Would you let landlord inspect flat without your presence?

[ritasau]

We rent. We have quarterly inspections by the landlord/agents.

Appointment was made for flat inspection between 2-4pm on a Wednesday. We asked if they could do a Friday as we work in the office Monday-Thursday. Agent said no, they are only visiting our block of flats on the Wednesday.

So I rearranged some meetings to work from home on the Wednesday and will go into the office on Friday instead. I had to get my manager’s permission.

Fast forward to Wednesday. At 2:30pm I receive an email saying sorry they aren’t coming today. Can they come next Thursday instead?

I responded saying we would in the office Monday-Thursday. So could they come this Friday (dh would be in) or what about the Friday after, or the weekend.

Agent said no, they can only do next Thursday. Neither of us can be here due to in person work meetings in the office.

Would you let the agent look around without you being there? Nothing to hide and flat is well cared for, but I don’t want strangers looking around my home without my presence.

No I wouldn't. Defaulting on the original appointment I moved things around for would make all my goodwill evaporate.

Chubb lock the door etc and don't be in, if they want to get in, they can come when it suits you.

I wouldn’t. They cant come whenever it’s convenient for them unless emergency. You give them dates and end of story. EA might be the one being difficult. If they say LL cant make it also then say tough shit then, they do not have access but only the dates you have and they will have to change their plans. Do not accommodate people you pay rent to again.

No I wouldn't
When I rented they've always been ok with coming when we said we would be there

I'm the odd one out here. When I rented, I was happy for them to inspect when I wasn't in.

Not a chance. Tell them you accommodated this time, but unless they can fit you in on your specified dates they can't come.

How ridiculous!

No I wouldn’t be happy with that. You’ve been accommodating and now it’s time for them to show some flexibility & rearrange it for a Friday or Saturday

Absolutely not, never.

No I would not now.
In one of my previous rentals the agent went in when I was away overnight and moved my gerbil (yes, had permission for it) enclosure for no reason what so ever. They had accidentally loosened the enclosure top so my gerbil escaped and was missing for over a week. Poor thing nearly starved as the little buggers can be very difficult to catch and I had to buy a wildlife trap to get him. The agent didn't have permission and hadn't given notice. They also went through my cupboards and drawers but denied they had ever been in the house even though they had left an inspection report AND had chatted to my neighbour!

Me too.

I much preferred it as it meant it didn't inconvenience me at all.

Absolutely not. Be explicit you don't give agreement and they can arrange a visit at your convenience.

No I wouldn't but ime they can make it difficult. I had similar when renting privately - they would say a time/date and not show up/turn up early/late - when I pointed out to them that this was wasting my annual leave and gave them my availability to try and agree a schedule they told me that it was up to them when they came and not up to me!(!) Letting agents can be very flakey and unprofessional and you need to keep them on a tight leash. In the end after mine failed to show up yet again I emailed them and said sorry you couldn't get to the inspection or contact me to let me know, I was here but you weren't, obviously you've already rearranged at short notice/cancelled/turned up well outside time repeatedly but let's hope you manage to make it to the next one in three months' time. That got their attention and they were a bit better after that.

@ritasau
You do not have to let agents or LL's in to inspect at all. Legally you have the right to refuse entry and have the right of 'quiet enjoyment ' of your home regardless of what it may say in your tenancy agreement.
In your shoes I would email the agents and state that they have a list of Fridays to choose from and that you will not change your work pattern to accommodate them again. I would also state in writing that they do not have your permission to enter the property while you are not home.

Wrong.

You are contractually obliged to provide "reasonable access". Repairs, gas safety inspections, electrical inspections, valuations etc are all considered reasonable in law.

However, if you breach the terms of your AST and withhold reasonable access, it is a criminal offense for landlords/agents to enter against your will, save for a truly serious and urgent matter e.g. gas leak that may endanger lives.

OP, you are perfectly within your rights to decline the 2nd appointment and offer an alternative (or choice of alternatives) that are mutually doable.

In terms of them being at home, I've carried out hundreds of inspections and I can assure you no one is in the slightest bit interested in nosing around. Anyone would be off their trolly to even think about it with the prevalence of £5 pinhole cameras these days.

Most professional tenants bypass being tethered to a 5-minute appointment, and the usual meaningless exchange of platitudes and instead opt to build up a bit of goodwill which often pays dividends later down the line when the shoe is on the other foot.

Anyone would be off their trolly to even think about it with the prevalence of £5 pinhole cameras these days.

The existence of these cameras would make me feel even more wary about letting someone in whilst I was away.

Then perhaps you feel wary of using toilets, showers, changing rooms in restaurants, spas, gyms, hotels, pubs, swimming pools, cafes, clothing shops etc.

It's riskier in public loos/showers/changing spaces because thousands of people have access to fit a camera daily and without a risk of being caught on CCTV. Not so in someone's house.

Ex-landlord and I would never abuse trust. Most of my tenants allowed me access without them being present.

I didn't, nor would I, snoop. A quick look around told me the property was being looked after properly.

Having said that, I would be at the property the following morning if something was reported. I had fantastic tradespeople who would turn up the next day if they couldn't get there on the day.

However, you say an agent? In that case, no. I would insist on being present.

Apologies to any agents who are genuinely good with tenants but I've also rented and once had a royal twat for one. He made life as difficult as possible with inspections and stirred the pot with the landlord. He was intimidating (I was a young, single woman) and would open drawers and cupboards in front of me. He said it was to make sure I hadn't sub-let which was against the lease conditions but he just enjoyed being a prick.

Do NOT give access unless you're there. Your time is as important as theirs. To mess you around is not on so now they can compromise and attend when you're able to be present.

No I never did when we rented. It's your home. They used to get twitchy with me when I asked them to take their shoes off :)

I once allowed an agent access in my absence and they forgot to lock the door on their way out. Then, when I told them, they gave precisely no shits about it. Arseholes.

Most professional tenants bypass being tethered to a 5-minute appointment, and the usual meaningless exchange of platitudes and instead opt to build up a bit of goodwill which often pays dividends later down the line when the shoe is on the other foot.

Sorry, I'm not being obtuse, I swear, but I don't understand what you mean by this. Could you clarify?

Same here, it’s part and parcel of renting.

I prefer that I'm not in, but I wouldn't accept nobody being in. Inspections are already intrusive, but it would feel multiple times so not to know at all where the landlord had looked or rifled through. Your home is a very private place.

It's impossible that next Thursday is the only date in all of eternity that they can come yet that it's so vital for them to come.

Oh, sure. I meant, that many of the professional tenants opted not to be present. Most didn't want to be locked into an appointment. Some said they wanted to schedule it for when they are not in so that they're undisturbed when they are actually at home.

Some tenants are happy to go a bit beyond their contractual duties and be helpful when they can. They understand that landlords/agents are sometimes helpful in return. And vice versa.

When I was a tenant, I found the idea demeaning. But after I dealt with tenants, I understood the reason for inspections having seen numerous properties get used for prostitution/pimping, and others fall into disrepair after the seemingly professional tenants developed serious very heroin/crack additions. This was in central London. Subletting/airbnb, cramming 20 people in a flat, people smuggling/trafficking, and cannabis farms are also other risks depending on the area.

Mostly agents just want to pop their head in the doors and see that there's nothing obviously insane going on. Many agents are tenants themselves so also see things from a tenant's perspective.

Landlord of over 30 years here my rental properties are always immaculate when tenants move in , I leave them as I would want to find them
I use agents to let them but manage the repairs etc myself with my trusty trade guys .
Always respond immediately to anything that comes up and sort it !
however I’ve spent years cleaning up repairing and refurbishing after tenants who treat houses
they don’t own like shit , not all but it never ceases to amaze me how filthy people are
just had to replace a wc (only two years old as it wasn’t cleaned ever by the tenants ever !same goes for flooring carpet etc
the Costs of keeping places top notch is huge
I now meet all prospective tenants personally and choose who I think will be respectful and treat my property well ,
I’ve been a tenant to any landlords where awful tbh
anyone doing quarterly inspections cares about the property.
why should they not !

No fucking way.

On another note, a lovely property manager I worked with (in another capacity) a million years ago insisted that prostitutes were the best tenants. Apparently, the properties were always clean and tidy and they kept a low profile and never bothered the neighbours.

It’s important to be present during property inspections for your peace of mind, even if there’s nothing to hide. When faced with scheduling conflicts, like having to work from home on a specific day, communicate clearly with your landlord or agent. If they insist on a day when you can't be there, consider negotiating alternatives or requesting to reschedule to a time that suits you. Your comfort and security in your own home are paramount.