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By jackyjat
![[gb]](/images/flags/gb.png "United Kingdom")
Date 04.01.06 18:37 UTC
Does anyone know, or can anyone point me, to relevant legislation about rented properties and access by landlords. My daughter rents a flat and she has now experienced (as have her flatmates) the landlord coming in unannounced during the day. Today she was home from work sick and in bed when he walked into her bedroom waking her up!
At Xmas she came home then went back for a few days to find her washing had been moved! She couldn't find it and phoned the landlord who had put it in the cupboard under the stairs!!
He has also drawn up a cleaning roto for them and wants them all to sign it and agree to it!! Wash curtains every three months, wash kitchen floor every other day, etc.
I am beginning to think there is something more sinister to his regular visits and am playing the worried parent.
Does anyone know how much notice he should give for access and can they legally ask him not to go into the house he owns?
By Carla
Date 04.01.06 18:42 UTC
She needs to check her tenancy agreement - that says how much notice he has to give to enter the property. I suggest they write him a letter to remind him of the terms adn conditions of the agreement and that if he continues to let himself in they will do him for harrassment! I'd have a FIT!!
I am in rented property myself at the moment and the landlord has to give you 24 hours notice before he/she can come in - and then they are not entitled to just walk in whether they have keys or not they have to knock and await an answer. If the proposed visit is not at a time when the tenants will be in then the landlord can get an agreement with ALL tenants to enter the property at the proposed time to carry out any repairs that need doing - not just because he wants to have a nose around or carry out a supposed tenancy check - a tenancy check has to be made with one or all of the tenants present. A landlord cannot just enter the property whenever he chooses.
I would advise your daughter to visit her local advice centre for a copy of tenancy rules (which she should have with her contract ?)
HTH, Tara x
By cathh5
Date 04.01.06 21:33 UTC
I agree with Tara. Any landlord CANNOT enter rented accomodation without prior arrangement with the tennants. If he enters without prior arrangment then he is doing so against the law. Your daughter should contact Citizens advice ASAP.
As far as I know he cannot draw up a rota for his tennants unless he is part of a tennancy agreement, and then i shouldn't think it would be legal. The landlord can state that the property should be kept in clean condition but he cannot state who does what and when.
He sounds a landlord from hell on a major power trip tp me.
If your daughter is at Uni (just a guess as she has flatmates) then t ell her to contact student services within the Uni or if the Students Union offer an advice service as they will be able to help.
Legally though he is not allowed to enter when he wishes, no matter that he owns the property
By jackyjat
Date 04.01.06 21:37 UTC
Thanks for all the advice. I was sure that he couldn't just enter at will, it doesn't seem right. I will suggest she seeks legal advice which she has in connection with her insurance or the CAB as recommended.
She isn't a student, but it's a house of four young professional girls.
By Daisy
Date 04.01.06 21:43 UTC
Quote "but it's a house of four young professional girls" - and it's at this point that I say 'ahhh...' sounds more like he's a dirty old man trying to get a quick peek to me
By Isabel
Date 04.01.06 22:10 UTC
I'd check with the CAB but I think they are entitled to change the locks although they will have to still allow him in for inspection under the terms of their rental agreement but it has to be by prior arrangement.
I think I'd start looking for alternative accommodation!
OMG - I would be really worried
That is terrible i know exactly how she must feel, i moved in with my husband when we were dating and his landlord used to turn up when ever he felt like it. Horrible man as well, we had to lie to him when we left to rent somewhere else as he never wanted anyone to leave ( it was a shared house and what a greedy man ) and i was worried he would give us a bad reference. The house was a disgrace i only moved in because i was in love. My biggest concern was this man owned nursing homes as well. Sorry to get of the subject it's just brought up bad memories. I hope you get things sorted.
By Dill
Date 04.01.06 22:01 UTC
By jackyjat
Date 04.01.06 22:58 UTC
Quote "but it's a house of four young professional girls" - and it's at this point that I say 'ahhh...' sounds more like he's a dirty old man trying to get a quick peek to me Oh no!!!!! And there was me trying hard not to write "4 working girls"!!!!! They are all good girls, honest!!!!
Yes does sound a bit iffy to me!! won't tell what our old landlord said when one tenants rent was going to be late as her direct debit was getting set up and was a bit late, she moved straight ouT
thank god your daughter is not alone.
By Blue
Date 05.01.06 00:28 UTC
24 hours notice UNLESS it is deemed an emergency.
I take it the rent it directly from him and not a letting company. Where young woman are concerned I think it is often good advice to go through a letting company as they generally hold the keys and do the monthly inspections if they are in place in the contract.
Even with an emergency he still has to contact the tenants and inform them of his intentions to enter the property due to whatever the emergency is - he cannot simply walk in.
The fact is this guy has let the property out to four single girls, it woldn't matter if they worked, self employed, students he would still do this as he sounds like a right shifty and dirty man - why move the washing ? What, did he want to see what underwear the girls wear ? !
edited to add : if this was my daughters and her friends this guy would do it once and once only - it would be put to him in a certain way that what he is doing is against the T & C and if he doesn't stop he will be made to stop ;)
Hi,
There is a much quicker and easier solution to this......Legally these days Tenants seem to have more rights than the Landlord....This seems to be an illegal entry of the flat this is now classed as harrassment and is an arrestable offence..... Your daughter and her flat mates need to report this to the police and let them deal with the Landlord. I also too recommend you daughter checks her tenancy agreement for any future problems.
Hope this helps.
Pam
Cheeky b*gger...I'd kick him in the nuts!
:D :D :D - oh he so needs it :)
Walking into someone's bedroom and moving washing - sorry, no decent person (male) would do that unless either totally innocent from the day he was born, or with suspect motives! I suspect the latter.
I used to be a landlady ages ago - I had tenants in my home, and was also a freeholder so had a "tenant" upstairs. I would not have dreamt of going into my tenants rooms even though we lived in the same house unless invited, and had to give the leaseholder notice before going into his flat (and i didn't have a key either, this was because there was a dispute over him being noisy and taking up carpets which was against the leasehold).
I hope your daughter manages to get things sorted out :)
Couldnt they change the locks or are they not allowed?
I imagine you have to ask permission if you want want to make changes to the property when you are renting.
By Isabel
Date 06.01.06 16:01 UTC
I
think the rules are that you have to leave it as you found it so you can change the walls to red but you have to repaint it white again before leaving and you can change the barrel of the yale lock but you have to keep the old one and keys for the landlord.
I would advise her to got and visit her local Shelter Office. Its who I now work for and have had a few of these probs this week as well as incorrect notices to quit. The landlord has to give reasonable notice and as mentioned earlier should be in the tenancy agreement. It is considered harrassment and as a rule we send tenants to environmental health as they can take action quicker than us. If she goes to the local Shelter, she should take all her relevant paperwork so they they can advise her there and then. She could also call Shelterline the number of which I should know, shouldnt I??? D'oh! Its 0808 something. Check on the website - the site for wales is www.sheltercymru.org.uk and should have links to England, Scotland and Ireland....good luck Fi xxx
ive also got massive problems with my landlord, it is a company that has 4 landlords involved, but you never meet or talk to the actual landlords. I came home one day to find my dog let out of her crate, even though there is a massive sign on the door saying she might bark but DO NOT let her out of her bed and I went upstairs to put my stuff away to find that the bedroom carpet had been changed. I had been told that it would be done at some point but wasnot given a proper date. at that point it was only me (20) and keisha in the house. this is only one of the many examples that i could give you. my grandma said I should stop paying rent due to all the faults in the house including an illegal heating system that has finally been fixed, problem is the contract prevents you from doing this, by saying you will have to pay double if the money is not obtainable for any reason.
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The replies posted so far are dead on! My hubby is a Manager with a social needs landlord (does that sound right?? HA HA>>>They are a Christian Housing assc that supply housing for people with special needs or ex-offenders!!) The Landlord is NOT allowed free access to the property and can only enter if he thinks there is threat to life! He can enter with 24hrs notice and AGREEMENT of the tenant for other instances..i.e Health and Safety check! ![[us]](/images/flags/us.png "United States")