Hi everyone,
Quick question regarding joint tenancies: I’m a landlord, and one of my tenants installed a temporary lock on their bedroom door with our consent for safety reasons. I want to take a photo of the external side of the door (from the corridor) for documentation purposes before the tenancy ends.
The tenant is concerned about privacy, but the photo would not include anything inside their room, only the door and part of the common corridor.
Additionally, if the tenant is away, am I allowed to enter the flat and inspect the external side of their door, coordinating the timing with the other tenants, assuming the tenancy agreement allows inspections with 24 hours’ notice?
Finally, can I take a photo of the door from the outside even if the tenant has said she doesn’t give permission, provided the photo does not include any private items inside the room?
Thanks for your advice!
@Lorenza1
All of what you suggest sounds possibly lawful (except that maybe all the tenants need to be given 24h notice of inspection whether away or not) but perhaps unwise if you want tenant to stay. Your questions don’t make it sound like you understand or want to allow for their concerns/perspective (however misguided they might be in not automatically trusting you and your good intentions 100%)
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Tbh I’m not sure why you would need the door photos unless the door has been damaged by the lock installation in which case you would need to have taken at the time of installation and anyway you allowed them to install lock instead of doing yourself or getting a professional locksmith so you accepted the risk (just like any other DIY task you allow tenants to do which they may then do poorly). So I’m not sure it’s much use for documentation unless to show a lock was installed - which you already have agreed to so have that documented in writing hopefully. If at end of tenancy the tenant had left locked causing an access issue (or before then for an inspection) you can document when/if that happens.
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Whether the tenant is there or not is irrelevant you must give them 24h notice, which could be harder to do if they are away. As part of the TA responsibilities you also have to allow them ‘quiet enjoyment’ which wouldnt really happen if they know you are creeping behind their back when they are away to take photos of their door? Think of their perspective.
4.I’d suggest starting by gently asking them to explain what their concerns are and how it affects their privacy, as well as reassuring that nobody else will see the photos. Could be more of a security concern more than privacy - if someone is worried enough to install their own lock then understandably they don’t want photos of said lock either. Could be a past bad experience, an issue with another tenant in the house, or they could be paranoid (for all sorts of reasons medical or otherwise).
- It’s your property your corridor and your door. It’s not really up to the tenant how you carry out the inspection of your property. But if they are so concerned it would seem better to arrange to inspect while they are there, and to reassure them that any photos will be shared only with her so she has her own copies, just like an inventory, and explain why you want photos.
6. So maybe reassure that you would only take photos of anything changed since inventory photos and maybe deliberately not the new lock. Remember you want tenant to be happy and feel safe where they live. At same time you should also arrange inspection inside her room when she is there (again with 24h notice and at a time that suits you both) because whilst you have allowed a lock for safety reasons you also have a right to inspect inside to make sure it’s being kept in good order etc)
- Lastly - (if not done already) I’d suggest get registered with ICO and issue tenants with notice explaining what info you will collect as part of being LL and how you will retain it etc
Good luck
You have a statutory right to inspect with 24 hours notice. You should make sure that 24 hour notice reaches everyone, but unless anyone actively refuses access, you may enter.
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