Can Agent demand access whilst tenancy is running?

[house275]

A friend who I was telling about this forum (I have just found you and its a wonderful site) has asked me to ask a question

What would happen to her if the letting agent (a lecherous ol so and so) writes to say he wants to check the property but she declines to let him in ?

Will she get fined a fee ?
Can he force his way in ?
What's the worst he can do to her ?
She has 6 months left on a AST
She moved in last summer

[P.Pilcher]

As the property is her home, the letting agent cannot enter to perform an inspection with out her permission. To do so, except in an emergency, is a criminal offence. All landlords/agents do like to check their property from time to time: for one reason, they may spot faults which need repair, but as they do not inconvenience the tenant do not get reported.
It makes sense to cooperate with a landlord/agent in this matter, but at a time and date convenient to the tenant. In this instance an occasion when a frend or relation was present.

So, she cannot be fined a fee.
If he attempts to force his way in, the police should be called.
The worst he can do is to give her two months notice to vacate the property, but this notice must end on or after the fixed term of her AST agreement.


P.P.

[house275]

Thank you I shall pass that on and choose my thread title more carefully
Sorry still learning

[sensible]

We (as in my firm) always carry out inspections in the evenings when the tenant is at the property so therefore the inconvenience is very little. However i never carry out inspections without a tenant being there (unless i have tenants permission), the simple reason is i dont fancy being told that 'something has gone missing' the next day.

However if any tenant is being very obstructive and not being at home when times have already been arranged and blatantly treat us like idiots then when it comes to closing inventory time we will go through the property with a fine tooth comb and treat them the same way.