Are landlords allowed to send contractors to your rented home without your permission?

[Happymama98]

Are landlords allowed to send contractors into your home without alerting you? I received no emails or phone call and came home to find a contractor in my home. Is this allowed?

Landlords have to give 24 hours written notice (can be by text) for entry for repairs. In an emergency they can enter immediately, say a gas or water leak.

In an emergency yes.

No, it's not allowed unless it is an emergency situation and you are unobtainable. If this is not the case, that is shocking.

Was it an emergency OP? If not- then no, not ok at all. As others said, 24hrs notice is required.

Yes in an emergency. It should be in your contract if you look 😉

Absolutely not, unless it's an emergency and even then only if they can't get hold of you!

It was a minor repair for a small shelf that they noticed in our last inspection that we took down, so definitely nothing serious. I was actually really frightened until he explained he was the contractor, just think it’s really unprofessional we weren’t informed this was happening and also how the contractor was allowed entry to our home without our permission or us present

If they are the to fix a problem I would want it fixed so good job they are there

Absolutely not in those circumstances. How scary.

I'm no expert, but I'd say that's completely unacceptable 😲

You'd be fine coming home to a strange man in your house? With no knowledge of why he's there?

I'm so sorry op. That would have really distressed me. No they cannot do this unless for emergency repairs. Id be making a huge fuss and complaint.

If someone was rifling through my knicker drawer yes but logic would tell me they are there for a reason?

I may be just a little woman but I could join the dots

One of the reasons for the need for notice and mutual agreement is so you can arrange to be home and make sure they don't rifle through your knicker draw or, more likely, wherever you have valuables.

In this case it’s 24 hours notice. An emergency that could have an impact to the property or life. Immediate access.
landlords should notify you though….. and if there was an emergency with the property then you would be aware of it.

BUT if they knock on the door and you’re in, then why not just let them in…..

The landlord could’ve instructed them and the contractor has a spare 5 mins in their day to do the job..

She wasn't in. The OP clearly says that she came home to find him there. She obviously have had a shock, as would anyone coming home to find a strange man in their house!

@Happymama98 that's ridiculous for a non emergency care. They should have contacted you and agreed a time when you could be at home. I would definitely make a complaint about this.

No, not good job, they’ve broken the law.

Very unusual that a woman would be fine to find a strange man in their home. It's a massive invasion of privacy apart from the fear that it would be natural to feel.

Yes, the landlord should have notified you but... I constantly hear about terrible landlords who don't fix anything etc it seems whatever landlords do they're wrong.

You say the issue was picked up in their inspection so it's not a complete surprise to you is it ? But yes, they should have confirmed it with you.

They have to send 24 hour notice to REQUEST entry for repairs unless in an emergency (such as gas leak or flood). A tenant can refuse entry or negotiate different times to suit them.

Any communication from a landlord is simply a request (even though they often phrase them as if you have no choice) but they factually have no rights to demand or enter without permission from a court.

'I constantly hear about terrible landlords who don't fix anything etc it seems whatever landlords do they're wrong.'

You seem to be trying to paint LLs as victims. Of course tenants should expect repairs to be carried out. That's a contractural obligation, like a tenant paying the rent. It's verys simply; the agent or LL simply needed to contact @Happymama98 to arrange a convenient time for the repair.

Absolutely not okay. I’d be very unhappy with that indeed.

I feel your pain. My landlady decided to let herself and her builder mate into our house so she could check what was in the loft. I came home from doing the school run to find muddy boot prints all over my bed where he’d stood on it to get to the loft hatch. Talk about adding insult to injury!

LL's must give 24 hours written notice. I ring the contractor to tell them what the job is. Then give the tenant the mobile number of the contractor and ask them to call to let the contractor know when would be convenient for them.

I'd contact the landlord to say you came home and found a stranger in your house, you had no idea who he was or how he gained access so as a precaution you will now be changing the locks. Plus say if he make an arrangement for a contractor could he please give you the required 24hrs notice in Future to set a mutually convenient time