Is My Landlord Allowed To Knock On My Door Anytime?

[boona]

Hello, last week my landlord knocked on my door unexpectedly, he came to show a handyman my outside fencing, my car was there so he knocked on my door. I answered and was not expecting to see him, so I was a bit taken back. I looked a bit of a mess so I was a bit annoyed really. He didn't ask to come in but that is not the point.

[Captain2]

Surely anybody can knock on your door at any time?

[thejudderman]

You sound like you could be a real awkward Tennant! Why ever is it a problem.? At least your landlord is keen to keep the property maintained!

[-SharonA-]

Of course he can knock anytime, anybody can!

But cannot enter your property without arranging an appropriate time with you.

[Cloverjo]

I thought they were supposed to give you 24 hours' notice. My good landlords did this, but one agency went into my flat when I was out and later gave me a warning for not having done the washing up.
It should be in your rental agreement.

[jim360]

You should probably check your tenancy agreement just to be sure, but normally the landlord should give notice of any visits. If it's just a one-off then maybe don't get too het up about it, he was probably just meaning to say hello while he was around.

// The landlord cannot make unannounced visits and must comply with the terms of this agreement and the law in all dealings with the tenant. Even where the landlord or his agents give notice of visits to the property, if the visits are very frequent and/or are made for little good reason, this may amount to a breach of the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and could amount to harassment. //

(Taken from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/model-agreement-for-a-shorthold-assured-tenancy )

[Jackdaw33]

Anyone is allowed to knock on your door at any time. Whether you choose to answer it is entirely up to you. I have a rule that apart from close family and friends I will not accept callers without an appointment. An intercom linked to your front door would be of especial benefit.

[boona]

No, I am not an awkward tenant. He caught me on the hop, I had just had a bath and didn't have my teeth in!! I was expecting my mum, I only answered because I thought she had left her key!! I was not expecting him.

[Buenchico]

As has been said, anyone can knock on your door at any time. (If they repeatedly did so, especially during unsocial hours, it might count as 'harassment' but clearly that's not the case here).

If your landlord is going to be showing a workman the exterior of your house it's simply a polite gesture for him to knock on your door to let you know what's going on. (i.e. most people would probably have been annoyed if they'd seen the landlord and another guy outside and he'd NOT had the courtesy to explain what was going on).

[BTW: Your landlord has the right to inspect your property, at any reasonable hour, simply by giving you 48 hours notice. If you're not in when he calls he can let himself in with his spare key or, if you've changed the locks (or otherwise sought to prevent him entering), break into the property].

[Davemano]

You've obviously been brooding on it for a week or more, but I just don't see what's wrong with somebody knocking on your door.

[Peter Pedant]

First you should read your contract
there should be a bit about visiting and notice

there may even be a bit about visiting without notice ( fire and putting it out ) along with visiting with notice ( to do non urgent repairs )

knocking on the door and saying can they inspect
I think is OK
but if you dont - - - give notice and move !

[one of my tenants had a removal van outside so I asked what was going on - and SHE said - "you cant talk to me without notice!"
and her father said: "you are a bad landlord and I will bite your nose off". I believed him. I asked without answer about her long term arrears
and the removal men came out with a sofa, and I told them they couldnt remove that as it was mine. My agent said that he hoped they had paid the removers as they hadnt paid their rent so they were unlikely to pay other debts.]

we live in different worlds

[technofifi]

Hello. I'm assuming that a lot of the answers on here were submitted by landlords, not tenants or anyone with any legal knowledge. If your door opens out to the street and in to a hallway then yes, in theory, anyone can knock on it. But if you have a garden, especially if it's fenced, or your door opens directly in to your living quarters, the one person who most definitely cannot make surprise visits is, you guessed it, your landlord. It's called "interfering with your right to quiet enjoyment" of your HOME. They seem to see your home as just their asset and they can do what they like, when they like. The best thing you can do is to get a video doorbell and don't forget to save/back up any incidents that concern you. You don't have to splash out on a Ring or other expensive brand. I got one on ebay for £35 and it picks up my WiFi even where my phone and tablet have blackspots. Ican'trememberthebrand but it mentioned the upgraded WiFi in the photos and the
description. The word "ESCROM" is in my head but I think that's the operating system, not the brand. Ask for permission in writing if you want to affix it with screws. I just use the sticky pads because my landlord is one of those who says everything is "no problem" but then denies saying it further down the line. I hope these horrible answers haven't upset you too much and I wish you well in the future.