Landlord & entry to property

[feebee102]

Hi ABers

Just a question on my sons behalf.

My son & his girlfriend moved into their first flat together. It is privatley rented out not through an agency. They have a rent book etc.

Anyways a few weeks ago while his girlfriend was in the bath she heard voices. She was unsure if they where outside the door of the bathroom or in the entrance porch ( level with bathroom window). THe one voice belonged to the landlord. She yelled out that she was in the bath & their landlord said that he was only coming to see about fitting the new shower. He said he would come back later.

He arranged to have the workmen to come this next Monday ( Friday today) to measure up for this shower. Charlotte came back this afternoon & was walking down the entrance way when she came across the two men who where coming to see about the shower, Charlotte stated it was lucky she had come back home when she did so she could let then in to which they replied it didn't matter as the landlord had given them a set of keys.

My question are :-

1. Is the landlord allowed to enter their flat when he wants without prior warning ( I know he can do checks on the condition of the flat)

2. How do they stand with complete strangers being given keys to the flat.

3. Should they had been given any notification that the men where actually going today instead of Monday.

They both really love the flat but Charlotte is now very worried as she is there quite a lot during the day on her own, and is frigtened that she could be in bed or in the shower etc and have someone walk in on her. Also they are both worried about their possesions as they often leave money, jewelry lying around.

They don't want to cause any nastiness but as this is their first flat they don't know their rights as to what is or what is not exceptable access by the landlord.

Many thanks.

[Pimpernel]

Hi,
I had that problem in two different properties.
The first one, the landlord wanted me to become one of his girlfriends and the maintenance guy was a drug addict. They both used their sets of keys to enter the flat, whether I was in or not. The first time the landlord did this, I was actually sitting on the loo when I heard footsteps outside the door of the bathroom (which had no lock!). I ended up never coming home before 10pm on weekdays, spending as much time as possible outside the flat at the weekend, and keeping virtually most of my possessions (including bank statements, laptop, CDs, suits, expensive shoes) under lock and key: I invested into a number of suitcases and padlocks! I moved out after 5 months.
The second time, workers were still 'doing' the flat when I moved in, so they would come and go, supposedly to fix the window, paint the bathroom, fit a cooker and a washing machine etc. However, if I had the day off and came back from an errand, I would find them 'resting' on my bed! The building was eventually repossessed by the bank, because the landlords were not paying their mortgage, and I don't know what became of that second set of keys! Fingers crossed, I'll be moving out soon though...

[feebee102]

Thanks for the answers. Sone is talking to landlord as I type so hopefully an agreement can be reached. I know he is a decent chap and wouldn't want to upset anyone.

[AlBags]

Dreadful behaviour.
They should give due notice .. and wait for your response.

[ladybirder]

No, he can't do that. Have a look at this advice from Shelter the homeless charity.

http://england.shelte..._counts_as_harassment

[TonyV]

fee - As well as rent book do they have a rental / lease agreement with Landlord?

[feebee102]

My son told the landlord how this wasn't on and it made them feel uncomfortable , so much so that they had considered moving out.
The landlord totally agreed with my son that his actions where not exceptable and has promised not to do it again without a prior appointment.
As for the work men, apparently they had been given my sons mobile number & should had phoned him to make sure it was OK, but had failed to do so.

So fingers crossed this has solved the problem.

Thanks once again for everyones help XXXXX

[tamborine]

Change the locks.

[TonyV]

tamberine - you cannot change Landlords locks - not good advice

[IggyB]

Whilst tenancy agreements all cover this and say it shouldn't happen I've also had plenty experiences of people just wondering in to flats I was renting whenever they fancied it - though i found it was normally letting agents that were to worst offenders... on one occasion I met a letting agent and a couple he was showing round the flat i was moving out of in a week or so whilst I was exiting the shower... stark naked.