Landlord Entering House Unannounced

[Googlewerenohelp]

Not a happy bunny
Since our top floor housmate recently died, our housing association have anonymously attached a keypress next to our front door so that maintenance/room clearing people can just come and go as they please without ringing our COMMUNAL doorbell as they enter our COMMUNAL SHARED space unannounced. Aside from the obvious invasion of privacy, these people are coming in with no masks on, no 24 hour warning, I'm not even sure that these visits comply with current COVID ruling on landlords.
Fair enough if it was a flat block with separate buzzers and a front door that led to just stairs and flat doors, but our place doesn't. We have a hallway and a landing that is frequented by all of us daily, a shared kitchen, bathroom, lavatories, gardens and living room that branch off from all of these thoroughfares. None of us know who to turn to as the HA no longer appear to have anyone that we can refer to ...a "face" eg. housing officer, housing manager etc.
Emails have been sent but so far have not been answered, including a reminder that we MUST have a "sensitive let" the same as was our late housemate.
I see this as a mini emergency, they are just letting themselves in ..no masks no gloves, no warning and I fear that they will just move anyone in without considering the fact that we share living space.
Surely this can't be legal?
Helpful advice information urgently needed.

TIA

[Buenchico]

If you're living in a 'house in multiple occupation' (where facilities are shared between tenants then, technically, the landlord isn't technically letting out the communal areas. They remain fully under his control and he and his agents are free to access those areas at any time.
https://asktenants.co.uk/blog-post/rights-of-tenants-living-in-hmos/

[bobbinwales]

Notify the landlord that they must wear mask's and follow covid safe rules. If they don't then tell the council

[Peter Pedant]

// Surely this can't be legal?//

well I am sorry they are not entering your house - but the communal areas. They are almost certainly allowed to do this to maintain them.

as for they can access the flat but not the means to get there
I dont know what youre thinking of - ladders ? crane?

[Googlewerenohelp]

...Chris/PP: ...but unannounced, while we are milling about in those communal spaces and un-masked?

[Buenchico]

Legally, when you're in a communal area of the house, it's you who's a guest in the landlord's property and not the other way round. So he's perfectly entitled to be there at any time.

You might not like it (as, indeed, you clearly don't) but your question is posted in 'Law' and you've been correctly told how the law stands, irrespective of any ethical or other matters that might concern you.