

Should I be leaving my door on the latch so all and sundry can pop in and ask why my lights are on/if I'm growing cannabis 'just in case'?

OneWithTheForce · 09/02/2017 19:43

Some people really do have trouble understanding that a tenant has the rights over who enters their home unless a judge orders differently. My neighbour refused to leave my garden stating "it's not yours, you only rent it" he genuinely thinks he has more right to be in my garden than I do because he rents his house off the bank and I rent mine of a private landlord.

DianaMemorialJam · 09/02/2017 19:48

One he actually said that?! What a cheeky cunt!

StarUtopia · 09/02/2017 19:50

I'm a tenant. I really want to change the locks because I have no clue who could have had keys cut before we moved in (previous tenants relatives etc?!)

It says in our contract we are not allowed to but I figure if we do, how /why is it a problem if we are always here when the viewings are done and we replace the original locks on leaving the property.

I really don't understand why you have such a vested interest. Who cares if his lights are on?! His lights, his bills. It may be your bricks and mortar (he's paying your mortgage btw) but it's his home

OneWithTheForce · 09/02/2017 19:51

Yep and refused to leave. He stood laughing at me. I told him I rented the lease so the garden was my property until I ended my tenancy. He just kept saying "it's not your house, you don't own it. It's your landlords" it's not even my landlords! She has a mortgage on it that is nowhere near paid.