Tenant refuses to grant access without paying him?
I am an overseas landlord and have a property that needs minor fixes and gas safety certification. The tenant claims to be a busy person so he can not accompany(open the door) for our contractor to get those done.
However, he is willing to charge us £1000 for the time he accompanies(open the door) our contractor or make us agree to hold responsible for our contractor for any missing items and he will leave the keys with the concierge.
I trust the contractor, but since I can not be present, it would be his word against mine when something went missing. I can hire an agent to accompany our contractor, but I do not see any difference if the tenant accuses our contractor of stealing.
Any advice or experience would greatly be appreciated.
Alex
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
Previous Article
Mortgage on ex-LA going at auction?Next Article
Counterclaim to section 8 for unreported mould?
Member Since April 2014 - Comments: 985 - Articles: 2
4:04 PM, 12th February 2020, About 6 years ago
This is unreasonable and un-tenant like behaviour. I would be very wary about entering this property. It almost as though he’s baiting you to go in and you can bet something will be reported as missing soon after! Serve a section 21 as soon as you can and get rid!
Member Since February 2019 - Comments: 7
4:33 PM, 12th February 2020, About 6 years ago
I suggest using a 3rd party service likd Viewber if you cannot get a trusted 3rd person to be there
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 648
7:19 PM, 12th February 2020, About 6 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Rob Crawford at 12/02/2020 – 16:04
Agreed!
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 360
7:25 PM, 12th February 2020, About 6 years ago
Yup agree with Rob.
This is someone you don’t want anywhere near your property.
I would be thinking this behaviour is to keep you away because ……….he is doing something illegal in the property.
Growing a bit of weed perhaps.
Member Since January 2016 - Comments: 297 - Articles: 1
5:39 AM, 13th February 2020, About 6 years ago
if you cannot gain access you cannot be sure that he is not breaking the law.
Does he have a cannabis farm in the property?
You need to be able to check this out because you could be responsible?
Member Since February 2017 - Comments: 6
6:50 AM, 13th February 2020, About 6 years ago
Thank you all for the comments, I have hired an agent to accompany our contractor to get it things fixed. I need to get the gas safety cert first before thinking of getting S21 can be served.
He has agreed to give entry (living the keys to concierge), but if he reports something is missing, I guess I should just ask him to call the authorities to handle this.
Our contractors have been to the property before and no suspicious activities were found.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 648
7:57 AM, 13th February 2020, About 6 years ago
Reply to the comment left by BB at 13/02/2020 – 06:50
Still sounds like someone I would want out of my life.
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 7
10:37 AM, 13th February 2020, About 6 years ago
As above.
Get cert done, any issues sorted out. A note from him signed (if possible), then S21.
In my experience once a tenant plays up move them out. It never gets better.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1435 - Articles: 1
10:50 AM, 13th February 2020, About 6 years ago
Give a set of keys to a friend/trusted person to hold. Give the tenant 24 hours notice of an inspection or doing repairs or gas safety service, the tenant does not have to be there.
By not allowing your contractors to enter he will be in breach of his tenancy agreement. When does his tenancy agreement expire? If imminent don’t sign a new one and he will then be in a periodic tenancy and you can issue a S21 with 2 months notice whenever you want. If a current. If a current AST is in place you can only issue a S21 2+ months prior yo it’s end.
Presume your tenant has a current Gas Safety Certificate that was given to him before the start of the tenancy and not on the day the tenancy started.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 21
12:06 PM, 13th February 2020, About 6 years ago
This is not a tenant or landlord fault.
It’s the great British law that is creating this and more serious situations. (called tenants rights)