Would you have let them in?

[Arimeh]

I don't mean to sound harsh but it is going to come across that way BUT bad luck...everyone has excuses and if that is the agreement then so be it regardless of circumstance. At the end of the day the RE is only doing their job and protecting their landlord's property.

Ahhh but if they hadn't of been doing a drive by they wouldn't have seen it.

Look, we're not perfect and we admit it. We do however pay our rent every week - and if I was a landlord I know which kind of tenant I would prefer.

This post wasn't about whether or not we have to do the gardens, we KNOW we do. This post was about letting the real estate do an inspection when not notified. The reasons I gave why we didn't let them in was to give a bit of background as to why DH didn't let them in.

[Jakabella]

I think your DH did the right thing!
This thread is the exact reason I have and never will rent! Way to nasty and hard work!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

And I hope you never have to rent, Jakabella. But most people I know have rented at some point or another - and not because it's what they absolutely wanted to do.

Last rental we had (we hadn't wanted to rent but had no other options at that point), we had really lovely estate agents who not only gave notice, but trusted us. If they'd turned up, even if I was in the middle of baking and hadn't vacuumed yet, I would have been OK with them coming in, because they looked at the state of the building and not the day-to-day living. And they didn't inspect the place too much once they realised we kept it in decent nick. Before that was when we were students but I can't recall many, if any, inspections.

With your agents, no, wouldn't have let them in. They don't sound trustworthy, so I wouldn't trust them.

[*Ang*]

You are right Mrs NB, I digressed, sorry

In answer to your original question, then yes you were within your rights to refuse them and your husband did the right thing.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Our first landlords would do the driveby, I suspect they were actually coming into the backyard while we were at work as well. I don't think that's classed as 'reasonable enjoyment of the property' if you're worried about being spied on! Now that we're landlords, we look after the lawn mowing with a regular contractor. It's a very large block, which would be a hassle for the tenant, and that way I can guarantee its going to be done. Frankly, given there's no garden and it gets inspected every 3 months, I don't care how they leave the yard, as long as its acceptable at inspection time.

[Ms_Fi]

We've got an inspection on Friday and I'm dreading it . DP is going to be here and he's never met the realtors (I moved in with my now ex-DP) and I just know they're going to hate each other on sight

I get an email from the agents suggesting a date then when I confirm it I get a letter so I always know when they're going to come. Last time she *****ed at me for the dust in the back bedroom (we back into a building site) and a cobweb in the garage "Didn't you read the letter, it said the property had to be immaculate"!!

I'd never, ever rent from them again and if I didn't love the house so much I'd move.

We've also had a business card stuck in the front screen door saying LAWNS on it in big red letters cause the postie had driven over the lawn and chewed up the grass with his moped

[fionas]

If they turn up without giving notice, no, of course, I wouldn't have let them in if a) it was inconvenient or b) the house was messy.

However, it sounds like the first time they did give notice, it's just that the party coincided with that date. If that had been me, I would either have rearranged the inspection or rearranged the party. Having said that, taking photos without permission (I'm not sure they needed permission) is TOTALLY not on.

I agree with the others about the garden (and this is from someone who owned their own place and had a tip of a garden -yes, it's a pain in the butt but an agreement is an agreement).

As for the garage door - if it worked, albeit not perfectly and you had to push a manual button, well, as a landlord I wouldn't have treated that as a priority either.

It totally sucks when you feel like the landlord/agent are driving past and making assumptions about what sort of tenant you are from a look at the garden but I guess you have a choice a) do the garden to keep on their good side b) neglect the garden and worry about it or b) reach some agreement with the agency whereby you pay a bit more rent to get a gardener in now and again.

[ellasmummy]

I was under the impression that the point of an inspection was to check on the property (damage, if I have concerns about anything etc) not your housekeeping skills?? Our real estate agent told me that lol.will stop whingeing about them quick smart lol! But yup I reckon your DH definitely did the right thing!!

[~clover~]

Nope. They have to legally give 7 days notice in writing for ANY inspections, allowing time for post on top of that 7 days. Its the same in NSW to WA, so I assume it would be the same around Aus.

Pretty sure that minimum time allowed between inspections is 3 months too.

I have been asked the lawn to be mowed at one property I was in. It was untidy, I was 6 months pregnant, ex was working away & we didn't own a mower. We paid someone to do it. I was sent a letter in writing though, not a text.

[RhiChiChi]

No, I wouldn 't have let them in, particularly since you didn't receive the notice. They sound unprofessional, particularly in their dealings with you. I'm not sure about the drive by - they may have been in the area and noticed the garden was unkempt, however they could have called you for a chat about it & given you the benefit of the doubt. If it became a regular occurence then they could have cause for concern.

I have never rented and don't own a rental property, however I would expect the gardens to be tidy/maintained, if it was in the agreement.

I understand with kids or not that a place can be messy & I would assume (or hope) that that is not part of the inspection - I'd be more concered about holes in walls, marked carpets etc....

I live alot differently to some of my friends and family - what I deem as tidy and even clean is probably not to some of my friends & certainly not to my sister (she is a clean freak!) and vice cersa, Some of my friends only clean their skirting boards once a month or even less, whereas I do mine weekly to fortnightly......

I'd check the agreement and find out what actually needs to be done/adhered to for renting the property and for inspections going forward so there is no misunderstanding for next time and also what your rights are as a tenant to let them in to inspect.

Sounds like a lot of RE agents are coping flack from vendors about the state of properties.

Whilst I agree that a paying tenant is probably preferred, I'd be mortified if the property was left in disarray and I had to fix the property so it could be tenanted again. This happened to my old boss - they had well paying tenants but when they vacated there were holes in the walls, doors taken off the hinges and it cost him a bucket load to repair, which wasn't covered by the bond.

[Indadhanu]

Knowing where your house is, I'd have been really cranky that they had commented that they had 'driven past'! It's not exactly a high traffic area! It's not really a traffic area at all... They'd really have to work at finding a reason to drive that way if it wasn't to specifically look at the house!

Would *I* have let them in? Yes, because I'm a total pushover. Shel wouldn't have though. No notice, no entry. That's your right. In the past some RE agents have sent notices 2-4 weeks in advance (the one with are with now sends 4 weeks in advance!) actually followed up with a phone call about 10 days before the inspection to make sure we got it and if the time was conveniant. I would ask them to add it to your file that you request a follow-up phone call at least 7 days in advance to check if you received the notice because you have had issues with receiving their notices in the mail, and it's your right to refuse entry if you don't have notice.