Illegal access of rented property by management company

Neon_Lights

Hi,

There is a business located near us who has their switchboard in our hall. They have requested having access to the hall in case a fuse goes, however we do not feel this is secure as we do not know them. Were happy to turn it on when required, however we work during the day and arent around to be their electricians.

The business escalated this to the agency as a fuse was gone again in their business due to their shoddy electrics consistently causing problems. Who then told us that yesterday that the agency had sent a handyman out and turned the switch on by illegally entering our property without fair notice.

I would like to know what remedies are available to us, as we feel violated that the agency would enter our property without notice.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated

Michael D Not Higgins

The hall where this fuseboard is located, is this part of the apartment you're renting or is it an access hall?

Neon_Lights

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

The hall where this fuseboard is located, is this part of the apartment you're renting or is it an access hall?

It is a hall but its part of the property we're renting, the previous owner had the business beside us also so that's why its in the hall.

Mrs OBumble

I would tell the agency that either they change the electrics so that the fuse isn't in your property (within one month of today), or you will open a complaint with the PRTB.

What you should do depends on what you want though: do you want to resolve the underlying problem, or do you want compensation for being violated?

Cuddlesworth

Neon_Lights wrote: »

It is a hall but its part of the property we're renting, the previous owner had the business beside us also so that's why its in the hall.

Is it on a separate meter? Seems very short-sighted if it is.

Neon_Lights

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Is it on a separate meter? Seems very short-sighted if it is.

Yes indeed one for our apartment, one for them

davo10

Apartments usually have all meters in the communal area rather than inside each individual apartment. Just to clarify, is the fuse board inside the door of the communal hall area, or is it literally inside the front of your individual apartment?

Neon_Lights

davo10 wrote: »

Apartments usually have all meters in the communal area rather than inside each individual apartment. Just to clarify, is the fuse board inside the door of the communal hall area, or is it literally inside the front of your individual apartment?

I understand that, its not in a communal area, inside our door. Its not really an apartment perse, the property starts from the front door and is built out of the house with rooms upstairs and downstairs. The commercial area is sectioned off as a self contained unit.

davo10

Neon_Lights wrote: »

I understand that, its not in a communal area, inside our door. Its not really an apartment perse, the property starts from the front door and is built out of the house with rooms upstairs and downstairs. The commercial area is sectioned off as a self contained unit.

Do the renters of the other apartments walk by that meter?

Neon_Lights

davo10 wrote: »

Do the renters of the other apartments walk by that meter?

No just us, there are no other apartments

Baby01032012

Are you renting the entire property or individual rooms within the property?

Paulw

It sounds like they really need to have their own power supply board, or have the current board split/moved to their unit, rather than in your hall.

How often do they need access?

In normal contracts, agents have access for emergency situations, and loss of power may be considered that.

Neon_Lights

Baby01032012 wrote: »

Are you renting the entire property or individual rooms within the property?

The entire property

Neon_Lights

Paulw wrote: »

It sounds like they really need to have their own power supply board, or have the current board split/moved to their unit, rather than in your hall.

How often do they need access?

In normal contracts, agents have access for emergency situations, and loss of power may be considered that.

Its pretty sporadic, just when a switch goes, its a beauty salon so they do be using appliances etc,
Its seemed to be more recently so perhaps its a blown fuse in a plug or socket or something simple.

am abroad at the moment, however from skimming through the contract the other day this situation didn't appear to be a clause, will confirm though.

Tigger

is the business also part of this property

Neon_Lights

no its a separate unit, part of the entire building, but there two completely separate properties, they have their own access and exits, and we have our own access.

jimmycrackcorm

Tell the business that they need to have a fuse board installed on their side and to take it up with the agency.