UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi, I have already supervised a handyman whilst tenant at work - but heating problem has reoccurred. obviously its very cold right now and needs to be fixed asap. tenant says cannot be in today - I unfortunately cannot be there today but can get keys to workman(who has done work for me before) - should the tenant be expected to allow access to an unsupervised workman? I am concerned about my obligations especially during this cold snap

I only use tradesmen I trust,so have never supervised.If I was a tenant I would want my heating back asap.Just let them know what is happening.If they insist they are not keen, tell them they will have to arrange to be there,or have someone in their place.Alternatively,let them put up with being cold! 

thanks.  I will suggest they get a friend or relative to be there if not happy thanks for that idea. its what I would do at home after all.   

Even I would not wish to allow access to an unsupervised workperson. I have people I trust, but not to the level where I would want them in there on their own and any kind of situation arising whereby a Tenant could make false accusations and it becomes very uncomfortable for everyone involved... maybe even destroying your relationship with your trusted workperson. I advise against it.

That is why I keep the properties I let as close to me as possible and will always offer to be there myself to chaperone a workperson if the Tenant cannot be in. However, if i'm unable to get there (which is as you say is the case here) everyone would have to wait... that's just how it is. Everyone is trying here... no-one is being completely unnecessarily unreasonable... it is just how it is.

I know what you are saying hippogriff, and it isn't an ideal situation as I have already acknowledged. I have used the workman before as I said.  main issue is it is winter and heating needs to be on. I dont feel a landlord can be expected to be there every time.    I have had to leave workmen 'home alone' in my own house.   the tenant is meeting the engineer at the house and then leaving him to get on with it (if he wants it fixed today) - so he will have met him at least. Im not sure what more I can do when I cannot be there myself

Many landlords work full-time,and live too far away.I think Hippogriff is mainly concerned about the safety and reputation of the workman.I have never heard of any tradesman or landlord who has had to deal with such an issue.Maybe minor grumbles about failure to hoover before leaving etc.but nothing serious.You cannot protect yourself from every nutcase.If the tenant is female and the tradesman is male,even if she stays home to supervise she could make nasty allegations.All tradesmen would then have to take a female along to chaperone! What do you do if the job is going to take several days-is the landlord expected to just sit there,because the level of security you advise would involve constant presence.   

I suppose my points are simple... you cannot expect a Tenant to stay in, take time off work, change their routine because something a Landlord is responsible for has broken. If you manage to end up with a Tenant like this then you should thank your lucky stars - as there's absolutely no obligation for them to do so. Likewise, it is also a boon if they are willing to agree to someone they've not employed themselves walking around their home unchaperoned. Some people are incredibly private. If you get a Tenant who is OK with that too, then thank your lucky stars again.

I expect that I will need to be there. Therefore I mostly am. Sometimes I get lucky and I do try to be a little more hands-off. But I don't expect a Tenant to take time off work in my stead. And I'd understand if they'd tell me they're not especially happy with someone in their home, alone. I can sense when someone is being genuine and reasonable and when someone is starting to be difficult. If your Tenant is in the first category it's OK... if they're deep inside the second, be careful. After all, it's your stuff that's broken - it's nothing the Tenant owns - and you are providing a service which is expected to have these things working (things happen and when it goes wrong at the wrong time of year I always try the angle - if the Tenant owned the property what would they do differently?)... sometimes that works.

I had a boiler replacement that took 2 days once, I went each day and worked from there - 3G (at the time) was fine.

I am trying to 'arrange' a bathroom replacement in a property - expected time is 5 days - in that case I even asked the Tenant to look for Bathroom Fitters and tell them what they wanted, and allow them in the house when the work is being done... I just gave them a budget to work to. They agreed to take the job on. Pros and cons. I consider I got lucky there. I had to give up a level of control I might not have been comfortable with in previous years.

In all honesty I can understand the tenants concern, especially as they are likely to have items of value in their home, however it does sound as though you have a relatively close relationship with your tenant, so they must have some degree of trust towards you and know that you would only allow reliable tradesmen into the property? I would maybe try to reassure them with regards to how long you have worked with the tradesman and that they are a reliable individual.