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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Anyone else’s Landlord do this? AIBU to be irritated?

238 replies

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 10:26

For context we’ve been renting this house from our Landlady for just over ten years now and she’s hands down the most intrusive landlord I’ve ever had. Can be very free with her opinions on how we live and has form for dropping in unannounced as she’s passing by, if she does let us know she’s coming it’s with as little notice as possible.
So fairly or not I find her very irritating generally but what’s really annoying me is the last couple of years she's developed a habit of scheduling in visits to the house every single time my son is off school. My son has autism and attends a special school, he really doesn’t like having strangers in our home which she is aware of. As my husband frequently travels for work at short notice I don’t work so she could come anytime during term time but she repeatedly turns up during the holidays, usually with one days notice and disrupts our plans. I just don’t understand why she herself wouldn’t rather come when my sons at school, everything is tidied away etc.
The last straw is her texting me at 6:30am on bank holiday Monday to say she wanted to call in at some point that afternoon to drop in some paperwork to us. She wasn’t too happy at being told we weren’t available that short notice but agreed to reschedule so now she’s coming today at some point between late morning and early afternoon so we’re wasting a day just hanging around waiting for her and I spent the hottest day of the year deep cleaning downstairs to circumvent comments on my not having hoovered over the bank holiday weekend and how my son really doesn’t need that many toys out…
Is anyone else’s landlord like this? Am I unreasonable to find this annoying and wish she’d try to schedule this in outside of the holidays?

OP posts:
MajorSamanthaCarter · 27/05/2026 10:28

She has no right to harass you to this extent, dropping in unannounced is an absolute no. It's your home, she needs to leave you in peace.

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 27/05/2026 10:30

Meet her at the door and don't ask her in... She has no legal right to unless for a pre arranged inspection which this isn't...
Or watch from the window for her car and meet her at the gate...

CelticSilver · 27/05/2026 10:35

You don't need to open the door to her except in emergencies or for 6-monthly inspections. 'Sorry, we'll be out, please drop paperwork through letterbox' for example. You really need to get strong here because she's majorly overstepping. This is your son's safe space. Don't let her invade it.

Proberts90 · 27/05/2026 10:35

You have sucked it up for a decade so I’m guessing very low rent?

Friendlygingercat · 27/05/2026 10:52

Get a ring door bell. If you see its her and no appointment is scheduled then dont answer. Start pushing back.She has no right whatsoever to expect you to give up a day so she can "drop off paperwork". Paperwork can be pushed through the letterbox and posted back.

Practice a few assertive phrases.

That does not work for me.
I dont know my plans yet so the answer is no.
Thats not convenient. I have plans for that day.
Im not accepting unscheduled visits at this time.

Your LL has no right to comment upon your standard of housework of how you choose to live unless it causes damage to the property. You don't have to hoover or clean for her unscheduled visits. If you do choose to let her in tell her that "you take the place as you find it because your visit is unscheduled and Im not happy about that. I have a legal right to privacy."

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 27/05/2026 10:53

Tell her to post ot through the letterbox and you'll drop it back.

This is nonsense. I wouldnt wait in for a letter

Disturbia81 · 27/05/2026 10:54

There shouldn’t be this much involvement at all, just if something needs repairing etc. You should barely know they exist otherwise

AuDrusilla · 27/05/2026 10:56

Why are you waiting in for her to drop paperwork?

Mydogisagentleman · 27/05/2026 10:57

We are LLs.
Our agents inspect when it's due.
Even if we dealt directly with our tenants, I wouldn't dream of harassing them like yours does.
YANBU

ChocolateApples · 27/05/2026 10:58

You have every right to organise at a time that's suits you. When she next tells you a time, send your own list back. It's also not your job to hang around all day.

Willowskyblue · 27/05/2026 11:02

I can't believed you've allowed this to continue to 10 years. You should never have allowed it to become a thing - now is the time to push back.

Locutus2000 · 27/05/2026 11:02

I'd be drafting a carefully-worded email to clarify your position. Presumably the new Renter's Rights act protects you from revenge eviction?

PaterPower · 27/05/2026 11:03

I think either the rent would have to be exceptionally low, or other rental options very limited, for me to put up with her behaviour.

You should have the enjoyment of your house, free from her intrusions. You’ve been there 10 years and she’s seen the inside frequently enough to know you can be trusted with the property. She’s just being nosy.

Larrythecatforpm · 27/05/2026 11:03

It’s 24 hours notice any less than that you don’t have to answer the door. I would speak to her at the door and not let her in.

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:04

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 27/05/2026 10:30

Meet her at the door and don't ask her in... She has no legal right to unless for a pre arranged inspection which this isn't...
Or watch from the window for her car and meet her at the gate...

I should have mentioned that she had the hall stairs redecorated in March and hasn’t been to see the end result yet as she was away so I don’t think I can get away with not inviting her in this time. Another reason I was deep cleaning yesterday and hoovering the stairs at the crack of dawn this morning. Ironically she hasn’t arranged an proper inspection in years, I suspect she doesn’t want to give us the opportunity to mention anything that might need fixing but she can check out the house every time she’s here.

OP posts:
Byron1990 · 27/05/2026 11:07

I’m a landlord, this is illlegal, you have a right to enjoy your home in peace. Tell her no without appropriate notice and only for actual checks anything else can be done by email

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:07

Proberts90 · 27/05/2026 10:35

You have sucked it up for a decade so I’m guessing very low rent?

It’s below market rate yes but it’s steadily increasing now, gone up every 6 months. It’ll probably meet the average for the area by next year.

OP posts:
Member984815 · 27/05/2026 11:07

I'm a landlord, I don't just show up or give short notice and if I have paperwork or need to pass on info it can be done by email or at the door . I'm hyper aware that that is my tenants home and not mine. Is she registered?

DeposedPresident · 27/05/2026 11:08

I'm a LL and would never behave like this. She needs to give 24 hours notice and she has to leave you in peace to enjoy your home.

She has absolutely no right to comment how you keep the house unless you are actively destroying it.

Is there a real estate agent involved as magaing agent? I'm guessing not. If so, then you need to have a chat with them.

DeposedPresident · 27/05/2026 11:09

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:07

It’s below market rate yes but it’s steadily increasing now, gone up every 6 months. It’ll probably meet the average for the area by next year.

Well it can't go up every 6 months now either.

Talk to CAB (although tbf their advisors are a bit hit or miss). Know your rights.

Larrythecatforpm · 27/05/2026 11:10

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:07

It’s below market rate yes but it’s steadily increasing now, gone up every 6 months. It’ll probably meet the average for the area by next year.

She’s only allowed to increase once a year now.

DeposedPresident · 27/05/2026 11:10

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:04

I should have mentioned that she had the hall stairs redecorated in March and hasn’t been to see the end result yet as she was away so I don’t think I can get away with not inviting her in this time. Another reason I was deep cleaning yesterday and hoovering the stairs at the crack of dawn this morning. Ironically she hasn’t arranged an proper inspection in years, I suspect she doesn’t want to give us the opportunity to mention anything that might need fixing but she can check out the house every time she’s here.

Oh- and she doesn't need to see the results in person. We had a complete re-paint and re-carpet job last year after the tenants got a puppy and destroyed both. We just asked them if they were happy with the result.

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:11

Disturbia81 · 27/05/2026 10:54

There shouldn’t be this much involvement at all, just if something needs repairing etc. You should barely know they exist otherwise

This is my feeling, our previous landlords we saw once a year for an inspection or if any issues need addressing. We’ve always had good references and no issues.

OP posts:
Larrythecatforpm · 27/05/2026 11:11

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:04

I should have mentioned that she had the hall stairs redecorated in March and hasn’t been to see the end result yet as she was away so I don’t think I can get away with not inviting her in this time. Another reason I was deep cleaning yesterday and hoovering the stairs at the crack of dawn this morning. Ironically she hasn’t arranged an proper inspection in years, I suspect she doesn’t want to give us the opportunity to mention anything that might need fixing but she can check out the house every time she’s here.

What needs fixing

Specksofwhiteallaround · 27/05/2026 11:13

AuDrusilla · 27/05/2026 10:56

Why are you waiting in for her to drop paperwork?

She wants me to sign to show I’ve received it. She hasn’t mentioned it but I assume she’ll also want to check out painting and new carpet that has been done recently.

OP posts: