Landlord - Terms and Conditions - People coming in?

Mr_Grinch

Ok, bizarre situation, the toilet started leaking a little bit, nothing serious and I was going to report it tomorrow. However when myself and my flat mate returned from work today, the bathroom had been looked at, things had been moved around in there and two toilet rolls had gone missing!

The door was definitely locked and our mysterious visitor was more than likely NOT a thief as they walked straight by a macbook, wii, 360 and 32" lcd tv.

We rent the house through a letting company and a while back (two weeks maybe) they told us they needed to just do a check, make sure we haven't smashed windows, painted walls etc. So they came round when we weren't here (although they did tell us when they were calling). I assume they saw the toilet wasn't in the best of conditions then and scheduled it for repair.

Legally, SURELY they need to inform us of someone coming round. The letting agents has been nothing short of appalling and I'd LOVE to have something over them. Any idea where I stand?

Feral

In most* places, they have to give 24-hour notice except in the case of emergency repairs. What constitutes "emergency repairs" is up for interpretation, though. They may have thought the toilet was leakier than it actually was. A heavily leaking toilet is absolutely emergency repairs, a slightly leaky toilet... not so much. You could always call your landlord and politely discuss the situation with them.

* - every first-world country, state, and province I've ever heard of

Aurin

Well, if they'd announced two weeks ago that they were going to be coming into your apartment, I think they've pretty well covered their butts against anything...

Edit: Except for like, stealing your toilet paper. >.>

tech_hunter

Some appartments I have had have something for you to sign allowing maintenence people access without having to notify you. I never sign them although like Feral stated it can be negated if it is an emergency repair, but wtf they made off with your toilet paper?

Descendant X

They made have used up the two rolls of toilet paper cleaning up a mess while fixing the toilet...

Pheezer

Even if there are emergency repairs to be made, most places should usually at least attempt to contact you by cell phone or whatever. Though that's not necessarily so legally required as it is polite

Æthelred

Legally they might be okay since they told you a couple of weeks ago that someone would be coming around. Whatever else though, you should contact them and say you're not happy with not getting a direct 24h warning or anything - make clear you'd rather know exactly when someone is coming around.

MuddBudd

Do you live above anyone? Maybe they reported it.

scootch

my old place would usually leave a note saying we've been here to fix _____.

I'm guessing your leak got progressivly worse while you were gone and they did an emergency fix. maybe your toilet paper got used to mop up the mess or got wet during the process.

Mr_Grinch

Nah, I gave them permission to come in once to have a look around and make sure we hadn't smashed anything up. That must have been about 3 weeks back.

Got on to them today, apparently it was an error on their behalf, there was a job a few months back where they had to fix our sink, I said they could come in to do that when they liked if they had a key. It was done but never ticked off on the job sheet, so they're looking through jobs that haven't been done, spot it, read they can come in and just came round.

When there they noticed the sink was fixed but the toilet could do with sorting.

Was still a little confusing to come back to a moved around bathroom.

Szechuanosaurus

Certainly in the UK, the law prohibits landlords from entering the property unless the tenant is present. I think the time and date has to be pre-agreed as well, IIRC, if a lodnlord decides to make a 'spot inspection' youa re within your rights to tell him to sling his hook.

A lot of landlords ignore this rule though, especially ones who aren't professional letting agencies. For example, my girlfriend came home one day to discover two young girls (aged about eight) sitting in our living room watching her Disney movies. Turns out the landlord had decided to come round to do work on the flat unannounced and then left his kids alone in our living room while he went off to buy some parts from a DIY store.