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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

RE: Landlord who turns up unannounced and lets himself in if I'm not there (previous forum post).

I have just received a text from my landlord saying "New windows will be fitted in next few weeks i will advise when . Meanwhile please tidy up your room". So, it's good that he has let me know this (athough I am almost certain the notice he gives me will be minimal) but what the hell? I know I am over-sensitive (as mentioned, I suffer from anxiety and depression) but I feel like he's talking to me like crap. I pay to live here! He has said before it's up to me how I live in the flat (which was surprisingly nice of him). I feel so crap about this. I would really appreciate anyone's opinion on this. Am I overreacting? I haven't replied to the message and I'm not sure how to. 

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Thanks. How did you deal with your landlord? I've read in various places that he needs to give 24 hours notice which seems a bit too little but I think I'd be asking too much to expect a week. I'm very afraid to make things worse as he seems very hostile towards me but I will ask politely, just like you've suggested. I really appreciate you replying. Thank you!

We just said we'd appreciate some notice before visiting so that we had time to make an effort and show that we can take care of the place he'd just previously caught us at really bad times. Id see how he responds to that because at the end of the day im sure he wouldnt like people invading his privacy either

Yeah, I'm sure he wouldn't, although he's done it for years and it seems very unlikely he'll totally stop. Still, if it makes him think twice then I guess it's worth a try. It didn't used to bother me so much but these days it's got worse and it's bothering me a lot. Especially as he's rude with it. Thanks a lot for replying! :)

If your landlord lets himself in to your home without your knowledge and permission he is breaking the law. Simple as that. You may be reading too much in to the text, I'd recommend not replying. At least you'll feel better! And do take AJR's offer of help, don't deal with this alone. Good luck!!

Thank you so much for replying. I am dreading the disruption while the windows are fitted as it will mean having strangers in my flat for I don't know how long and I have such little space that I'm not sure how I'll be able to move everything away from near the window to allow them access to them. Last year the landlord had builders knock down an old air-raid shelter in the garden and put up a fence (the builder told me this was for tax avoidance purposes) and this meant my bedroom and bathroom were a thoroughfare for builders from 7am every day for three weeks. It was awful! I don't want the windows replaced but I have no say in the matter. It's happening and that's that. My flat is likely to be used as a thoroughfare again as the windows of two of the other flats are only accessible from the outside via my flat. 

Thank you so much for your offer of help. What did you have in mind? I am afraid of making matters worse. As Paul said (above) tenants are two a penny and I have a feeling he'd quite like me out, although I know he doesn't like the hassle of getting in new tenants (when I moved in he told me he wants someone who'll be here a good 5 or more years, not someone who's going to leave after a year). 

I'm really unsure whether the best course of action is to reply to the text or not. I'll be tidying up a bit anyway as I have a friend coming over in a few days but the fact is I have a very small space to fit everything I own and it is cluttered! I know one of the other flats is similarly cluttered because the guy who lives there sometimes leaves his door open and I've seen it in passing but my landlord acts like they're best friends when they meet so I'm sure he hasn't spoken to him like he has to me. :(

another moron, it completely depends on the contract, if you have a condition to maintain the room or flat in a clean and hygenic state etc, it is the lodger who is out of order, so many ignorant assumptions here!

She's not a lodger, she's a tenant.  They are legally very different things.  A tenant has a legal right to 'quiet enjoyment' of the property they are renting.  That includes the right not to tidy up (as long as their untidiness isn't damaging the house).  A contract that included having to keep a room tidy wouldn't legally be upheld because it would contravene the tenants basic right (one of the few tenants have!).  Landlords bung all sorts of stuff in tenancy agreements, but even if the tenant has signed it, if it contravenes the right to quiet enjoyment it's not binding. Legally in this country you can't sign away your rights.

Many thanks for replying. To reiterate, I'm not a lodger, I'm a tenant. My flat really isn't in a terrible state. It's cluttered in places because it's a very small space to keep everything I own in. I'm very quiet and keep myself to myself. I have since found out that he has sent a similar text to another tenant but he hasn't spoken to anyone in person the way he rudely spoke to me. Probably partly due to the fact that I'm female and the other tenant is male. I am really, really grateful for all your replies as they've made me feel more sure of my rights and that I'm not being over sensitive. Having said that, I don't expect much to change but I will attempt to appeal to his better nature, if he has any. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

That's appalling. I mean, sure, if you'd physically damaged the property then fine he has the right to call you on it, but commenting on how someone else lives their life is Not On. What a prat.

Yeah, exactly. Unfortunately I think the only thing that works with him is to grin and bear it, because essentially he's an arsehole.

Just want to bump up my post to see if I can get any further suggestions. Many thanks!

do you rent a room in a shared house or flat or do you rent a whole flat or house? i suspect from the fact that you say he told you to tidy up your room, that you only have a room in a shared flat or house, so you are probably just a lodger! you should keep your room tidy in someone else's house, if you want to live like a slob or have more privacy or rights, get your own place! think yourself lucky that he is putting new windows in and cares about the premises!

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