Hello,
I am Swedish so not overly familiar with English law. I have just become a Director of a small regional English residential letting agency.
I am concerned that this letting agency has been sending out letters to tenants stating "We need to do a 6-monthly inspection on your home on behalf of the landlord. We would like to attend on [date]. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you are in agreement and we will let ourselves in with the management key".
A concerned tenant, who lives with his dog, has written to me, stating that this letter is unlawful. The tenant claims that his dog would become upset if a stranger entered his home when he was not there, and that he has always strictly forbade the letting agency to enter the premises without his presence. He has now gone on to forbid the letting agency whatsoever.
Please could someone with a good knowledge of English law answer the following:
1. As it is the tenant's home and the tenant has possession, surely it is within the tenant's rights not to allow the letting agency in at all if he so wishes?
2. Whilst the letting agency can seek the tenant's permission to enter for an inspection, surely the tenant can always withhold it indefinitely?
3. Is it correct that the only way the letting agency could enter the premises if the tenant continued to deny them access would be through obtaining a Possession Order via the Court?
4. Is it an offence to enter the premises without the tenant's written consent?
thank you for all your help!
Aron
I am Swedish so not overly familiar with English law. I have just become a Director of a small regional English residential letting agency.
I am concerned that this letting agency has been sending out letters to tenants stating "We need to do a 6-monthly inspection on your home on behalf of the landlord. We would like to attend on [date]. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you are in agreement and we will let ourselves in with the management key".
A concerned tenant, who lives with his dog, has written to me, stating that this letter is unlawful. The tenant claims that his dog would become upset if a stranger entered his home when he was not there, and that he has always strictly forbade the letting agency to enter the premises without his presence. He has now gone on to forbid the letting agency whatsoever.
Please could someone with a good knowledge of English law answer the following:
1. As it is the tenant's home and the tenant has possession, surely it is within the tenant's rights not to allow the letting agency in at all if he so wishes?
2. Whilst the letting agency can seek the tenant's permission to enter for an inspection, surely the tenant can always withhold it indefinitely?
3. Is it correct that the only way the letting agency could enter the premises if the tenant continued to deny them access would be through obtaining a Possession Order via the Court?
4. Is it an offence to enter the premises without the tenant's written consent?
thank you for all your help!
Aron
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