I know there are plenty of landlords on here and hoping for a reasonable take on this. Will try not to drip feed but also trying to be brief.
I've been living in a property for years, have always paid rent on time, looked after it. It is not decorated to a very high standard - in fact to a minimum, cheapest carpets etc. But I haven't minded that really, and have kept it clean and tidy.
Since the beginning of this year there has been a problem with the heating, this has been going on for nearly 6 months. The landlord always refused to send out an emergency repair person and made me usually wait a week to have it fixed, so I've had a freezing cold house with no hot water several times, in the winter. I have a small child and was quite worried a couple of times, but it made no difference. The boiler or whatever was wrong does seem to be fixed now in June, but a second related problem has occurred.
A problem with the electrics seemed to develop alongside this - the programmer for the boiler kept just turning off, even after being replaced. A couple of weeks ago, i was electrocuted when trying to touch the switch to a small downstairs unit/boiler in our hall cupboard (blue bolt shot out and hit my hand). As well as this 3 of my appliances blew in 2 weeks in 2 different upstairs sockets, totalling £150 to be replaced.
It is also worth saying the workmen that have been sent have caused mess, also some damage to my property (bled a radiator, black water all over one of my cupboards and wall/carpet which stained for example).
The landlord was rather unapologetic about any of this. A couple of times, workmen have been in the house without my permission (I returned home to find all the lights on, thought someone was inside, entered to find no they were not). The landlord turned up hammering on my door last Friday and again on Saturday morning at 8.30am, both without notice - just to tell me that he wanted access to look at the garden fence that evening (i.e. it was not an emergency).
After all of this, I have exchanged some heated messages with the landlord's agents. They just back up the landlord, and basically accuse me of lying (in a subtle way) no matter what point I make.
They sent someone round today - but still haven't told me whether the boiler/sockets/electrics are checked and are safe.
Before the visit, they put in a letter that my 3 appliances must have been faulty, not the house electrics, and it is not the landlord's responsibility to replace these, and they say their electrician (i.e. this was without looking at the electrics or appliances) has made this assessment.
Now they are also saying they will begin visiting my home to inspect it on a 3-monthly basis, including when I am not here. When this has never happened in my tenancy before.
It is especially the last bit that is bothering me - it feels like I'm being punished for daring to say I'm not happy with what has been happening - as a response they are going to intrude, and control a part of my life. I'm a reasonable person, I recognise that landlord's have a right to inspect - but is every 3 months reasonable, when they have never felt the need to do this before? Do I have to give them access so frequently?
As far as I can see, the only real solution at the moment is to move, but this means uprooting my child, this is the only home they have known.
Would appreciate any thoughts on the above.