Hi all. My boyfriend has been in this flat for almost a year with his flatmate. The text conversation is his flatmate (yellow) and landlord (red). The landlord is looking to sell and has booked in many viewings during Christmas. However, she’s made it a point that they’re not allowed visitors.
This has previously been an issue, as you can see in the ‘girlfriend’ (me) being allowed from ‘time to time’. The other week, the landlord was showing around an agent and seemed unnerved that I was there (I was looking after my boyfriend, who was bed-ridden with sickness-which he told her!)
I think this is totally bizarre behaviour and I don’t see how this sale of a shared ownership is gonna work if the landlady is dictating who residents can have over?! Both my boyfriend and his flatmate keep the place spotless-it’s so empty it’s more like a show home, yet they get messages from her badgering them about cleaning!
What’s the best way for my partner to get out of this situation? The landlady wants to keep them there till she sells the place
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I'd read up on your local laws and ignore them more than anything... Like how much notice they're required to give before showings and what a landlord can and cannot restrict a tenant from doing.
I cannot fathom laws allowing a landlord to restrict visitors as long as they don't become long term occupants or anything like that. Certainly having folks over for a period of hours should be more than fine so long as you aren't causing some kind of disturbance.
Again though, big recommend checking in on your local laws as it's difficult for anyone to comment directly without knowing them.
Ok will do. We’re in Hampshire. And yeah the longest I’ve stayed is 3 days to look after him. We’re all really quiet and clean so. Both me and my boyfriend are so quiet we are nicknamed ‘gliders’ as we make no noise when we walk 😂🫠
'Dear Landlord,
As you are no doubt aware, all tenants have a right to quiet enjoyment of their property.
We have thus far been accomodating and flexible, however we feel it necassary to set some boundaries to ensure everyone knows where they stand, and ensure a positive relationship going forward.
Therefore, please ensure that you follow the legal duty to provide 24 hours notice before any intended visit. Whilst we will do our best to be accomodating, we do have the right to refuse entry if the time is not convenient for us.
Please note that for Christmas week we do not consider it a reasonable intererence with our right to quiet enjoyment to book viewings. I am sure you appreciate our desire to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing Christmas celebration.
With best wishes for a Merry Christmas and happy new year,
Sincerely
[Name]
Alternatively shelter have a less friendly template here.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/what_to_say_if_your_landlord_turns_up_without_permission
If this is Hampshire, England, UK then you should look up the 'right to quiet enjoyment' of the property. Essentially it means you have the right to refuse all viewings in perpetuity, until after you leave the property.
They also do not have the right to restrict who stays in the property short term (no sublets), nor can they tell you to clean anything. The only rule is that the house must be left as clean as it was found, not that it must be spotless throughout the tenancy.
Re: cleaning; I'd also imagine there are rules/laws in place that a landlord can require you to keep your apartment clean enough that you aren't inviting pests or creating smells. IE you're allowed to be a hoarder, but you can't leave food all over the place.
Ask in r/UKLegalAdvice.
Please please please say your BFs next text was, “Can my parents come visit?” And then LL threatened to ground him and take away his allowance.
AHAHA he’s not confrontational bless him
I'm the kind of petty that would reply "you mean the family that helps me pay half my rent every month? I will let them know your rules. Let me know when I can hand my written notice in to have my family visit!" And then I would make sure every viewing they have scheduled they contact me before EVERY ONE with at least 2 days notice (or whatever it is where you you are) for each one :) especially if he's gonna move. I know I'm petty but this is honestly insane behavior. I've met people who rented rooms with less restrictions haha.
landlords are supposed to give min 24 hours written notice before attending for anything other than an emergency in the uk. legally they're supposed to do this.
in this case, the landlord is in the wrong, being unreasonable and has no standing to dictate whether op's boyfriend and his flatmate can have guests visit or not. It's a visit, not another occupancy, which the 'no guests' bit usually relates to, multiple overnight stays within a week or a month as that could lead to someone gaining occupancy status.
What type of tenancy is it? Does the landlord live there too, is it an HMO, or Assured Shorthold Tenancy?
The LL can enforce this if they live there too, otherwise they can legally go swivel. You also don't need to allow viewings legally, so worth bearing that in mind if the LL is being an ass.
I’m sorry I have no idea but no the landlord doesn’t live there, only my boyfriend and his flatmate x
I'm less up on HMO rules, but if its just the two of them its probably not one.
If the LL doesn't live with them, they have no legal right to deny any guests - I know that is 100% accurate if its an AST, fairly sure it applies to an HMO too, but could check with r/legaladviceUK, as they're v. good.
Or, find out the type of tenancy agreement and check Shelter's website, also very good. Could also ask the LL by what grounds they think they can deny guests.
Look up/search "quiet enjoyment" - strong right of English tennants! GL!
Why is he telling the landlord about that? The landlord doesn't need to know, they are not entitled to dictate who he can have round and when and anything that says they are is unenforceable
unless it's in the agreement (and maybe if she also lives there and is renting the rooms out - also dependant on state).
If its in the agreement, you would have difficulty enforcing that in the UK
I don't think the landlord has any right under the law to ban your bfs parents from visiting. Is it in the contract? No? Then the landlord needs to buzz off.
Fucking insane.
Lol your boyfriend's landlord is a chav, tell him your American friends said so.
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Y’all are hilarious telling the landlord what you’re doing lmao landlord can kiss my ass I’ll do as I please and I will not report to a landlord like they’re my mom😂😂😂
[deleted]
Why does it matter?
I live far away from his work x
What does that matter? Lots of couples see each other over the weekend or days off work.
I see him 3 x a week but he travels a lot for work. My dad also has cancer so anyone sick cannot come over
Found the landlord
I wish! Ha